ROCK OF CASHEL
Carriag Phadraig (Patrick's Rock)
Cashel, County Tipperary

The Rock of Cashel is a very prominent feature on the Cashel Plains, as well as the town of Cashel itself. The site sits high on a hill overlooking the town like a miniature Camelot. Indeed, this location was used in the filming of the 1981 movie, "Excalibur.

For more than a millennium, this rocky stronghold was a symbol of royalty and priestly power throughout Munster, and Ireland. Beginning in the 5th century, this was the seat of the Kings of Munster, one of the four provinces of Ireland, whose kingdom stretched over much of Ireland's south and southwest. Its greatest king later became the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru.

In 1101, Cashel was handed over to the church where it flourished as a religious

center until it was laid siege upon by Oliver Cromwell's army's in 1649. This resulted in the deaths of more than 3000 people. Hore Abbey, which sits at the base of the Rock, was finally abandon in the late 18th century.

While in ruin, the site is completely open to visitors and offers a wonderful peak into Ireland's Medieval past. Enter by walking up the steep driveway to the old Dormitory which, now serves as the ticketing office and a small museum.

One of the first things visitors will see upon exiting the ticketing office is a large stone structure that appears to be the cathedral. In fact, the structure is made up of the 13th century cathedral, a medieval castle, and a 12th century chapel. The round tower is detached from the main structure, but one of the more prominent features.
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The Castle is the first structure of note and recognizable by the high tower and arrow slits in the walls. While the castle is not open to the public, one can make out the vaulted roof of the great hall and the main sleeping chamber above. The castle looks to be made up of three main features, but what in fact looks like an entry into the castle is actually the cathedral porch. The keep was built onto the back of the porch. Walk through the doorway and the keep's entrance is on the left with a view into the now-hollowed out keep.

On the grass in front of the castle appears to be a boulder, but is in fact, a corner of the castle that rests where it fell when the castle was besieged in 1647, victim of the Confederate Wars. Notice the thickness of the walls. The castle is closed, but can be partially viewed from just inside the entrance to the cathedral.

The Cathedral is located beside and attached to the castle. The Cathedral was built between 1235 and 1270 and is the largest building on the site, though not the tallest. From the air one would see the traditional cruciform, or cross shape, of the structure that is common among cathedrals.

Within the walls of the cathedral are many features worth looking at. Several carved tombs can be fund in the North Transept. The carvings are remarkably detailed considering their age and the fact that they are exposed to the elements.

The Choir contains the 17th century tomb of Miler Magrath. He caused great scandal by being both a Protestant and Catholic archbishop at the same time!

At the center of the Cathedral is the area known as "The Crossing". Look up and see the lovely detailed arch where the four sections of the building come together.

Cormac's Chapel was consecrated in 1134 and also known as the Chapel of King Cormac. It's located beside the cathedral and is said to be the "Jewel of Cashel." It's easy to see why. Unlike most Romanesque churches around Ireland that have simple architecture with isolated decorated features, Cormac's Chapel is quite a sophisticated structure.

The Abbot of Regensburg in Germany sent two carpenters to Ireland to assist with the construction of this chapel. The twin towers on each side of the nave junction show their German influences, which are otherwise unfamiliar in Ireland. Other architectural features worth note include the Romanesque arched entrance and tympanum featuring a helmeted centaur with a bow and arrow aimed at a lion, perhaps a symbol of good over evil. Within the chapel is a stunning barrel-vaulted ceiling, dual arched nave with hand carved faces and the remains of a tomb with hand carved stonework on the facade. The original tomb now resides at the National Museum on Kildare Street, Dublin, and was most probably the tomb of the 12th century king of Munster, Cormac Mac Carthaig (Cormac McCarthy), who ordered the construction of the chapel. He was slain in 1138.

Also within the chapel are the best preserved Irish frescos from this time period. It's unknown why they were eventually plastered over, but with recent restoration of the chapel, some of these frescoes have been reveled and are quite stunning and colorful.

The Round Tower dates back to around 1100 and stands 92 feet. It's the oldest and tallest building on the site. The purpose of round towers are fairly obscure, though they were known as both a storage place for valuables and lookout towers. The doorway is typically above ground level, averaging ten to twelve feet. The lookout would signal intruders advancing. Cashel priests and students would climb a ladder and up into the many levels of stairs to fill the tower, then the ladder was raised up inside. Intruders could not get up inside the Tower and since the food was also kept there, those seeking refuge would usually outlast the intruders, seeing them leave eventually. Occasionally towers had their bases chipped away at until the tower fell over, but this was rare as these towers sit on holy ground and even some marauders won't destroy buildings of God. As well as that, the bases were usually solid stone all the way up to the door!

Other prominent features -

Hall of Vicars Choral essentially has six parts -- the ticketing office, museum, theater, dormitory, small kitchen and the hall. The museum houses original artifacts found on the site during excavations. This building is of 15th century construction.

O'Scally Monument was erected in 1870 and dedicated to the O'Scally family. In 1976 a particularly rough storm swept through this valley. Lightening struck a metal rod that ran the length of the cross, shattering it. The top of the cross can be seen by walking behind the monument to see where some of it rests against the massive stone wall that encircles the site. Another part of the cross rolled down the hill and rests near another section of wall. You can see by the size of the stones that this must have been a terrible storm.

Saint Patrick's Cross, the original, now resides inside the museum to protect it from the elements. Patrick was said to have visited Cashel in 450 and the cross was erected in his honor. The east side of the cross shows the image of St. Patrick carved into its surface.

While visiting the Rock of Cashel, be sure to walk the walls to take in the splendid Cashel Plains. This valley is made up of three branches. The east-west route stretches from Waterford west to Limerick, the north-south route being a slightly shorter area encompassing Thurles south to Tipperary town. Because of the wide-open nature of this valley, this is a popular place for air events, such as hot air ballooning and the Red Bull Air Race, which was held in 2006 and attracted upwards of 40,000 people.

Also nearby is Hore Abbey, also Hoare Abbey and sometimes called St. Mary's. It's thought that the word Hore/Hoare is derived from the Irish iubhair, which means yew tree. The abbey was originally founded in 1270 as a Benedictine abbey, but it was given to the Cistercians by Archbishop David MacCearbhiall, who later entered the monastery himself, endowing the monastery with lands, mills and other benefices.

~ Paid attraction
~ Parking available
~ Steep walk from car park, access on gravel paths, cathedral interior completely graveled

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/South-East/RockofCashel