Clonmacnoise Monastic Site Visitor Centre Redevelopment Project

The Office of Public Works (OPW) are in the process of redeveloping the visitor centre at the Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, due to be opened to the public in Spring 2027. The Clonmacnoise Monastic Site is a place of national historic importance in Ireland. Founded by St Ciarán in the 6th Century on the banks of the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise is one of the most intact monastic sites in Ireland.

Once a thriving monastery and site of pilgrimage, visitors today can see the remains of 8 of the original stone churches, two round towers and over 700 early Christian grave slabs, as well as three carved High Crosses. At its height between 800 and 1150, Clonmacnoise was a central site of pilgrimage for early Christians in Ireland and produced many important manuscripts and carvings.

Throughout its history the monastery was repeatedly burned and raided by Vikings, Norsemen, Danes, the men of Munster, and the Anglo-Normans, who later built a castle on the site. Since then, the monastery has been passed between landowners before finally coming under the care of the Commissioners of Public Works as a National Monument. Please see accompanying Narrative Framework as supporting background information.