Árd Na Rí is a creative space of infinite potentiality. In 2001 the lowest sound levels in Ireland were recorded here.
Árd na Rí is a three hundred year old house built from the stones from the monastery at Clonmacnoise. The house was owned by the Molloy family up until 1996 on the death of Nan Molloy. This house has been host to many eminent people including the poet Samuel Ferguson, and to quote James Stephens when referring to the house that is now Árd na Rí: “This house entertained poets, orators, statesmen, statisticians and titled folk”. Back in 1830 Pat Molloy entertained the famous George Petrie, the great antiquarian author and artist of Round Tower fame, who stayed in the house for three months. One of his original paintings of O' Rourke's Tower Clonmacnoise, painted during his stay in the house, hung above the fireplace for 150 years. A letter to Mr. Pat Molloy from Petrie dated 12/01/1838 hangs on the wall of the drawing room. The song Danny Boy, was music that was retrieved by Petrie, from a Mrs Ross from Limavaddy, it was originally known as the Derry Air.
The renowned Mr. John Redmond, the Irish Premier who had secured Home Rule, which was passed in law and waiting to shortly come into effect, took time to stay here in 1915. The house is located within 75 yards from the monastic site and is overlooked by the seven churches and two round towers of Clonmacnoise.
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