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Pilgrim's road was sited on top of an esker ridge portions of which consist of a cobblestone surface connecting the Nuns Chapel to the monastery of Clonmacnoise. Marked as the 'Pilgrims Road' on the OS 6-inch maps, this site consists of a natural esker ridge running NE/SW (Wth 9m) which has been used as a roadway to Clonmacnoise in early Christian times hence its name the 'Pilgrims road'. The esker traverses the poorly drained flooplains of the river Shannon and connects the Nun's Chapel (OF005-029001-) to the Cathedral (OF005-004001-). Portion of the stone causeway was constructed to the tower of St Kieran in 1070 (Ireland Illustrated, 50). (Molloy 1950, 12; O' Flanagan 1933, vol. 1, 66-7; Westropp 1907, 300).
Located on top of an esker ridge running E-W with bog on either side. Pilgrims road survives today as a modern tarmac road (Wth 3m) running E/W. This road leads to Clonmacnoise monastic site from which the road gets its name.
Trial-trenching was carried out by Anne Carey under licence No. 07E1048 on 6 November 2007, adjacent to the Pilgrim Road near Clonmacnoise. Five trial-trenches were excavated on the site and the testing did not result in the discovery of archaeological material or artefacts (Bennett 2010, 399).
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload/revision: 25 February 2022
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