Ireland, Irish Cultural Heritage

Ireland | Clonmacnoise Photo Essay

Marteen Lane

Clonmacnoise is an ancient monastic site in Co. Offaly founded by St. Ciarán in 544. Clonmacnoise in Irish is Cluain Mhic Nois meaning “meadow of the sons of Nos”. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches, two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian grave slabs in Western Europe. Today the site is preserved and protected under the management of the Office of Public Works.  An interpretive center and facilities for visitors have been built around the site, which is open to the public for a fee. If you love history and ruined buildings like I do then this is one site to put on your Irish Wanderlust List.

Have you been to Clonmacnoise? Would you like to visit this monastic site? If you do visit, be sure to check out the ‘Whispering Door’.

Discover one of Ireland's ancient monastic sites with my Clonmacnoise Photo Essay.

43 thoughts on “Ireland | Clonmacnoise Photo Essay”

  5. I like the sound of this ‘Whispering Door’. Is there some kind of legend or story behind it’s name, This historical place looks very beautiful and would be fun to visit.

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    1. Yes there’s a story behind the door’s name 😊 If you stand on the left hand side of the door with your ear up against it and get a friend to stand on the right hand side and whisper something into the door, you’ll actually hear what they’ve whispered as if they’re right beside you whispering into your ear. It’s quite freaky 😊

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  8. Haven’t been here and actually haven’t even heard of this place until now. It looks interesting; though, I’d probably be running around trying to find all the castles before I’d visit this place.

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  10. Very cool! Thanks for sharing. I really want to visit Ireland – I’ll have to add this to my list! Also, I love the whispering door – I have seen the same thing in one other place, and it was so fun to just stand on either side whispering back and forth to friends and giggling!

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    1. Oh cool! It’s amazing when you can hear what the other person is saying. It’s like they’re standing right beside you whispering in your ear 😊

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  23. We were recently in Ireland and these pictures bring back good memories. Ireland is such a photogenic place. Picture opportunities, beautiful drives, and ruins everywhere.

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  25. That’s beautiful, and I especially love the towers. My mind’s already asking about their design and usage. I like that there’s a lower window – presumably to let in light to the stairs, and then the windows at the top are defensive? My inner archaeologist is fascinated.

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    1. It’s all speculative as to their use and design. The simplest explanation is that it’s thought that’s where the monks kept their valuables. When raiders would attack the bell would ring and the monks would flee to the round tower for shelter. What looks like a window near the bottom of the tower is supposed to be a door. A ladder would be pulled down for them to climb up and once they were all inside it would be pulled back up so no raiders would get it.

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  27. I’ve been to Ireland and dream of getting back but we have not been to Clonmacnoise. I just looked it up and it’s smack in the middle so we were not in that area at all on our last visit. Thanks for the tip!

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  29. I never heard of Clonmacnoise but as it is an ancient and picturesque site, i would love to visit it during my Ireland tour. You have taken wonderful photos of this place.

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