Clonmacnoise Monastic site
This sixth century monastic site, located on the banks of the River Shannon, is home to three high crosses, a cathedral, seven churches and two round towers.
This great monastery was founded in 548- 9 by St. Ciarán Mac a tSaor (“son of the carpenter”). The strategic location of the monastery at a crossroads between the major east-west land route through the bogs of central Ireland and the river Shannon helped it become a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century.
Cross of the Scriptures: This 4-metre-high sandstone cross is one of the most skilfully executed of the surviving high crosses in Ireland,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. The original was moved into the visitors' centre in 1991 to preserve it from the elements; a replica stands at the original site.
If you choose to enter through the visitor center there is an admission fee of €8 per adult. Opening hours are November-Mid March 10.00-17.30, Mid March -May 10.00-18.00, June - August 9.00-18.30, September - October 10.00-18.00, Closed 25th/26th December.
Logging requirements
Please take a photo near (inside the grounds within 20m of the coordinates) the start coordinates which includes:
1. Yourself or a thumbs up if you don't want to show your face.
2. Cross of the Scriptures
3. The O'Rourke tower (the round tower that is missing the top)
4. The River Shannon.
See sample photo below. You can either take a selfie or have a thumbs up in the photo.
Only photos taken since this virtual were published are valid. Any logs without the necessary photo will be deleted. Please don't log unless you can upload the photo at the same time. Each log should have a photo so if you're with a group please each log a photo. Although there is a charge for the visitor centre the area where this virtual is can be entered for free through the new graveyard.
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.
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