School: Christian Brothers, Athlone
- Location:
- Athlone, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Brother Meskill
![The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0749, Page 260](https://doras.gaois.ie/cbes/CBES_0749%2FCBES_0749_260.jpg?width=1600&quality=85)
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0749, Page 260
Image and data © National Folklore Collection, UCD.
See copyright details.
DownloadOpen data
Available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
- XML School: Christian Brothers, Athlone
- XML Page 260
- XML (no title)
- XML (no title)
Note: We will soon deprecate our XML Application Programming Interface and a new, comprehensive JSON API will be made available. Keep an eye on our website for further details.
On this page
(no title)
“Clonmacnoise was at once a seat of learning, a School of Art and a University...”
Transcription guide »You are not logged in, but you are welcome to contribute a transcription anonymously. In this case, your IP address will be stored in the interest of quality control.By clicking the save button you agree that your contribution will be available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License and that a link to dúchas.ie is sufficient as attribution.(no title)
“The existing ruins of Clonmacnoise, though sadly dilapidated, are of interest in so far as they indicate the character and generosity, as well as the names of their erectors, as also the standard of perfection to which Irish art and architecture had attai”
The existing ruins of Clonmacnoise, though sadly dilapidated, are of interest in so far as they indicate the character and generosity, as well as the names of their erectors, as also the standard of perfection to which Irish art and architecture had attained.
First, there is the little church, or rather the ruin, which stands on the site of Eclais Beg, Ciaran's original church and grave. There is the remains of a stone church, built by Flann, King of Ireland, and Colman, Abbot of Clonmacnoise and Clonard about 909.
The beautiful stone cross, remarkable for its sculpture, as well as some inscriptions on it, is still to be seen, and tells its own story. This cross is a magnificent work of art-representing in relief the vision which called St. Ciaran from the solitudes of Aran to the "Land of Roses" beside the Shannon. Quite near is another high cross of smaller dimensions. This cross presents no scenes, but its ornamentation is worthy of the most palmy days of Irish art.
On the norther boundary of the cemetery there is also the ruined chancel of a church called Finnian's Church, dedicated to St. Finnian, the tutor of Ciaran. Near the river bank is Finnian's Well. Near the Church of St. Finnian is a Round Tower, remarkable for its peculiar structure, and considered one of the most interesting monuments of Clonmacnoise.
At the north-west corner of the cemetery is another beautiful Round Tower, commonly called O'Rorke's Tower; it was built by O'Rorke, Prince of Breffni, in the 10th century. This prince, like so many others, in order to secure a last resting place beside the saintly Ciaran, built this monument, as well as a causeway from the "City" to the nunnery, about a half mile to the north-east.
The O'Conors, Kings of Connaught, also bought a family sepulchre in Clonmacnoise, and has a mortuary chapel erected there. Here Ireland's lat High King, Roderick, was interred. The descendents of Diarmuid, he who placed the first stakes of the monastery, had their church there. Its ruins stand south-east of the Cathedral. The style is beautiful and it is believed to be the oldest ruin here.
On the western border, beyond the churchyard, there is the remains of a Norman Castle, known as De Lacy's Castle. This castle, however, is mis-named, as it was built by John De Grey-he who erected at Athlone the present castle on the site of a more ancient one. The Clonmacnoise Castle was built partly to protect the monastery and partly to defend the Shannon passes from the [?] of the [Connaughtmen?].
In addition to the above-mentioned ruins, there are also to be seen other remains, via, Temple [Ri?], which is often confused with Temple MacDermett, a much more modern structure, as is proved by the character of the architecture.