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family · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · See website for times 
Clonmacnoise Monastic Site - Family Visits
At Clonmacnoise Monastic Site · Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly
At Clonmacnoise Monastic Site · Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly
Clonmacnoise is one of those places that stops people in their tracks. Sitting on a low ridge above the River Shannon, the monastic city founded by St Ciarán in 548 AD is a genuine piece of Ireland’s early Christian world - ruined cathedral walls, two intact round towers, high crosses carved with intricate biblical scenes, and more than 600 grave slabs stretching across the grass. For families, it offers something rare: history you can actually walk through, with enough space for children to roam freely while adults take it all in at their own pace.
The outdoor archaeological site is fully accessible throughout the summer. You can walk the full extent of the ruins, including the Cathedral - the largest building on site - and the smaller churches dotted around it. The two round towers, O’Rourke’s and McCarthy’s, are particularly striking; their original purpose as bell towers, landmarks, and places of refuge during Viking raids is easy to picture when you’re standing beneath them.
The original High Crosses, including the Cross of the Scriptures, are usually housed indoors for preservation - but replica crosses stand in their original positions on site so you can see them in context. The grave slab collection is one of the largest of its kind in western Europe.
The visitor centre is closed from March to September 2026 for a major €7.8 million redevelopment. During this period, temporary facilities including public toilets and a Welcome Hub are in place, and outdoor site admission is free. The new centre, when it reopens, will include immersive audio-visual exhibits and a fully refurbished interpretation space.
For an alternative way to arrive, the Viking River cruise from Athlone runs May to September and takes approximately 90 minutes each way along the Shannon - a memorable approach to the site.
Clonmacnoise is signposted from Athlone (about 20km south) and from Shannonbridge on the N62. The most direct route from Dublin is the M6 to Athlone, then south on the R444. From Galway, the N6/M6 east to Athlone, then follow signs. There is car and coach parking on site. No regular bus service runs directly to Clonmacnoise, so a car or the Athlone river cruise are the practical options.
The Shannon callows stretching away from the site are among the best examples of unimproved floodplain meadow left in Ireland - worth a slow look if the season is right. There is more to see in Clonmacnoise and across Co. Offaly.
Heading to Clonmacnoise Monastic Site in Clonmacnoise? Offaly has plenty more to see. Read the Clonmacnoise area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.