The small village of Clonfert , only a short distance west of the River Shannon in County Galway, is home to a beautiful cathedral that boasts an elaborate, Romanesque doorway dating from 1200. The ecclesiastical history of the place dates back to the 6th century when St Brendan the Navigator founded a monastery and it is predictable there were about 3,000 monks living there. When he died, about 584, St Brendan ’ s body was buried at Clonfert and the presence of his remains explains why such an ornate doorway was later created.Note: The Church is locked but a key is available locally from the house at the right – hand side of the Cathedral.
