Fifteen hundred years ago, a devout young man named Ciarán had a dream. Ciarán was a monk living at the monastery of Inishmore on the Aran Isles, off the western coast of Ireland. He dreamed of a great tree, growing by the side of a stream in the center of Ireland.
Another monk at Inishmore dreamed the same prophetic scene. This was the abbot of Inishmore, St. Enda, who interpreted the dream for Ciarán. The great tree was Ciarán himself and the site he envisioned was to be the location for a great monastery which would serve all the people of Ireland.
St. Enda instructed Ciarán to search for the divinely designated spot. In 544, after several years of looking, St. Ciarán (as he eventually became) located the land of his dreams and there he laid the foundation for the monastery of Clonmacnoise.
By a wonderful confluence of luck and grace, my wife, Anne, and I were able to go to Clonmacnoise in September 2015. The day of our visit was one of gentle sunshine and soaring skies after weeks of heavier than normal rainfall. The beautiful photos that are featured in this essay are a testament to Anne's exceptional artistry and to the compelling energy that one feels at Clonmacnoise.
Anne and I originally ventured to Ireland inorder to visit Banagher, the hometown of Rev. Arthur Bell Nicholls, husband of Charlotte Bronte. Rev. Nicholls returned to Banagher several years after his beloved wife's tragic, early death in 1855. While there, we lodged in Rev. Nicholl's home, now a "B&B" being restored to its Victorian grandeur by Ms. Nicola Daly.
During our stay at "Charlotte's Way," as the dwelling is known, Ms. Daly kindly introduced us to a local local historian, Mr. James Scully. With a profound grasp of Irish history and plenty of Celtic wit and warmth, James Scully was the perfect guide for an expedition to the nearby site of St. Ciarán's monastery.
Another monk at Inishmore dreamed the same prophetic scene. This was the abbot of Inishmore, St. Enda, who interpreted the dream for Ciarán. The great tree was Ciarán himself and the site he envisioned was to be the location for a great monastery which would serve all the people of Ireland.
St. Enda instructed Ciarán to search for the divinely designated spot. In 544, after several years of looking, St. Ciarán (as he eventually became) located the land of his dreams and there he laid the foundation for the monastery of Clonmacnoise.
By a wonderful confluence of luck and grace, my wife, Anne, and I were able to go to Clonmacnoise in September 2015. The day of our visit was one of gentle sunshine and soaring skies after weeks of heavier than normal rainfall. The beautiful photos that are featured in this essay are a testament to Anne's exceptional artistry and to the compelling energy that one feels at Clonmacnoise.
Anne and I originally ventured to Ireland inorder to visit Banagher, the hometown of Rev. Arthur Bell Nicholls, husband of Charlotte Bronte. Rev. Nicholls returned to Banagher several years after his beloved wife's tragic, early death in 1855. While there, we lodged in Rev. Nicholl's home, now a "B&B" being restored to its Victorian grandeur by Ms. Nicola Daly.
During our stay at "Charlotte's Way," as the dwelling is known, Ms. Daly kindly introduced us to a local local historian, Mr. James Scully. With a profound grasp of Irish history and plenty of Celtic wit and warmth, James Scully was the perfect guide for an expedition to the nearby site of St. Ciarán's monastery.
