Walking through Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland. Part 2

Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, It's in the north of the country, very close to the border with Northern Ireland which here twists and turns in unusual ways. Clones or 'Cluain Eois' – the meadow of Eois, is one of the oldest continuous settlements in County Monaghan. It developed around a monastery founded by St. Tiarnach in the 6th century and the town boasts a rich historic fabric that illustrates the town's evolution. St Tiarnach's tomb is marked by a unique stone sarcophagus dating from the early 13th century and is located close to the Round Tower. The Round Tower dates from the 10th Century. The ancient High Cross that stands on the Diamond belonged to his monastery. The abbey built by Tiarnach was attacked by both Vikings and Normans and after one terrible assault in the 12th century, it and the town were destroyed. From the ashes, a new St. Peter and Paul's Abbey was built, known to locals as 'The Wee Abbey'. The Normans, devout Christians themselves, fought a running war with the Irish chieftains who had ruled this area. They built a fort at the highest point of the town and it became one of the finest Motte and Bailey-type fortifications in the country. Long after the Norman influence faded, a new wave of settlers arrived to create their own legacy