Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, A Gem in Ireland's History

Walking around the medieval site of Clonmacnoise, one can see the remains of a once thriving monastic settlement founded in the 6th century AD – church remains, a cathedral, stunning high crosses in Celtic designs, a well-preserved round tower and monastic buildings. But it is remarkable that there is anything left of it at all – it was attacked 40 times by the English, 27 times by the Irish, 7 times by the Vikings and 6 times by the Normans!