Town of Clonenagh
Founded by St. Fintan (d.603), Clonenagh was the most important monastery of ancient Leix. It located on the Slige Dala (road of the assemblies) ensured its importance in early medieval Ireland. O’Mores, descendants of the Loigis kings were the patrons of Clonenagh upto the sixteenth-century, and it was the monastic home of Oengus the Celi De (see Coolbangher). The Book of Leinster or Lebar na Nuachongbala started life here before moving to Oughaval near Stradbally. Today there you will see two graveyards, the ruins of an early church and a penny tree that collapsed recently.
This village, skirting a goosegreen, was named after teach mo-Chua Mochua’s House. St. Mochua established a monastery here in the seventh century. It was re-founded, after being burned in 1142, by the O’Mores. The twelfth century Round Tower with its beautifully decorated romanesque doorways is all that remains of the original monastic foundation. (A Daniel Keane climbed and safely descended on the outside of this tower in 1827 without any assistance). It came under the control of the Normans (Hugh de Lacy built Ballinclough motte and bailey nearby). There was a monastic community here until 1650 when the member of this order were murdered by Colonel Hewson’s troops at a spot known locally as “Boher a wurther” or the murdering road.