Monasterboice — from Mainistir Bhuithe (the Monastery of Buithe)
This is the only early Irish monastery whose name incorporates the Irish word mainistir.
Monasterboice was founded by St Buite, who died around 520.
The monastery was an important centre of spirituality and learning for many centuries until the Cistercians arrived at nearby Mellifont in 1142.
The two churches which stand on the site today were probably built no earlier than the end of the 14th century. The round tower seems to have been the treasury as well as the belfry since the annals record that it was burned in 1097 along with the books and treasures of the monastery.
Monasterboice's great monuments are its high crosses which may have been used to tell the stories from the Bible to a congregation. Muiredach's Cross, one of the most perfect in Ireland, is named after an abbot, probably Muiredach mac Domhnaill who died in 923. It is 5.5m high and is decorated with figure sculpture from both the Old and New Testaments. The west face of the cross-head has a crucifixion.
A sundial was used to tell time in the monastery.
The elegant West Cross, located close to the round tower, is also early 10th century in date. On the east face of its cross-head is the Second Coming of Christ while on the opposite face is a crucifixion. A reconstructed third high cross with a crucifixion stands inside a railing at the north end of the site.
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Monasterboice — from Mainistir Bhuithe (the Monastery of Buithe)
Is ? seo an t-aon [?]mhainistir amh?in ina bhfuil an focal mainistir mar chuid den airen.
Bhunaigh Naomh Buithe (a d'?ag thart ar 520) Mainistir Bhuithe.
Ionad t?bhachtach ab ea Mainistir Bhuithe i gc?rsa? spiorad?lta agus l?inn ar feadh na gc?adta bliain, go dt? gur th?inig na Cisteirsigh go dt? Mainistir Mh?r Dhroichead ?tha, in aice l?imhe, sa bhliain 1142.
Gach seans n?r t?gadh an d? eaglais at? ina seasamh san ?it inniu nios t?isce n? deireadh an 14? haois. T? an chuma ar an sc?al go raibh an cloigtheach in ?id mar thaisce i dteannta ? a bheith ina chlog, mar sna hann?la tuairisc?tear gur d?dh ? bhliain 1097 mar aon le leabhair agus taisc? na mainistreach.
Is iad na crosa arda na pr?omh-sh?adchomhartha? i Mainistir Bhuithe. Meastar gur ?ideadh iad chun sc?alta ?n mB?obla a l?iri? don phobal. Luaitear an chros is fearr in ?irinn, Cros Mhuireadhaigh, le hab darbh ainm Muireadhach Mac Domhnaill, a d'?ag sa bhliain 923.
T? s? 5.5m ar airde agus t? figi?ir? ?n Sean-agus ?n Nua-Thiomna greanta uirthi. T? dealbh na croiche greanta ar aghaidh thair cheann na croise.
D'?idt? clog gr??ne chun c?rsa? ama a shocr? sa mhainistir.
Luaitear d?ta i dt an 10? haois freisin leis an gcros mhaorga thiar, at? suite in aice leis an gcloigtheach. Ar aghaidh thoir cheann na croise t? Teacht Chriost an Athuair l?irithe, agus ar a ch?l sin t? deatbh na croiche. Laistigh de na r?ill? ar an taobh thuaidh den su?omh seo t? cros ard eile a bh? briste ach at? churtha le ch?ile aris.
[Gaelic version is a best effort but not exact]
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