What is recorded here

The ruined church stands in County Kildare on the possible site of Cluain Damh, the Early Christian monastery founded by Ailbhe and first led by abbot Sichell. Vikings plundered the sacred meadow in 1035, yet a synod still gathered there in 1162, proving the community had survived the knife and fire. The D-shaped graveyard may preserve the old monastic boundary, while a hollowed bullaun stone and distant holy well wait south of the town like forgotten instruments of prayer. Clane did not appear on a blank map; it grew around this much-disrupted spiritual heart.

The town of Clane (KD014-026001-) appears to have developed around the site of the Early Christian monastery of 'Cluain Damh', variously translated as the 'Meadow of the Ox' or 'Meadow of the Ford', founded by Ailbhe, and of which Sichell (died 549) was the first abbot (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 31). The monastery was plundered in 1035, but a synod was held there in 1162 (O'Donovan 1851, 777). There is no visible trace of the monastery, but the former 'St Michael's' parish church (KD014-026002-) may stand on its site, where the D-shape of the graveyard (KD014-026011-) may reflect an earlier, monastic enclosure line. A bullaun stone (KD014-026003-) lies c. 120m to the S and there is a Holy Well c. 370m also to the S. The base of a wayside cross (KD014-026006-) survives c. 340m to the SW. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

This remains an important historical record, but the official description says the monument is no longer visible or has been destroyed. The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.