Inchcleraun Monastic Site

Connections to Queen Maeve of Connacht

It is named after Clothra, the sister of Queen Maeve of Connacht. In the Irish legend, An Táin Bó Cuailnge (or the Cattle Raid of Cooley), Queen Maebh sought to take Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley, from the King of Ulster. Mighty battles were fought between the warriors of Ulster and Connacht. 

Maebh sought refuge on Inchcleraun. While swimming in Lough Ree, however, she was slain by a stone hurled from the mainland. Sources from the eleventh century suggest Queen Maeve was killed by her nephew in response to her having his mother, her sister, Clothra, murdered.

Early Monastery

Inchcleraun is most famous for the group of early Christian and medieval churches. A monastery was founded here in c540AD by St Diarmuid, the mentor of St Ciarán of Clonmacnois.

The monastery became an important centre of learning and pilgrimage, which led to many important clan members being buried here, including those from the O’Farrell, the O’Quinn and O’Breen septs.

There are a substantial number of important ecclesiastic sites on this island, including an early ecclesiastical enclosure within which lie three churches and a priory.

The enclosure is surrounded by an oval dry-stone wall. Templedermot church, named after St Diarmuid, situated in the south-east corner of the enclosure, is the earliest church on the site. Other chapels on the site include the Church of the Dead, Templemurray Church, the Lady Church or Teampall Muire, the Belfry Church and the 12th-century Templemore Augustinian Priory.

Accessing the Island

The island is only accessible by boat. 

Situated 10km south of Lanesborough, boat hire is available both in Athlone, Carrick-on-Shannon and at Tarmonbarry/Clondra. Check with Lough Ree Access for All for details on booking a boat trip to the island.

Please note that the farmland on the island is in private ownership.