Though missing a large part of its top, this is a fine example of a round tower or free-standing belfry so typical of Irish church sites. As is usually the case, the doorway, which here has a semicircular arch, is well above ground level. The tower is situated in the north-west corner of the present graveyard. It is 5.6 metres in diameter and is just over 19 metres high. It is faced with well-shaped rectangular limestone blocks and the annals record that in 1124 it was built by Turlough O'Connor and O'Malone, the successor of Ciaran. It was damaged by lightning in 1135 and the present top with its eight openings is of later date.

The west of the graveyard and close to the Shannon are the remains of a strong castle built by the Chief Governor of Ireland in 1214. The main core was a masonry hall and courtyard, the surrounding banks would have been crowned by timber defensive structures. Its deliberate destruction may date from as early as 1300.

These two churches are joined together. The western church is named after Edmund Dowling of Clondalare who extended it westwards and re-roofed it in 1689. The eastern part of Temple Dowling is in fact an early masonry church from about the 11th century which had antae (projections of the side walls beyond the end walls, which carried the roof over the gable ends) and was faced with large stones set on edge. Its small original; round-headed east window now looks into Temple Hurpun, an addition of c. 1700

A plain retangulasr structure Temple Melaghlin dates from around 1200AD. A notable feature is the two-light east window with an internal moulded frame similar to other examples in the west of Ireland. It is associated with the Melaghlin family, the descendants of the kings of Meath.

The reputed burial place of St. Ciaran, this tiny church is the smallest of all the churches at Clonmacnoise, measuring only 3.8 by 2.8 metres internally. The original building is an early masonry church, probably of the early 10th century with antae and putlog holes for tying scaffolding through the walls. All of the south wall and the south half of the west wall are relatively modern work. The foundations of Temple Kelly, built in 1167 to replace a wooden church, can be seen to the west of Temple Ciaran.

The annals record that this, the largest of the Clonmacnoise churches, was originally built in 909 by Flann Sinna, King of Tara and Colman, Abbot of Clonmacnoise. The stonework of the original building, surviving mainly in the north wall, is of brown sandstone with deep antae and putlog holes exactly similar to that of Temple Ciaran. No other features survive from this earliest phase of the building and the present west doorway, in the traditional style between Romanesque and Gothic, dates from around 1200. The original sacristy was also added to the south side of the church at that time. Around the late 13th century the entire south wall was rebuilt 2 metres in from its original line probably because of structural problems with the original wall. The Cathedral was greatly embellished in the 1450's with the insertion of an elaborate vaulted canopy over the east end (now ruined), the insertion of the beautiful north doorway and the provision of accommodation with a fireplace above the sacristy. An inscription above the north doorway ascribes the work to Odo, dean of Clonmacnoise, who died in 1641. The carving on the doorway is exceptionally fine and above it are three saints, Dominic, Patrick and Francis. The last high king of Ireland, Rory O'Connor was buried close to the altar here in 1198.

This remarkable Romanesque church, with a complete round tower belfry attached at the junction of the nave and chancel, is situated at the edge of the graveyard closest to the Shannon. The tower is an integral part of the building which is thought to date from around 1160-70. The Romanesque chancel arch appears to have been damaged by fire at some stage and its present inner order is a later limestone replacement.

This little church is roofed and has been used since the 18th century by the Church of Ireland. The west doorway is in the transitional style and both it and the only original window, that at the east end of the south wall, indicate a date possibly as late as 1200.

About 500 metres to the east of the graveyard is the Nun's Church. The main church is a fine Romanesque nave and chancel structure with a finely carved doorway and chancel arch both reconstructed in the 19th century. The annals record the completion of this building in 1167 by the infamous Dearbhforgaill, wife of Tighearnan O'Rourke. Part of one wall of an earlier church survives in a field wall a few metres to the south-east.