Saint Tighernach's Tomb Shrine, Clones, Monaghan

 Saint Tighernach's Tomb Shrine

I have often overlooked the County of Monaghan, an Ulster County, on my travels.

In the hopes of correcting or mitigating my lack of postings on Monaghan I am writing today about the small Market town of Clones.

There are six (6) Counties in NORTHERN IRELAND, a geo-political entity still in existence as of 2024.

The easiest way to remember them is by using the acronym FATLAD : Fermanagh, Antrim, Tyrone, Londonderry(Derry), Armagh and Down.

They are, as of 2024 part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

ULSTER however is an Irish Province that includes both the six Counties of Northern Ireland and a further three Counties in The Republic of Ireland which is itself officially called ÉIRE.

The three Counties in the Irish Republic / ÉIRE which are also part of the province of Ulster are Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.

Whilst the nomenclature and geo-political make up of Ireland are of little relevance to this post it's nice to know the bigger picture viz a viz what lies where and who claims lordship over it.

I stopped off in Clones for some breakfast and to go wandering about on my way home from the wonderful annual Bluegrass festival at the equally wonderful Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, County Tyrone.

While Tyrone is in Ulster it lies in Northern Ireland and Clones while also in Ulster lies just across the now invisible border in The Republic of Ireland. The give away as to where you are located are the road signs.

In Northern Ireland they use Imperial Miles while in the Republic of Ireland Road signs are marked with Kilometres.

At Clones the breakfast was both tasty and hearty, what more could I ask for?

After eating my fill I left the Hotel and went "walkabouts" to explore the town of Clones a little more. All I knew about Clones was that it is the hometown of the fabulous boxer and former World Champion, Barry McGuigan.

Apparently there was an unusual Shrine Tomb in the town along with a Round Tower, a very old Abbey and some interesting buildings of architectural and historical significance.

As it subsequently transpired there was actually quite a lot to see and seeing it was made all the more easier by the many information plaques and boards erected throughout the town itself.

If only every town and village could do the same, although perhaps if they did I would never get home at all.

Saint Tighernach's Tomb Shrine was the most interesting of all and something which I had never quite seen the like of before. There are carvings of ecclesiastical figures on it but they are very badly worn.

It is said to be constructed from a single block of Sandstone. The Tomb is built in the shape of an early Irish wooden Church. 

At either gable end the protrusions which stand above the roof are called finials and would have been a prominent feature of early wooden Churches. They are also often still constructed in other materials too such as stone and even later yet, concrete.

It's believed a Monastery was founded at Clones sometime in the 6th Century by Saint Tighernach but the Tomb Shrine here is probably a reliquary, a Sarcophagus, which may have at one time contained the remains of the Saint but was constructed many Centuries after his death.

The Historic Environment Viewer record (MO011-010004) suggests it is a 9th or 10th Century construction which makes it at least 1000 years old. It's staggering to think it still stands in Clones today after all these years.

There is a beautiful High Cross in the Center of the Town which is often stated as composed of two separate pieces however it may well have pieces from four separate Crosses. Either way it's a lovely historical artifact, one synonymous with Ireland.

Also in the town are the remains of a small stone built Church. The Church was probably an early Romanesque Church judging by the style of its single remaining window opening. It is known locally as the "wee Abbey".

Located both here and in the grounds of the Round Tower are many unusual gravestones. Some are shaped like standard crosses but quite large and rough cut, almost reminiscent of early High Crosses without the Celtic "wheel" or Sun.

Others have what seems like a short rectangular base topped with a circular shape onto which all contain at least a carved Skull and Crossbones in the Memento Mori style.

Other carvings on these gravestones included hearts, bells, stars and what looked like a Sand-timer to me. 

This would fit in with the Memento Mori theme, that death comes to us all eventually no matter what our station in life.

I have never seen gravestones like this before and the fact that they were located in two different burial places suggests a strong local tradition.

 

They dated from the mid 17th Century. It's quite possible that there are other gravestones carved like this throughout the area although for me it was a first to see a plethora of them together.

There is a Motte and Baily "hill" in the town which would have housed an early Norman wooden fortification on top with a fenced area below it.

 

There is access along a nice walkway however the mound was in a quite ruinous condition at the time of my visit.

Saint Tighernach's Church was closed at the time I visited with a lock and chain around the gates so access wasn't possible.

A Freemason's Lodge was located not far from the town center along with a Protestant hall and a lovely old School building with a lot of history behind it. It is now called the Cassandra Hand Folk and Famine Centre.

There's quite a lot to see dotted about the town including it's beautiful Market House and the Post office buildings so I'd highly recommend taking the time to drop by for a visit if you are ever in the area.

There is also the historic Butter Yard and several other points of interest to visit around the town. 

Just make sure to close any gates after you unless you have Forty Shillings to hand.

Keep the wheels turning.