Clone

UPDATE October 2019 A targeted geophysical survey was undertaken on the site. The survey revealed a pair of broadly concentric enclosures. The outer enclosure is c.3m wide separated by what was presumably once a bank (c. 6.0m wide). Approximately 25m inside the outer enclosure is an inner enclosure. The inner ditch is c.1m in width. Further analyses continue on a number of broadly radial enclosure elements throughout the area.

In Ireland early ecclesiastical sites were usually delimited by a curvilinear enclosure, while in the case of important ones there can be two, and in a few cases three, widely-spaced concentric enclosures. The symbolic significance of this layout is explained in the early 8th century ‘Collectio Canonum Hibernensis’:- ‘There ought to be two or three termini around a holy place:
the outer, SANCTUS [holy], in which men who have been guilty of homicide, adulterers and prostitutes, with permission and according to custom, we do not prevent form going within’.
the middle, SANCTIOR[holier], into the streets the crowds of common people, not much given to wickedness, we allow to enter;
the inner sanctissimus [holiest], in which we allow no one at all to enter except priests, because laymen do not come near it, nor women unless they are clerics. MJH

Arriving in Ferns on the N11, turn onto Station Road and then take the first right.
Drive 1.3 kilometres and take the 2nd right onto Clone Road. The church is a further 800 metres in a large field on the left.

Irish National Monument No. 665

British Sundial Society SR No 4220

Lat 52° 34' North Long 6° 30' West

IRISH GRID T ³01430 ¹47350

	The 300mm wide by 100mm thick "stem" of the sundial rises 950mm above ground. It branches out into a 500mm diameter semi-circular "bowl" shaped head with a 200mm diameter semi-circular projection on the top. There are twelve timelines and nothing remains of the gnomon but the hole where a gnomon would have fitted. The function of the second hole in the top projection is a matter of conjecture.
	The end of the sundial shaft (see opposite), which was buried in the ground at Clone, is now visible at Tintern Abbey and had been shaped to fit into a socketed stone in much the same way as the High Crosses were (see below). Socket stone at Kells, Co. Meath
	Drawing by the Geologist/Antiquarian/Artist George V.Du Noyer 16^th June 1862. In addition to the detailed dimensions, notes on the drawing read "Ancient Sun dial from the bank of the stream 200ft ESE of the old church of Clone Co. Wexford. Sheet 15/4" "1½miles Southeast of Ferns" "Back. This part of the stone beveled" "Holes perforate the stone .....an 1½ inch apart. the lower hole slopes upwards" "Slab of grey cist 4” thick"