There has been a strong tradition attached to the parish, which tells us that Patrick, on his journey from Dromahair to Rossinver, spent one night at Cluain-Clare, where he established a church. In Cloonclare Cemetery there are extensive ruins of a church, which was in use up to 1780 when old St. Clare’s was built. This chapel was erected by the Very Rev. Francis Maguire, PP, 1780 – 1825. The site was obtained through the intercession of O’Donnell of Larkfield from Nathaniel Clements, 2nd Earl of Leitrim. He, the Earl of Enniskillen, Mr. Wynne of Hazelwood and other Protestants subscribed towards the cost of its erection. From the year 1816 St. Clare’s was improved and enlarged and the grounds enclosed and planted.

William Sydney Clements, the notorious 3rd Earl of Leitrim, on one occasion closed St. Clare’s before a Sunday Mass. He was followed on horseback by O’Donnell who, at pistol point, forced him to return and re-open the church on time for Sunday Mass.

The present church of St. Clare’s was built in 1883 by the then parish priest Dr. John Maguire. The architect was William Hague Jr. of Cavan. The contractor was Clarence of Ballisodare from where the limestone came. The large pillars were brought on rollers from the local station. When completed it was said to be the finest limestone-faced church in Ireland. Unfortunately, during a heavy storm in 1884 (not the storm known as the ‘Big Wind’ which happened 6-7 January 1839) the roof caved in. The damage was set right by a firm from Belfast. Two additional pillars and a number of high tensile steel bars now secure the church.

Since then there have been many improvements to St. Clare’s. Mgr. Patrick Soden who was PP from 1915 – 1942 was responsible for the beautiful mosaic in the sanctuary. Further work was done by the late Canon Michael O’Rourke, PP in 1956. In 1981, very considerable work was done to secure the roof, which showed signs of wet rot and worm infestation. The sanctuary area has been re-designed to suit the requirements of the modern liturgy and the walls and ceiling tastefully decorated.

A magnificent sliver chalice presented in 1739 by Sir Bryan Maguire to the Franciscan Monastery of Lisgool, Co. Fermanagh, and which was afterwards the property of Bishop Maguire, is now in St. Clare’s, Manorhamilton.

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