High Crosses of Clonmacnoise

Maeri in front of one of the replica High Crosses
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An edited write up from an article "12 things in 12 days by public transport, out of season" by Karen Watkins

Maeri and I drove to the monastic site of Clonmacnoise on the banks of Ireland’s longest river, the Shannon. There are nine churches, two round towers and three High Crosses surrounded by a carpet of gravestones in the fork of the river. The original High Crosses are on display in the Visitor Centre with replicas placed at cardinal points around the cathedral. The 20-m high O’Rourke’s Tower was struck by lightning in 1135. Nearby, a shrine commemorates the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979.

High Crosses surrounded by a carpet of gravestones

A replica High Cross and O'Rourke's Tower
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Driving through Shannonbridge I was lucky to catch a bus to Galway as it was a Sunday. Finding no transport going to Connemara National Park, my plan B - the Aran Island of Inishmór.

(I met Maeri when climbing Mount Mulanji in Malawi and we then met up again when she came to South Africa.)