List of national monuments in County Monaghan facts for kids

The Irish government officially protects special old places in County Monaghan. These places are called national monuments. They are very important to Ireland's history. If a site is a national monument, it means it's super important and needs to be kept safe. Sometimes, even the land around the monument is protected to keep it safe.

Exploring Monaghan's Ancient Treasures

The ancient Round Tower in Clones.

The tall High Cross in Clones.

The historic Clones Church.

County Monaghan is home to many amazing national monuments. These include tall round towers, ancient crosses, old castles, and mysterious stone tombs. Each one tells a story about the people who lived here long ago.

Tall Towers and Ancient Crosses

In Clones, you can find some really old and interesting monuments.

• Clones Round Tower: This is a tall, circular stone tower. Round towers were built by monks in early Christian Ireland, often as bell towers or safe places. The Clones Round Tower is a great example of this ancient building style. It's located in a place called Crossmoyle.
• Clones High Cross: Near the round tower, there's a tall stone cross known as a High Cross. These crosses are famous for their detailed carvings, which often show stories from the Bible. The Clones High Cross is a beautiful piece of art from long ago. It's also found in Crossmoyle.
• Clones Church: Also in Crossmoyle, the Clones Church is another important historical site. Churches like this have been central to communities for hundreds of years, and this one holds many secrets from the past.

Another impressive round tower is found in Inishkeen Glebe.

• Inishkeen Glebe Round Tower: This is another one of Ireland's famous round towers. It stands tall and proud, showing how skilled ancient builders were. It's a reminder of the early Christian settlements in the area.

Castles and Forts

Castles tell us about battles and powerful leaders from the past.

• Mannan Castle: Located in Donaghmoyne, Mannan Castle is a special kind of castle called a Motte and Bailey. A "motte" is a big mound of earth, and a "bailey" is a walled courtyard next to it. These were early types of castles built by Normans. They were used for defense and control.

Mysterious Stone Cairns

Some of Monaghan's monuments are even older, dating back thousands of years!

• Mullyash Kerbed Cairn: In Mullyash and Tavanaskea, you'll find a kerbed cairn. A cairn is a pile of stones, often built as a burial monument in prehistoric times. "Kerbed" means it has a ring of stones around its base. This cairn is a very old tomb or marker.
• Cairnbaine: This monument in Tiredigan is a Court Tomb. Court Tombs are ancient stone burial places from the Stone Age. They have a special open area or "court" at the front, leading to burial chambers. They are among the oldest types of monuments in Ireland.

Images for kids

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  Mannan Castle, a historic Motte and Bailey.

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  The ancient Round Tower at Inishkeen Glebe.

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  A view of the Mullyash Kerbed Cairn.

Sources

• National Monuments in County Monaghan