Overview
The Augustinian Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul, often affectionately called the Wee Abbey, dominates Abbey Street in the historic market town of Clones, County Monaghan. Designated a National Monument, the site offers a compact but richly layered glimpse into over a millennium of Irish monastic life. Visitors encounter a blend of early medieval stonework – a towering 23‑metre round tower, the remains of a 12th‑century Romanesque church, a high cross that once stood on the town’s Diamond, and a carved sarcophagus with enigmatic animal‑head motifs. The abbey’s story weaves together early Celtic Christianity, Viking raids, Norman reconstruction, and the later suppression of monasteries under Henry VIII.
History
Early foundations
The monastic settlement at Clones traces its origins to the 6th century, when St Tighernach (also known as St Tierney) founded a church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. According to local tradition, Tighernach was baptised by St Brigid at Kildare before establishing his own ecclesiastical community in the townland of Crossmoyle. The early site likely comprised wooden structures and a modest stone church, typical of early Irish monasticism.
Viking devastation and Norman renewal
Clones suffered repeated attacks: the Viking raid of 836 AD, a destructive fire in 1095, and another blaze in 1184. In 1207 the Anglo‑Norman lord Hugh de Lacy razed the settlement and its abbey, only for the English to rebuild it five years later, erecting a castle and a new monastic complex.
Augustinian re‑foundation (c. 1140)
Around the mid‑12th century the existing monastic site was refounded as an Augustinian abbey dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. The Augustinian Order of Canons Regular introduced a more communal, clerical lifestyle, and the abbey’s architecture reflected contemporary Romanesque trends. The surviving church, dating from the mid‑12th century, displays characteristic round‑headed windows and a simple yet elegant nave.
The round tower
The most striking surviving feature is the four‑storey sandstone round tower, standing at 23 metres. Its entrance, 1.5 m above ground level, and narrow slit windows point to an early 10th‑century construction, predating the Augustinian re‑foundation. The tower originally capped with a conical roof, now missing, would have served both as a bell‑tower and a refuge for valuables during raids.
Later medieval life
In the 14th century the abbey acquired a copy of the Gospels reputedly given by St Patrick to St Mac Caorthainn, known locally as The Domhnach. Indulgences were granted in 1414, enhancing its spiritual prestige. By the late 16th century, after the Protestant Reformation, the abbey’s lands were leased to Sir Henry Duke (1586) and later passed to the Barret‑Leonard family, who held it into the 19th century.
Decline and preservation
The monastic community dwindled, and by the 17th century the abbey lay in ruin, though solitary monks lingered into the 18th century. An English garrison later occupied the remnants. Today the site is protected by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the National Monuments Acts, and it remains an unguided, open‑air heritage attraction.
Legends & folklore
Clones’ monastic ruins have inspired several local tales. In 1845 Daniel O’Connell’s “Monster‑Meeting” was held in the old graveyard; a clash with a Protestant gathering in the Diamond followed, resulting in a fatality. 19th‑century folklore also records a piper who claimed to have entered a subterranean tunnel beneath the old fort, playing his pipes as he vanished – a story that adds a mysterious aura to the nearby motte.
The graveyard is noted for its memento mori tombstones, many bearing skull motifs that remind visitors of mortality. A distinctive gabled stone shrine, carved from a single block of sandstone and topped with a worn figure in a mitre, is thought to have once housed the relics of St Tighernach. The shrine was relocated in the 18th century to cover a burial vault and now stands near the round tower.
What to See & Do
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Round Tower | A 23 m, four‑storey sandstone tower with a raised doorway and original early‑10th‑century slit windows. The interior was cleared in the 1840s, revealing human remains from an earlier graveyard. |
| Romanesque Church | Mid‑12th‑century nave with characteristic round‑headed windows. The stonework hints at the austere elegance of early Augustinian architecture. |
| High Cross | Historically displayed on the town’s Diamond, the cross is assembled from the head of one 10th‑century cross and the shaft of another. The western face of the shaft shows Old Testament scenes; the eastern face depicts New Testament narratives, while the head carries further biblical imagery. |
| Carved Sarcophagus | Situated near the church ruins, the sarcophagus bears worn animal‑head carvings and is thought to have once housed the relics of St Tighernach. |
| Celtic Cross Relief | A small Celtic cross sculpted in relief on the northern wall of the church, offering a glimpse of early Irish stone‑carving tradition. |
| Gabled Stone Shrine | A miniature church‑shaped shrine carved from a single sandstone block, featuring a figure in a mitre; likely once a reliquary for St Tighernach. |
| Memento Mori Tombstones | 17th‑19th‑century gravestones with skull motifs, adding a poignant historical layer to the graveyard walk. |
While the site lacks a formal visitor centre, the open layout encourages leisurely exploration. The tower’s interior is not open to the public, but the exterior provides excellent photographic opportunities, especially at sunrise or sunset when the stone glows against the Irish sky.
Getting There & Parking
The abbey sits directly on Abbey Street, a short walk from the centre of Clones. It is reachable by car via the N54, which passes through the town. Limited on‑street parking is available on Abbey Street and the adjoining lanes; during busy periods the Clones Town Car Park on Main Street offers a convenient alternative (a short 5‑minute walk). Public transport options include Bus Éireann routes 162 and 163, which stop at Clones bus station a few minutes’ walk from the site.
Practical Information
The abbey is open year‑round and free of charge. As a National Monument, it is unguided; visitors are asked to respect the fragile stonework and stay on the designated paths.
Accessibility – The uneven historic ground means the site is best suited to visitors with reasonable mobility; there are no wheelchair‑friendly routes to the tower interior.
Facilities – There are no on‑site amenities such as cafés or restrooms; the nearest services are located in Clones town centre, a short walk away.
For additional details, the OPW’s Historic Environment Viewer provides a map of the monument and surrounding archaeological features: Historic Environment Viewer.
When planning your visit, allow at least 45 minutes to wander among the ruins, read the interpretive panels, and capture the atmospheric ambience of this compact yet historically rich site.
Nearby historic features
- Clones motte‑and‑bailey castle – An earthwork mound on the western side of town, traditionally dated to 1211. Though on private land, its banks and ditches are visible from the road and hint at the town’s Norman past.
- Wee Abbey (church nave) – The surviving nave across the road from the graveyard, likely the 12th‑century Augustinian church mentioned in historic records.
- Clones Round Tower and Church – The combined monument (round tower, high cross and church ruins) is listed together as a National Monument on the OPW site.
Nearby Attractions
If you have time, combine your visit with other points of interest in the area:
- Clones historic religious sites – a short walk away, this collection includes the town’s round tower and St Macartan’s Cathedral. (Clones historic religious sites)
- Clones Lace Museum – showcases the town’s renowned lace‑making tradition. (Clones Lace Museum)
- Dartrey Estate – a short drive north, offering woodland walks, a historic house and a 19th‑century mausoleum. (Dartrey Estate – Forest, House, Church & Monuments)
- Black Island – an island on Lough Muckno with a 19th‑century church ruin and scenic walking routes. (Black Island)
These sites can be explored on foot, by bike, or with a short car journey, giving a fuller picture of County Monaghan’s heritage and natural beauty.