Overview
Clones sits in the drumlin country of west Monaghan, right up against the Northern Ireland border, and it wears its age on the Diamond, where a high cross stands in the town centre. The round tower and church remains lie a short walk away on a separate site in the historic graveyard. Beyond the historic core there are independent cafés, a strong GAA scene, and a restored stretch of the Ulster Canal. If you have an hour, do the high cross, the round tower and a loop of the canal towpath.
The Diamond and the round tower
Start in the Diamond to see the high cross, then continue on public streets to the round tower and church remains. The cross and tower occupy separate sites. Heritage Ireland explains their connection to the early monastery. Take care on uneven ground in the graveyard and give people visiting graves space.
History & Heritage
St Tighernach (also Tiernach) founded the settlement in the 6th century, and by tradition was baptised by St Brigid at Kildare. The monastic community grew around a stone church. The oldest man-made thing in the town is actually later and secular: a Norman motte-and-bailey fort raised in 1211 on top of a pre-Christian ring fort.
The round tower is built of uncoursed sandstone rubble and is thought to date somewhere between the 10th and 12th centuries. It once stood almost 23 metres with a conical cap, now missing, and its doorway sits 1.5 metres off the ground, high enough to pull the ladder up in a raid. (One source puts the original height closer to 27 metres; the cap is long gone either way.) It served as bell house and refuge through Viking raids, including a recorded attack in 836, and fires in 1095 and 1184.
In the 12th century the monastery was re-established as the Augustinian Abbey of Saints Peter and Paul. The high cross on the Diamond is assembled from the fragments of at least two – possibly four – separate crosses, which is why its proportions look slightly off; the panels show scenes like Daniel in the lions’ den. After the suppression of the monasteries under Henry VIII the complex fell into ruin, but the round tower survived as the town’s landmark.
The Ulster Canal, built in the early 19th century to link Lough Erne and Lough Neagh, fell out of use by 1931. Restoration has turned a stretch of it back into a walking corridor, with Clones Marina reconnecting the town to the water.
What to See & Do
- Clones Round Tower – Walk around the sandstone shaft and note the doorway set 1.5 metres above the ground and the lone east window.
- Clones High Cross – On the Diamond, with panels showing Daniel in the lions’ den, the sacrifice of Isaac and the multiplication of the loaves.
- St Tighearnach’s Church of Ireland – A 19th-century church with a historic churchyard.
- Clones Lace – The town’s celebrated crochet lace; more on it at the Clones Lace Museum.
- St Tiernach’s Park – The GAA stadium that hosts Ulster football championship games; a big fixture here fills the town.
A walk beside the canal
Waterways Ireland reopened the Clones marina and about a kilometre of canal and towpath in 2024. Follow the marked paths from the marina and keep children clear of the water’s edge.
For more local history, check the Ulster Canal Stores Visitor Centre for its current visiting hours and Clones lace displays.
The Butcher Boy
Clones is the home town of novelist Patrick McCabe, and the film of his best-known book, The Butcher Boy, was shot in the town. It’s a bleak, brilliant story of a Monaghan childhood, and recognising the streets on screen is a small pleasure if you’ve read it or seen it.
Events & Festivals
The Canal Festival, centred on the restored waterway, has been part of the town’s calendar. Dates move year to year, so check local listings before planning a trip around any one event.
Practical Information
Opening times & admission
The round tower and graveyard are on a Heritage Ireland unguided site; see the Heritage Ireland page above for current information. Indoor attractions keep their own hours, which shift seasonally, so check locally before setting out.
Nearby Attractions
- Clones historic religious sites – Detailed guide to the abbey ruins and surrounding ecclesiastical monuments.
- Dartrey Estate – Forest walks, a historic house and medieval church ruins.
- Carrickmacross Lace Gallery – Another centre of Irish lace heritage, a short drive north.
- Glaslough Village – Another County Monaghan village.
- Lough Muckno Leisure Park – Lakeside recreation, fishing and water sports.
Clones works well as a base for exploring County Monaghan or as a focused day trip.