Cashel Of The Kings.

Chormacs Chapel, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Vicars Choral (restored now serves as a Museum) in one location known as the Rock of Cashel.

Cashel derives its name from Caiseal Mumhan meaning the stone fort of Munster. In the centre of the town is a 1730 mansion, Cashel Palace Hotel. Guinness was first brewed here. It was designed by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce and was once the home of the Protestant Archbishop. There are two Mulberry trees in the gardens dating back to Queen Mary.

Quirkes castle (Kearneys castle) a former tower house shows battlements and gargoyles. It is now a hotel. The G.P.A. Bolton Library is situated in the grounds of the Church of Ireland. It houses a rare collection of books and manuscripts.

The Town Hall is now the home of Cashel Heritage Centre and also has a museum

On the way to the Rock (St. Patricks Cathedral) is the Dominican Friary it was founded in 1243 it has a beautiful 13th C East window.

About a quarter of a mile West of the Rock is a Cistercian Abbey (Hore Abbey Right below) founded in 1266, it is a sister Abbey to Mellifont. Located just south of the 'Rock of Cashel', the abbey sits in farmland among sheep and cattle. A former Benedictine monastery, the abbey was founded by the Cistercian's in 1272. It was the last of the Cistercian abbey's founded during Medieval Times in Ireland and was dissolved in 1540. There is an unobstructed view of the abbey from the south side of the 'Rock of Cashel'.

Below left view of St. Patrick's Cathedral (Rock) from its Western side, below right and middle bottom view of Hore Abbey from the Rock.

The Rock of Cashel: Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Cormaic's Chapel.

The main structure, the cathedral was built in the 13th C. It occupies the site of Donal Mor O’Brien’s cathedral built in 1169 . It is cruciform in shape with a long choir, very short nave and two chapels in each transept. Also on the site of the Rock is, Cormac's chapel c.1127, it is constructed of sandstone and is a superb example of Hiberno-Romanesque Architecture.

Left, the Coronation Stone(4th C). Saint Patrick’s Cross (12th C) was set into it. The Coronation Stone is housed in the Vicars Choral which is a 15th C building now fully restored with museum & visitors multilingual audio visual room.

Right Saint Patrick's Cathedral interior. Image left runs East West, showing the view from the nave to the choir and image right runs North South, showing the transepts.

The Rock of Cashel.
The site, is a limestone outcrop dominating the skyline. Conall Corc built a defensive position on the site of the Rock in the 4/5th C. St. Patrick’s Rock became the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. Originally it was the seat of the Kings of Munster until Brian Boru High King of Ireland came to power and in 1101 Muircheartach O’Brien handed the Rock over to the Church.The Rock comprises of several buildings built during different periods. Cormac's chapel was begun in 1127 and was completed in 1134, it is constructed of sandstone and is a superb example of Hiberno-Romanesque Architecture.

Left, stone carving from tomb in the North transept of Saint Patrick's Cathedral interior.

Right stone carving from tomb in the North transept of Saint Patrick's Cathedral interior. The stone carving seems to depict family trees interwoven.

Detail from tomb above. Which forms the background to this page.

A plaque depicting a coat of arms dated 1607. Below detail from upper left side of the coat of arms, they seem to be lions heads.

Detail from plaque above.

Above detail from Tympanum, at North Entrance to Cormaic's Chapel (from c.1127).

Above left, Cormaic's Chapel exterior (Eastern View), and right, sarcophagus from the interior.

Guided Tours: Available on request.
Max. No: 50
Duration: 45 mins.
Please note that all groups should be pre-booked.
Leaflet/Guide Booklet: English, Irish, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Audio Visual Presentation: "Stronghold of the Faith".
Seating: 109
Duration: 17 mins.
Languages: English, French, German and Italian.
Facilities: Exhibitions, public toilets and car/coach park close to site.

Admission Charges C

Admission Charges C. Prices in Euro
Adult     Sen/Group     Child/Student     Family
5.30         3.70                 2.10             11.50