Not a handful, not a notable regional gathering, but a concentration so significant that it reshapes how you think about what a graveyard can be. Alongside those slabs stand the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches, a round tower, and six high crosses, all compressed into one riverside site on the eastern bank of the Shannon in County Offaly.

The monastery here was founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-sixth century, making it one of the earliest and most consequential of Ireland's Early Christian foundations. Round towers, for those unfamiliar with them, are tall, tapering stone structures built during the early medieval period, used variously as bell towers, places of refuge, and landmarks for approaching pilgrims. High crosses are large carved stone crosses, often elaborately decorated with biblical scenes and interlace patterns, that served as focal points for prayer and preaching. Clonmacnoise has six of them, which is itself an unusual concentration. The original crosses have been moved indoors to the visitor centre for preservation, with replicas standing in their place outside, so a visitor who wants to examine the carving closely will find better viewing conditions under cover than in the open air. A selection of the graveslabs is displayed there as well, offering a more intimate look at the inscriptions and iconography that make this collection so remarkable.