The Rock Of Cashel

Ireland – one of the greenest countries in the world has much in its offer. Industrial estates and business parks seem to be hidden among high old towers, grounds full of trees and green hills. For this reason Ireland – country of dark beer and evergreen grass – is often called peaceful, the best place for dreaming… To know the country and its people better it is essential to leave Cork at least for one day and get know a little of Ireland.

One of the well known and interesting places worth visiting is The Rock Of Cashel. It is situated in the town of Cashel on the way to Dublin from Cork. You can see in Cashel something very characteristic of many Irish towns: namely the fact that places of interest like old medieval castles are surrounded by households and hardly ever separated from them.

According to the old legend when the Devil was flying above Cashel he saw St. Patrick preparing to built new church. It was so shocking that he dropped a big rock (this is how a big pass called Devil’s Bit emerged). Cashel is also the place where St. Patrick used shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. Since that time shamrock has become the unofficial symbol of Ireland.

In the 4th century Cashel belonged to Cormac, the king of Munster. In 5th century, when St. Patrick was baptized, it became the centre of Christianity. In 997 the King of Munster Brian Boru was coronated there. The 12th century is remembered as a time when most of Cashel was given to the church. One of the kings – Cormac MacCarthy built a small Romanesque church known as the Cormac’s Chapel. That’s one of the most beautiful and differentiated parts of the Church. There are many unusual features like paired towers, stone roofed chamber, remains of frescoes and richly carved sarcophagus.

One of the most interesting things in Cashel is the authentic St. Patrick’s Cross made of stone. In is more simple and modest than most of Celtic crosses. There is a sculpture of St. Patrick on one side and Jesus on the other. His left arm is supported by a pillar when right pillar is missing and it is said that two pillars symbolize the two offenders crucified with Jesus.

When going to Cashel it is necessary to get off the beaten track and visit Hore Abbey. Not many tourists go there despite the fact that ruins of monastery are well seen from the Cashel. Hore Abbey is situated in a nice green area from where it is possible to admire the beauty of quiet, tiny Irish town called Cashel.

Getting there: Bus Eireann 1:45h; by car-road N8 to Dublin.
Admission: adult €2.75, group € 2.00, child/student €1.25, family €7.00.
Facilities: Exhibitions, car park, new Audio Visual presentation, guide booklet in English, Irish, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
Other attractions in Cashel: Cashel Folk Village Museum, GPA Bolton Library, Brian Boru Heritage Centre.

Bru Boru National Heritage Centre
At foot of Rock of Cashel, Cashel
Open: all year Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, mid June to Mid Sep also open Tue to Sat until 9pm when evening show begins.

Cashel Folk Village
Dominick St, Cashel
Tel. 062 62525 or 062 61947

Cashel Heritage Centre
City Hall, Main St, Cashel
Tel. 062 61333