Editing Clonmacnoise (section)

{{Short description|Ruined monastery in County Offaly, Ireland}}
{{use Hiberno-English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox monastery
| name           = Clonmacnoise
| native_name    = ''Cluain Mhic Nóis''
| native_name_lang = IE
| image           = Clonmacnoise 6.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Cross of the Scriptures, Cathedral, Temple Doolin and South Cross
| full           = 
| other_names    = Cluain-maccu-nois; Cluain-mic-nois; Cluan; Tipraic, with Eaglais-beaag	
| order          = [[Canons Regular of Saint Augustine]] <small>(1140–c.1144)</small><br/> [[Arrouaise Abbey|Augustinian Canons Regular – Arroasian]] <small>(1144–1568)</small>
| established    = AD 544
| disestablished = 1568
| mother         = [[Clonard Abbey]] (mother house of nunnery only)
| dedication     = 
| diocese        = [[Bishop of Clonmacnoise|Diocese of Clonmacnoise]]
| churches       = 
| founder        = St. [[Ciarán of Clonmacnoise|Ciarán]]
| abbot          = <!-- or | abbess = -->
| prior          = 
| archbishop     = 
| bishop         = 
| archdeacon     = 
| people         = 
| status         = 
| functional_status = 
| heritage_designation = 
| designated_date = 
| architect       = 
| style          = [[Celtic Christianity|Celtic monastic]]
| groundbreaking = 
| completed_date = 
| construction_cost = 
| location        = near [[Athlone]], [[County Offaly]], Ireland
| map_type       = Ireland
| coordinates    = {{coord|53|19|26|N|7|59|28|W|region:IE_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| oscoor         = 
| remains        = cathedral, seven churches, two round towers, three high crosses, grave slabs
| public_access  = yes
| website        = http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlands-eastcoast/clonmacnoise/
| other_info     = 
| embedded = {{Infobox designation list
| embed                =yes 
| designation1 = Irish National Monument
| designation1_offname = Clonmacnoise
| designation1_date = 
| designation1_number = 81, 250, 601<ref name="List">{{cite web|url= https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-offaly.pdf |title= National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship, Offaly|date= 4 March 2009|access-date= 25 January 2018}}</ref>}}
}}

[[File:ClonmacnoiseCathedral.JPG|thumb|Clonmacnoise Cathedral from the south-east (centre and left), Temple Doolin and Temple Hurpan (right) and Temple Melaghlin (behind, covered)]]

'''Clonmacnoise''' or '''Clonmacnois''' ([[Irish language|Irish]]: ''Cluain Mhic Nóis'') is a ruined [[monastery]] in [[County Offaly]] in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] on the [[River Shannon]] south of [[Athlone]], founded in 544 by Saint [[Ciarán of Clonmacnoise|Ciarán]], from [[Rathcroghan]], [[County Roscommon]].<ref name=Healy>{{cite web|url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04065a.htm|title= CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Abbey and School of Clonmacnoise}}</ref> Until the 9th century it had close associations with the [[kings of Connacht]].

Saint Ciarán founded the monastery in the ancient territory of [[Uí Maine]] at a point where the major east–west land route ([[five great roads of Ireland|Slighe Mhor]]) meets the [[River Shannon]] after crossing the bogs of Central Ireland known as the [[Esker Riada]].<ref>[https://www.irishtourism.com/scenic-attractions-in-ireland/clonmacnoise/1573 Irish Tourism, Clonmacnoise]</ref> The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major center of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century;<ref name="m126">Moss (2014), p. 126</ref> and together with [[Clonard Abbey|Clonard]] it was one of the most famous places in Ireland, visited by scholars from all over Europe. From the ninth until the eleventh century it was allied with the [[List of Kings of Mide|kings of Meath]]. Many of the high [[kings of Tara]] ([[Ard Rí|''ardrí'']]) and of Connacht were buried here.

Clonmacnoise was largely abandoned by the end of the 13th century. Today the site includes nine ruined churches, a castle, two [[round tower]]s and a large number of carved stone crosses and cross-slabs.<ref name="m1267">Moss (2014), pp. 126-127</ref> The Irish government's [[Office of Public Works]] manages the preserved ruin. An Interpretive Centre is open to the public, the graveyard is in use and religious services take place in a modern chapel.