Pope John Paul II visited Clonmacnoise in 1979
and the shelter at left was built for his speech on the occasion.
Clonmacnoise in general, and St. Kieran's site within it in
particular, are pilgrimage destinations from all over the island of
Ireland, and the Pope's visit was attended by throngs. Throngs
also wish to be buried in -- or near -- the ancient monastic city.
In the distance in this view, beyond the perimeter's low wall, is
what a docent wryly described to us as the "overflow parking lot" of
more recent graves. |
