Danny Edwards was at Mick Mac's funeral last evening and called to Shannonbridge on his way home.Danny mentioned The Clonmacnois Development Plan which was introduced by the state Minister some months ago in Clonmacnois.At the time it was amusing to hear a Government Minister introduce a plan for Clonmacnois by admitting it was his first time to visit the place.The plan seemed to be based on a study carried out by Doctor Tubridy about 15 or 20 years ago and involved Clonmacnois, The Callows, Mongans Bog, The Quarries and outcrop of rock at Clerhane birds,animals trees grasses insects etc .
The Minister told the gathering that it was planned to get European Status for Clonmacnois making it in the same field as The Pyramids.There was an invitation to contribute to the plan by a certain closing date.
Anyhow Danny Edwards wrote a letter and one of the items he asked for clarification on was "the removal of modern intrusion on the monastic site". It turns out that this means considering the removal of the present oratory and the helicopter pad.
The present oratory was constructed by the Office of Public Works in 1969 to replace an older oratory that was built by permission from the Church Body that owned Clonmacnois cemetery at the time.
In 1979 the helicopter pad was built by the same OPW to facilitate the early morning visit of Pope John Paul at the time. The pope was tracing his religeous roots to 10th century missionaries from Clonmacnois that went to Poland.
Danny promised to come back with more.Are you interested ?