Cluain Mhic Nóis

The opening chapter of the novel, "Monastery," is set in Cluain Mhic Nóis. This is the place in Ireland where the monastery to which Trian and Cormac belong is located. Trian came to Cluain Mhic Nóis when he was 13 and his parents left him to the monks' care after discovering he was a hermaphrodite. Cormac came to Cluain Mhic Nóis after losing his family during the plague and converting to the Christian faith. The men have called Cluain Mhic Nóis home for many years, until the arrival of the esteemed scholar Artt.

After Artt dreams that he, Trian, and Cormac will sail away and create a monastic retreat on a remote island, the three men depart Cluain Mhic Nóis. Throughout the novel, Trian and Cormac often remember their lives at the monastery, comparing these past experiences to their new life...