Peter Stanford’s new book tells the history of Christianity in Britain and Ireland through twenty buildings and spaces. The second to be featured in our series is the monastery founded in the sixth century at Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly, Ireland

The writer's new book tells the history of Christianity in Britain and Ireland through twenty buildings and spaces. The second to be featured in our series is the monastery founded in the sixth century at Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly, Ireland

In the sixth century a group of sons of Ireland’s ruling families were drawn to study under St Finnian at his renowned centre of learning at Clonard. Among these high-born “Twelve Apostles of Ireland” was Ciarán, the son of a humble carpenter. Yet the influence of the monastery he founded in 548 at Clonmacnoise is second to none.

Referred to as the “seminary of Ireland”, it sent monks to all corners of the land, giving it a spiritual unity that transcended its tribal kingdoms. And, with its traditions of devotion, learning and craftsmanship, Clonmacnoise despatched missionaries to evangelise in Scotland, England, Wales and later continental Europe.

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