The Rock of Cashel is a castle/cathedral that sits on top of a giant rock that rises up from the Irish farmlands very near the center of the island. The name “Rock of Cashel” refers to the whole conglomeration, unlike “The Blarney Stone” which refers to the lipstick-smeared rock at the castle of the same name.
We stopped to see the Rock of Cashel on our drive south from Silvermines to Lismore, just outside of Cork, where we stayed the second half of our visit to Ireland. The Rock of Cashel is reputed to be the site where Saint Patrick himself baptised the formerly pagan King Aengus of Munster in the fifth century.
With its commanding view (on a really, really clear day you can see Boston) it’s not surprising it’s been a stronghold, both for the military and the church, for most of the centuries since then. The oldest structure on the rock is a tower built in 1100. The “much newer” cathedral was built in the late 1200’s. The cathedral is in ruins, unfortunately, but one aspect not seen in many cathedrals is the bishop’s residence directly attached to the cathedral.
The Rock of Cashel is truly an impressive sight to see, despite the number of Rikniks (tour guide and guide book author Rick Steves’ followers) that overrun the place. The Rock of Cashel offers great guided tours that are included in your admission fee: be sure to ask when you enter when the next tour is. We’ve decided that we love guided tours included with our price of admission. Don’t miss the cemetery and the fantastic view of the countryside, particularly toward the abbey ruins.
 |
| Our Guided Tour Group Ooohing and Aahing at Frescoes in Cormac’s Chapel |
 |
| A Copy of an Ancient Celtic Cross (If you can get your arms around it, you’ll have healthy teeth. Where do they come up with this stuff?) |
