Craft Trail

From Ballinahown Craft Village drive to Clonmacnoise to experience the beautiful ancient site of Clonmacnoise, the Christian heart of ancient Ireland.

Founded by Saint Ciaran, sometime in the 6th century, Clonmacnoise is one of the oldest and most important early Christian settlements in Europe. Built in the centre of Ireland where an ancient roadway, the Eiscir Riada which ran from Dublin to Galway, crossed the River Shannon, its location gave it great strategic importance.

Today the buildings at Clonmacnoise are mainly in ruins, but there is much of interest to see and some of the most ancient and precious artefacts of Irish Christian history are here.

The name Clonmacnoise means ‘meadow of the sons of Nóis’ and dates to a time long before the monastery was founded.
So it is probable that when St Ciaran arrived in the mid 5th century he founded his monastery not in a completely isolated place but close to an already established settlement of some importance.

In the 500 years from the start of the 8th century AD Clonmacnoise grew to become a huge monastic city with a large lay population around it. It was a place of religious learning, renowned for its literary and artistic achievements and enjoying the patronage of Kings and Chieftains, who funded the construction of churches and high crosses. Two of the last High Kings of Ireland are buried there.

When you leave from Clonmacnoise head straight for Shannonbridge Village and in the village turn left for Lough Boora Parklands.

Lough Boora parklands
The magnificent wetlands and wildlife wilderness of Lough Boora now host some of the most innovative land and environmental sculptures in Ireland. The artists, inspired by the rich natural and industrial legacy of the bog lands, have created a series of large-scale sculptures that are now part of the Parklands permanent collection. A paradise for outdoor enthusiasts interested in its unique flora and fauna, now enhanced by innovative works of art that change with the weather, through the seasons and the years. Visit the Parklands and stimulate all the senses as you explore this expansive unencumbered landscape.

When you leave the Boora Parklands turn right onto N.. and then take first left turn signed for Pollough .Here you will find the village of Pollagh which has a unique church for a number of reasons.
St. Mary’s Church, Pollagh.
The local church, St. Mary’s, was built in 1907, and is still in use today. Inside the church the altar, backed by two large stained glass windows faces the door. The Harry Clarke windows were installed in 1936, and depict the Blessed Virgin and the Sacred Heart . Between the two windows is the tabernacle, including the altar, seat and pulpit and baptismal font created in bog yew by the Celtic Roots studio in 1992 and 2007 .

Coming from the Church of Pollough and back onto the N.. please turn right and drive towards Ballycumber. At Flynns pub turn left and
immediately right to get to the village of Boher.

Please stop to visit one of the most important pieces of irish Chrisitan art – St. Manchan’s Shrine at Boher church.

This shrine is the largest and most magnificent ancient reliquary in Ireland and was made at Clonmacnois about AD 1130. It is a gabled box of yew wood with gilt, bronze, and enamelled fittings. The gabelled shape gives it a house or tomb shape, a fitting home for the relics of the saint it is reported to house. The shrine is damaged, there remain just ten figures of a possible 50 or 52 on the cover. Most of the ornamental work is of mixed Viking and Irish styles which have enabled experts to date the main body of the Shrine to around 1125 – there are close parallels with the Cross of Cong.

During the eighteenth century the shrine of Saint Manchan, now in Boher church, was kept in the O’Mooney’s Castle (Esker Castle – now in ruins near Doon.) It was used to swear oaths on in legal cases

From Boher drive back on the R444 to Doon and when you arrive in Doon turn right back onto the N62 and right back to Ballinahown Village.on the way on the left you can see the remains of O’Mooney’s Castle mentioned earlier which also is home to a Síle na Gig.

Other local places of interest include
Clonamcnoise Pottery
Clonmacnoise and west Offaly Railway
Belmont Mills
Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
Locks Distillery Kilbeggan
Athlone Castle
Clonfanlough Stone