The Rock of Cashel is also known as St. Patrick's Rock was the ancestral home of the Kings of Munster. Ireland did not have a supreme king but rather a series of sub-kings. These sub-kings would have a contest with mock battles and feats of strength and the winner would be elected as High King. The high King was mostly ceremonial as he did not have authority over the lesser kings. But he did get some bragging rights. We decided to visit this castle on our way to Tipperary since the sun was shining and the day was young. We popped into a bake shop for some lunch and then we were at the rock. This castle is most impressive most of the buildings were built after the King of Munster turned his lands over the the church. That is when the Cormac's Chapel was built 1135 and later the Cathedral 1235-1270. The round tower is the oldest and tallest building from approximately 1100. Everything was looking pretty good for being 900 years old!
Everyone had to slow down because there were horses on the road
Lush green fields
A decked out pub
A bit blustery
The gold salmon award!
Ruins dot the land
Usually along the waterways
Tipperary Town
A sculpture of dance and music
A rave from way back
Looking up at the castle
Blooms on the walls
The sheep have breached the outer wall, sound the alarm!
Lots of plants on the hill
It is certainly perched up on a tall hill
Hore Abbey is nearby, named from the Yew tree
Benedictines built this Abbey but were then evicted in 1270 and the Cistercians moved in
We are almost all the way up the hill
Very much intact from this side
It is very imposing
Home of the Kings of Munster
Enter ye tiny humans
Great arches.
In the 5th century the King of Munster was converted by St,. Patrick
In 1107 the king then donated this land to the church
Then more buildings were built but with a religious.
The cathedral was built between 1235 and 1270
The Cathedral roof was destroyed in the mid 1730's much to everyone's consternation
Of course without a roof the building suffered structural damage
Either a tomb or an altar
Great detail
These windows were not built with defense from enemies
Tombs within the cathedral
A later concrete addition
From the four arches we entered into this space
Definitely a tomb
Hanging out
Fish and a bunny on the crest
Lots of gates in these doorways
Got a case of the molds
Cormac's chapel was made of sandstone which is retaining water and the frescoes inside are being damaged
The openings are all sealed to dry out the interior
It is also closed to the public as intense UV lights are being used to kill the molds and lichen
The four arches, they have McDonalds beat
Laura for scale to the bottom right
Blocking the way
These are the only remaining Romanesque murals in Ireland. There are more but those are in the chapel that is bring treated and renovated
It is being treated to stop the spread of the mold
Many different levels to the passageways
The birds loved the structure as there were so many nooks and crannies to nest in
Each of these squares housed a bird family
The order of the louse?
Hooded crows
Outdoor graves
Rapunzel Rapunzel....let down your red hair
This large monument is broken at the top. It was built in 1860 it stood tall until 1976 when lightning struck and blasted the rock apart.
These are the parts that broke off
I am glad that I was not anywhere near these rocks raining down
From this angle you can see the damage on the top
Some newer gravesites
This side is almost intact
More bird houses
Lichen encrusted
Great roof
This roof is from the 1840's
Fun shutters
Tapestry, was Carol King here?
An organ player on the top
Sir Neighsalot
Another newer roof
Love the contrasting colors
Modern windows
There be dragons
Great door!
Town off in the distance
Great looking tree!
Nice mustache
St Patrick?
In the cultural center a wooden mural
Very authentic
