Much of Ciaran's life has been recorded by annalists who have combined truth and legend. For this reason we must not take the accounts of his life as purely historical. Clonmacnoise was founded by Ciaran Mac an Tsair, son of a carpenter from Fuerty in Co. Roscommon. When he was young he attended the school of St. Finnian at Clonard. It was here he met up with the saintly youths who were known as the "Twelve Apostles of Erin". When he had spent a few years in the school he decided to leave and go to Aran. It is here that he met Enda. One night the two of them had the same vision "of a great fruitful tree, beside a stream, in the middle of Ireland, and it protected the island of Ireland, and its fruit went forth over the sea that surrounded the island, and the birds of the world came to carry off somewhat of its fruit". And when Ciaran told Enda of his dream Enda said: "The great tree which thou beholdest is thou thyself, for thou art great in the eyes of God and men, and all Ireland will be full of thy honour. This island will be protected under the shadow of thy favour, and multitudes will be satisfied with the grace of thy fasting and prayer. Go then, with God's word, to a bank of a stream, and there found a church". Ciaran then proceeded North up the Shannon founding two monasteries, at Inis Ainghin and Ard Tiprait, on the way. Then on on 23 January, 544 Ciaran, with many helpers, started to build the great Abbey of Clonmacnoise. It was finished on the 6 May, a few months later. Although, Ciaran's role as "ruler" of Clonmacnoise was short-lived. The annals say that he died on the 9 September 544 of a plague which struck the country aged 33. He is buried at Eclais beg or little church. Since this was also Christ's age we can probably see a good example of the annalists coloured view of history. However, even though their chief monk and founder was gone the people of Clonamcnoise still made it into the most important monastery in Europe with scholars from many countries coming to receive the great knowledge Ciaran bestowed on them. Along with Armagh, Clonmacnoise was the greatest of the monastic schools of Ireland.