Clonmacnoise — Attraction in The Municipal District of Birr

Before I go on, I will preface any negative comments by saying this is a place you should consider visiting.

Clonmacnoise is an extremly important site in respect of the early christian history of this country. There are treasures here that have to be seen. They are not made of bronze or gold but of stone. How did they do such intricate carvings. It's stunning. The High Crosses are amazing and thankfully have been removed into the visitor centre were they can be perserved for all future generations.

The OPW run this site. I have an observation for you and I will freely admit that I am no film critic but even saying that, the 20 minute film that you run needs to be updated. It's very dated. Other than that, Your staff were courtious and well informed. The site itself is kept clean and tidy. I would also like to see discriptive signage at the more important buildings on the site.

A comment for Offaly County Council and indeed for all those who wish to travel to this site. I came to the site travelling in from Athlone so took the 1st turn off I came to. The road known on the map as R444 and to Google Maps as "Back Road" to Clonmacnoise is shocking. Is this a historical site that we want people to visit or not? Please do something about the road.

The road out in the direction of Shannonbridge and which is still the R444 was much better. So depending on which way you travel you the traveller should remember this warning... take your time.

Please visit and take your kids. History needs to be seen as well as read. ...

A haunting, beautiful, historic location. Visit first thing in morning or last hour of the day, I was there for when it opened on a day with heavy bursts of rain. When I was ready to leave about 90 minutes after I arrived the serenity was disrupted by the amount of people walking around. There is a small museum where the original crosses are preserved with a good chunk or reading on the history and a room that plays a movie of this type of information on a loop. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Pay the entry fee to help the site run, don't be a tightwad and walk round to the cemetery and enter from the gate there. Use this route after paying to walk less than 500m to the Nun's Church up the lane.

The car park is not the biggest and looks like it could get full on a busy day. Good restrooms inside the site. Outside of the site, ruins and view, there is not a lot more, this is a focused visit for history and beauty.

The shop / cafe that is in the car park area (and not part of the historic site) is well meaning, yet not great. Stuffed full of tourist tat, expensive and the coffee is self service from a machine. If you need refreshments head to nearby Shannonbridge e.g. Shannonbridge Fort & Cafe (has a car park) or the other side of the bridge,...

As we drove from Galway to return to Dublin, we made a side trek to Clonmacnoise. I’m glad we did.

In its heyday, this area was a thriving town/city. It had a monastery, three chapels, a school, and many Irishmen and women living around it.

Clonmacnoise lies on the River Shannon. It became a bustling town when Saint Cieran built the monastery there. From about 800AD until about 1200AD, this area was raided by Vikings, Norman’s, and other tribes over 40 times. Each time, the reliquaries were taken as well as the people’s assets. Yet, despite the raids, Clonmacnoise thrived for about 400 years.

The ruins today show the patronage and respect by country leaders and national citizens. From the three major Celtic crosses, the three chapels, the two towers, and the many burial stones, the heartbeat of Clonmacnoise’s early years can be felt and admired. Their tenacity to educate, to assist, and to lead people in devotion to God, is recognizable.

Clonmacnoise kept us enraptured for 3 hours even though we walked through its history in the rain. Put on your raincoat and put and carry your umbrella. This site must be seen to understand its...