ROCK of CASHEL

It’s a long way to Tipperary! Not really. We enjoyed the bus ride through green countryside with singing, tall tales, and Irish wit and wisdom from our guide Stephen who was rapidly becoming our friend. The Rock of Cashel, beautiful in spite of challenging weather, was well worth the stop and “steep” in Irish history. A walk up the hill brought us to the Rock of Cashel, a fortified, walled-in complex of many layers of ancient buildings and architecture.

The historic seat of the ancient kings of this region and the site of early Christianity on the island, it is sometimes called St. Patrick’s Rock. It is said to be the place where St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, but also where the first high kings of Ireland accepted Christianity.

CONTINUE THE TOUR

St. Patrick's Cross

Iconic buildings included the first Romanesque church. We saw Celtic art including rare frescoes and architecture found no where else in Europe. The impressive ancient fortress on a hill captured our imagination of the battles of long ago. The round 12th century tower was built without mortar, and stands as the oldest and tallest structure among many. The use of the rock predates the Norman invasion of 1169. It wasn’t all that long ago as Irish history goes, because the results meant the continued influence of the English, and ultimately the revolution giving Ireland its independence. Our tour guide Stephen demonstrated a deep and rich knowledge of these events and brought the past to life for us on our continuing journey.

Round Tower, part of the oldest structure