- ireland -

Clones

Co. Monaghan

Clones (Irish:Cluain Eois - translated Eois's Meadow) – is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the border area of Ireland. The town was particularly badly hit economically by the partition of Ireland in 1921 because of its location on the border with County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland deprived it of access to a large part of its economic hinterland, now situated on the other side of the border.

In early Christian times it was the site of a monastery founded by St Tighearnach, who died here in 548. There are some slight remains of a later abbey and a well-preserved round tower. An ancient sculptured Celtic Cross stands in the centre of the town. Clones crochet lace, once widely exported, is still made in the area and a permanent exhibition of Clones lace may be viewed at the Diamond.

Clones Film Festival takes place annually on the October bank holiday weekend. Author Patrick McCabe is from the town; his novel The Butcher Boy is set in a thinly-disguised version of Clones. Parts of Neil Jordan's 1997 film adaptation of the book where filmed in the town. Clones was the birthplace of poet Thomas Bracken, who wrote "God Defend New Zealand", one of the national anthems of New Zealand, and is the home town of noted boxers Barry McGuigan and Kevin McBride.