St Tighernach’s Sarcophagus/ Tomb

In the shadow of the 10th-11th century Round Tower in St Tierney’s graveyard in Clones stands a stone tomb shrine believed to be a copy of a wood and metal reliquary that once contained the relics of St Tighernach (died 548AD).

Part of The Ancient  Pilgrim Route

This particular style of tomb shrine is known in the northern half of Ireland as “A Mortuary House.” The shrine is carved from a single stone and is believed to mark the burial place of the saint.

Clones Town began as a monastic settlement c.500, when St. Tigernach (olso known as St. Tiarnach) founded his monastery there and this was the most important site in Monaghan for centuries afterwards. Clones Abbey, the abbey founded by St. Tiarnach in the 6th century, was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul.

Video: Cones Town Team