Saint Manchan's Shrine

​Art and Devotion in Twelfth-century Ireland

Clonmacnoise – A Monastic City at the Heart of Early Christian Ireland

Clonmacnoise was founded in 544 AD by St. Ciarán who chose this site for its strategic location where the River Shannon meets ancient east–west land routes. From these humble beginnings, it flourished into a major center of religion, learning, craftsmanship, and trade, attracting scholars, pilgrims, and kings from across Ireland and beyond.

At its height between the 7th and 12th centuries, Clonmacnoise was home to a thriving monastic community. Here, monks produced illuminated manuscripts, crafted exquisite metalwork, and carved some of Ireland’s finest high crosses. The Cross of the Scriptures, a masterpiece of early medieval stone carving, stands as a testament to the skill and faith of its creators. The site also features two round towers, several churches spanning centuries, and over 700 carved grave slabs—each telling part of Clonmacnoise’s story.

Despite repeated Viking and Norman raids, the monastery remained a powerful spiritual and political symbol. It became the chosen burial place of many Irish high kings, especially from the province of Connacht. Although its influence waned after the 12th century and the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, Clonmacnoise continued to be revered as a sacred site. Today, its atmospheric ruins and preserved artifacts offer a vivid window into Ireland’s early Christian past.