inchcleraun early monastery

Situated on an island in Lough Ree, this monastery was founded probably in the first quarter of the 6th century by St. Diarmuid, teacher of St. Ciaran of Clonmacnois. The island is also associated with the legendary Queen Maeve who is said to have been killed by a stone fired by the sling of an Ulsterman from the shore one mile away, while she was bathing there. The earliest structure is probably St. Diarmuid's, a small rectangular tomb-shrine with antae and a flat-headed doorway. Twelve feet to the north stands Teampul Mor, the big Church, built possibly in the 13th century, probably for the Augustinian canons. It is a rectangular church with chancel, to which a nave was added later. The Church of the Dead is a small rectangular church which is now ruined. To the south of this group of churches is the Women's Church which may have been dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. On the highest point of the island is the Belfry Church, a medieval church which is unusual in that it has a square tower at the west end and stairs with tow doors in the north wall.