This used to be Clonmacnoise Castle
The Clonmacnoise landing for tour boats from Athlone. One apparently hikes through the field to get to the site.
An old Norman tower at Clonmacnoise. It is now occupied by a murder of crows.
The visitor's center has been well-integrated.
All of the orignal buildings (dating to 544 AD) are gone now. These date back to only the 11th century.
Most of the old buildings were destroyed and rebuilt multiple times.
Some of the grave markers seem older than they really are.
There are many ruins and grave markers on the site.
Temple Finghin & McCarthy's Tower
The ruins are dramatic, no matter where one stands.
Stone work everywhere
The building next to the tower has the look of an entrance to a Norman church--we have seen many of them in England and Ireland.
Wide perspective
Only a small part of the area covered by grave markers
Most of these are less than 150 years old
Some of the markers, such as this one, are being swallowed up by the earth.
There are even grave markers inside the ruins.
The Clonmacnoise site is on the River Shannon, and was a north/south, east/west crossroads for hundreds of years.
Original "Scripture" Cross is now inside for protection
Original "Scripture" Cross