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Clonmacnoise, County Offaly

4.6

#1 of 44 in Things to do in County Offaly

Historic Site Church

• ©

A preserved ruin along the Shannon River set against green and rolling hills, Clonmacnoise offers a glimpse into the religious and cultural history of the monasteries in Ireland. Founded in 546 CE by Saint Ciarán, the monastery was a center of learning and trade for over 600 years until it began to decline around the 12th century due to a diminishing population. Visit many of the ruined and partially ruined buildings on the site, including temple Finghín and McCarthy's tower, cross of the scriptures, and the cathedral, where the last High King of Ireland is buried. Many kings from Meath, Tara, and Connacht were buried at this site. Explore the visitor center for a comprehensive history of the site. Use our County Offaly trip builder app to add Clonmacnoise and other attractions to your County Offaly vacation plans.

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Clonmacnoise Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

926 reviews

Google

4.6

• By Mary S

  Lots of photo ops, interesting history with a short video, nice gift shop. 2 portable toilets, Could be a problem if crowded  more »

• By georgegL1288US

  Site of an ancient monastic settlement contains ruins and graves thru the centuries. Small museum gives an overview of its story and explains the Celtic crosses but once on the grounds themselves all ...  more »

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Google

• By Jessica Connor

  Make sure you go down to the "Nuns Church" beyond the new graveyard for a less visited but equally interesting site. If you're going early bring a lunch, some lovely picnic spots with a view of the Shannon.

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• By Mike Adams

  Amazing place!! So calm and serene. This site was been settled by monks in 544 ad....you can feel the history here.

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