European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 1, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse To. J v it above the round Tower of Temple Winghin As seen from the ruins of the Cathedral at Clon Mcnoise. Below the monastery s cemetery with burial places marked by celtic crosses. A amps photos by Michael Abrams by Michael Abrams staff photographer travelling through Ireland is like turning the pages of a history Book. No matter where you go there is almost always something to remind you of the Island s tumultuous past. Settled since around 7000 . Ireland was for centuries the Western Edge of the known world. It was also a target for invaders. Celtic Viking Norman English marauders All left their Mark on the face of the Island. So did Mother nature most notably in the great famine of 1845-49 that resulted in of close to 1 million people sent at least another million to the United states Britain. Quot yet much from the country s past has survived a or has been resurrected drawing tourists history buffs alike. Among the places Yorth visiting Are a reconstructed town a historic monastery a Village dedicated to traditional crafts. A less than 20 Miles Northeast of Shannon Airport lies the Cragg Aunoien project. The project is an attempt to re create history through the restoration reconstruction of various dwellings villages farmsteads during prehistoric a Early Christian periods. The project was the brainchild of the late John Hunt an adviser on medieval Art to Britain s rotheby s auction House described by an Art Magazine As Quot one of the Best medievalist in Hunt bought the land at Cragg Aunoien restored the Norman Castle started construction of the open air museum. On the grounds besides the Castle there Are reconstructions from the earliest periods of Irish settlement including a Crannog a a Village built on a Lake a an Iron age Road a Bronze age cooking site a ring fort perhaps most impressive of All inside a Glass building the Brendan boat. It was with this leather hulled boat that Tim Severin his Crew sailed from Ireland to North America in 1976, proving that st. Brendan the navigator who died around 583 . Could have sailed across the Atlantic As a ninth Century manuscript had suggested. A in the heart of Ireland four Miles North of Shannon Ridge on the Shannon River is Clon Mcnoise one of the great holy places of Ireland. Founded in 545 . By st. Ciaran the monastery soon developed into one of the most important religious centers on the Island. But Over the centuries its history was much like Ireland s it was plundered burned. The monastery was attacked by Vikings in 834, invaded by the normans in 1179, reduced to ruins by English troops from nearby Athlone in 1552. Despite the destruction it is still an impressive site As it sits on a Bend in the continued on Page 13 August 1, 1991 stripes Magazine 11
