According to tradition the church is dedicated to Saint Aidan, who is also associated with the larger nearby ecclesiastical site of Ferns. The upstanding archaeological remains at Clone consist of a medieval church, as well as three cross-slabs, a sundial, two bullaun stones and a recently discovered piece of passage-tomb rock art. From 2019 to 2021 the Irish Heritage School undertook geophysical surveys and two seasons of community excavations at the site. These excavations revealed a multi-vallate monastic complex, one circuit of which dates from the early fifth century. The excavations were run as a public heritage initiative and incorporated an elongated educational program, including site tours, vlogging, blogging, children’s workshops etc.
Want to know more… check out Archaeology Ireland 34 (4) or Discovering medieval Ferns, County Wexford.