CLONES, a market and post-town, and a parish, partly in the barony of CLONKELLY, county of FERMANAGH, and partly in the baronies of MONAGHAN and DARTRY, county of MONAGHAN, and province of ULSTER, 10 miles (w. S. W.) from Monaghan town, and 62 (N.W. by N.) from Dublin city; containing 22,554 inhabitants.

The ancient name of this place was ‘Cluan Innis,’ "the Island of Retreat,” it having formerly been nearly surrounded by water and more recently it was called ‘Cloanish’ or ‘Clownish.’ An abbey, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, was founded here in the early part of the 6th century, by St. Tigernach or Tierney, who, becoming Bishop of Clogher, removed that see to Clones, where he died of the plague in 550. The abbot was the ‘Primus Abbas,’ or first mitred abbot of Ireland. In 836, the abbey was burnt and in 939, Ceanfoile, Comarb of Clones and Clogher, died here.

The abbey was destroyed by fire in 1095, and, in 1184, the abbot Gilla Christ O'Macturan was elected Bishop of Clobber. In 1207, Hugh de Lacy destroyed the abbey and town; but five years after they were rebuilt by the English, who also erected a castle here. In 1316, and again in 1504, the abbot of Clones was elected Bishop of Clogher. In 1486 died the abbot Philip Mac Mahon, and, in 1502, the abbot James Mac Mahon, both relations of the Lords of Ergal. The abbey was dissolved by the act of Hen. VIII., and in the 29th of Elizabeth an inquisition was taken of its possessions.

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