Event: Ireland - Athlone

Clonmacnoise

When:	Daily
Where:	Clonmacnoise
Costs:	€5; groups & seniors €3.50; children & students €2; family €11
Opening Hours:	Nov-mid-Mar: 10am-5.30pm; mid-Mar-mid-May: 10am-6pm; mid-May-early-Sep: 9am-7pm; Sep-Oct: 10am-6pm

One of Ireland's finest sites, the ruined monastery of Clonmacnoise was once Europe's most important centre of learning, and is a beautiful and haunting place to visit.

Clonmacnoise is unique in many ways. Despite being a monastery, the settlement never featured a single large church. Instead, the site is made up of a handful of small churches built by various protectors and leaders of the community. The earliest was built by Ireland's first Catholic king, Diarmuid, in the 6th century, shortly after the site was chosen by Saint Ciaran for its ideal location at the junction of road and river.

After Ciaran's death, the monastery became a European centre of learning for theological study. A precursor of the great universities, Clonmacnoise was also a noted Scriptorium, assembling the skilled scribes who were to produce the Book of Kells.

Despite its fame - or perhaps in spite of it - Clonmacnoise was not immune to enemies, and was burnt down 13 times and attacked nearly 40 times before its final destruction by the English in 1552.

Visitors to today's site can admire the extensive restoration work carried out on a remarkable historic site. A visitor centre features a 20-minute audio-visual presentation about Clonmacnoise's history as well as an exhibition of natural history and early Christian graveslabs. The original sandstone crosses that stood at the north and south of the site are also on display in the visitor centre.