Editing Clonmacnoise (section)

==Buildings and High Crosses==
[[File:Ireland's ancient schools and scholars (1903) (14756226886).jpg|thumb|Plan of the site]]
The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches, two round towers, three high crosses and a large collection of Early Christian grave slabs.<ref name=heritage>{{Cite web |url=http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/clonmacnoise/ |title="Clonmacnoise", Heritage Ireland |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219205034/http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/clonmacnoise/ |archive-date=19 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Clonmacnoise 2.jpg|thumb|left|Temple Finghin & McCarthy's Tower]] Many of the grave slabs are carved with knotwork and interlacing.<ref>Meehan, p. 403.</ref>
Most of the churches have recently undergone comprehensive conservation works, mostly [[Repointing|re-pointing]], with the Nun's Church (about 1&nbsp;km off site), currently under wraps while it too undergoes the same process.

'''O'Rourke's Tower:''' Though named O'Rourkes' Tower, after 10th-century Connacht king Fergal O'Rourke, the ''Chronicum Scotorum'' records that it was finished in 1124 by [[Turlough O'Connor]], king of [[Connacht]], and Gilla Christ Ua Maoileoin, abbot of Clonmacnoise. Eleven years later it was struck by lightning which knocked off the head of the tower. The upper part of the tower is later work, so there is some speculation that the masonry thus toppled in the storm of 1135 may have been reused in the building of McCarthy's Tower.<ref name="Davenport2008"/>

'''Temple Finghín & McCarthy's Tower:''' [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] church and round tower – 12th century. An unusual occurrence was the vandalism of this church in 1864 by a person from Birr on a 'pleasure party' to the Seven Churches, as Clonmacnoise was often termed. This led to a landmark case when a prosecution was brought against the vandal by the Crown, due to the efforts of the [[Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland]]. Some of the funds which had been raised for the prosecution were later used by the Society to repair the cap of the church's tower. The structure is possibly the earliest example of a church and round tower being part of a single structure in Ireland.<ref name="Colvert2014">{{cite book|last=Colvert|first=Brendon K.|title=CLONMACNOIS|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=twZ0BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA17|date=14 August 2014|publisher=Author House|isbn=978-1-4969-8868-3|pages=17–18}}</ref>

'''Temple Connor:''' Church used by the [[Church of Ireland]] since the 18th century.<ref name="Colvert2014"/> It underwent significant restoration works in the second decade of the twentieth century, when the pitch of the roof was raised and the internal space was remodelled. The church is maintained under the auspices of the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120309131610/http://meath.anglican.org.dnnmax.com/mainsite/ParishesClergy/Athlone/tabid/93/language/en-IE/Default.aspx Athlone Union of Parishes], and each Sunday during the summer a service is held at four o'clock in the afternoon.

'''North Cross:''' Oldest of the three extant crosses. Created {{circa}}800. Only the limestone shaft and sandstone base (a former millstone) survive. A cross-legged figure has been interpreted as the Celtic god [[Cernunnos]] or a similar god, while others have interpreted it as the [[Devil in Christianity|Devil]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Walsh |first1=John |last2=Bradley |first2=Thomas |title=A History of the Irish Church, 400-700 AD |date=1991 |publisher=Columba Press |page=32}}</ref>

'''Temple Kelly:''' All that remains of this church are the low-lying perimeter stones, which still give a good indication of the church's original size.<ref name="Davenport2008">{{cite book|last=Davenport|first=Fionn|title=Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0RrOYQv8-EUC&pg=PA364|date=January 2008|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-696-0|page=364}}</ref>

'''Temple Ciarán:''' Located near the centre of the site. At 2.8 by 3.8 metres, it is the smallest church in Clonmacnoise. Built in 909, much of the walls are original and is considered the oldest dated stone church surviving in Ireland.<ref>Meehan. p. 404.</ref> Traditionally presented as the grave site of St. Ciarán, excavations of the church unearthed the Clonmacnoise Crozier, but no saintly remains.<ref name="Davenport2008"/>

[[File:Clonmacnoise 1.jpg|thumb|Replica of the Cross of the Scriptures]]
'''Cross of the Scriptures:''' A 4-metre-high sandstone cross is one of the most skilfully executed of the surviving Irish high crosses, of particular interest for its inscription asking for a prayer for Flann Sinna, King of Ireland and Abbot Colmán who commissioned the cross. Both men were also responsible for the building of the cathedral. The cross was carved from Clare sandstone ''c.''900. The surface of the cross is divided into panels, showing scenes including the Crucifixion, the Last Judgement, and Christ in the Tomb.<ref name="DunneMcEvoy2002">{{cite book|last1=Dunne|first1=Michael|last2=McEvoy|first2=J. J.|title=History and Eschatology in John Scottus Eriugena and His Time: Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference of the Society for the Promotion of Eriugenian Studies, &#91;held At&#93; Maynooth and Dublin, August 16–20, 2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4Fpr2MDD6YC&pg=PA265|date=January 2002|publisher=Leuven University Press|isbn=978-90-5867-241-4|pages=265–266}}</ref> The original was moved into the visitors' centre in 1991 to preserve it from the elements; a replica stands at the original site.<ref name="MarshPenn2006">{{cite book|last1=Marsh|first1=Richard|last2=Penn|first2=Elan|last3=McCourt|first3=Frank|title=The Legends & Lands of Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5V_O_s-KiDwC&pg=PA141|date=28 February 2006|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company Incorporated|isbn=978-1-4027-3824-1|pages=141–142}}</ref>

[[File:Clonmacnoise 3.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of Temple Rí (King's Church)]]
'''Cathedral (Temple McDermot):''' Building started around 909 by King [[Flann Sinna]] and Abbot [[Colmán mac Ailella]]. The west doorway has been recently (and somewhat controversially), comprehensively restored with the Gothic-style north doorway, often called the Whispering Arch,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cox|first=Trevor|date=2020-05-02|title=Clonmacnoise whispering arch|url=http://www.sonicwonders.org/clonmacnoise-whispering-arch/|access-date=2022-09-15|website=sonicwonders.org|language=en}}</ref> dating to the mid-15th century. The cathedral is the largest of the churches at Clonmacnoise. [[Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair|Rory O'Connor]], the last High King of Ireland, was buried near the altar in 1198, joining his father Turlough. Most of the graves currently seen in the church are those of the Coghlan family, whose patriarch extensively rebuilt the cathedral in the mid-seventeenth century.<ref name="Fallow1894">{{cite book|last=Fallow|first=Thomas McCall|title=The Cathedral Churches of Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xLgaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA21|year=1894|publisher=Bemrose & Sons. Limited|page=21}}</ref>

'''Temple Melaghlin:''' Built ''c.''1200. Also called the King's Church, due to the fact that at least seven generations of Melaghlin Kings are said to be buried underneath the structure.<ref name="Colvert2014"/> The church is also believed to have housed the scriptorium, the room where the manuscripts were designed and decorated.<ref name="Unit1987">{{cite book|title=The Heritage of Clonmacnoise|year=1987|publisher=Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College in association with County Offaly Vocational Educational Committee|isbn=978-0-9512627-1-9|pages=30–32}}</ref>

[[File:Clonmacnoise 4.jpg|thumb|left|Detail of Cross of the Scriptures]]
'''South Cross:''' A 9th-century piece originally situated at the southern end of the site's central hub. It has one Christian scene on its west face, a rough carving of the Crucifixion of Christ. Many believe that the Cross may have been part inspiration for the later Cross of the Scriptures. Again, the original is in the interpretative centre, with a replica occupying its original site.<ref name="MonkSheehan1998">{{cite book|last1=Monk|first1=Michael A.|last2=Sheehan|first2=John|title=Early Medieval Munster: Archaeology, History and Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRjFBdR3cLgC&pg=PA137|year=1998|publisher=Cork University Press|isbn=978-1-85918-107-2|page=137}}</ref>

'''Temple Dowling:''' Originally built in the 10th century, this tiny church is named after [[Edmund Dowling]], who renovated it in 1689, placing a stone carving of his family crest above the door.<ref name="Monahan1886">{{cite book|last=Monahan|first=John|title=Records Relating to the Dioceses of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVROAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA65|year=1886|publisher=M.H. Gill and Son|page=65|isbn=9780788437854 }}</ref>

'''Temple Hurpan:''' Built in the 17th century at the east end of Temple Dowling, this annex had no religious function outside of being a burial ground for some members of the local parish. Sometimes referred to as MacClaffey's Church.<ref name="Colvert2014"/>