Clonard, County Meath

Clonard (Irish: Cluain Ioraird, meaning 'Iorard's meadow')[2] is a small village in County Meath, Ireland.

Clonard is notable for being one of the earliest Christian sites in Ireland, being linked with the first Irish bishop Palladius c. 450 and as the location of a major early medieval monastery Clonard Abbey, founded in the 6th century by St. Finnian.

[3] Around 1177, Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, built a motte-and-bailey fortification at Clonard.

During the 1798 Rebellion on 11 July 1798 the Battle of Clonard took place at the Tyrrell fortified house (now in ruins) beside Leinster Bridge between around 2,000 United Irishmen and 27 British loyalists, the battle ended in a decisive British victory.

It is served by Bus Éireann services to Dublin and West of Ireland.

Clonard Motte