Strangeness and uniqueness of its situation--Love of the
strange and beautiful among ancient Irish Churchmen--The
Shannon--Views from Clonmacnois--Small size of its
remaining ruined fanes--Its round towers and crosses--
Wondrous beauty of its smaller round tower--Petrie's theory
of the origin of round towers--Destruction of Clonmacnois--
Vandalism manifest--Occupation by the Danes--The nunnery--
Clonmacnois founded by St Kieran--De Lacy's ruined castle--
Beauty and diversity of scenery of the Shannon; historic
interest of so many places on its banks.