CASHEL
THE FAMOUS SKYLINE OF THE ROCK OF CASHEL.
Cashel
(Caiseal) is one of the most distinctive towns in Ireland, particularly
if approached by the wide sweeping highway from the north. The cragged
rock on whose summit stand the stark sentinels of 800 year old ruins.
Like a fairytale Camelot rising sharply from the large plain, the Rock
of Cashel asserts itself in no uncertain terms. At sunset in particular
the atmosphere of the old kingdom is readily summoned.
Cashel of the Kings – the former capital of Munster. St. Patrick
arrived here in AD 432 and converted King Aengus who then became the
first Christian ruler in Ireland.
The Tourist Office is located in the centre of Main Street and
should be the starting point of any visit to the town. A display by
Leaving Certificate Students of various buildings and ruins in the town
together with a display of Cashel Blue, the famous Irish Cheese.
All this certainly adds to the atmosphere of this bustling Tourist Office.
Guided walking tours can be arranged from here (Admission charge).
Directly behind the Tourist Office is located the Moor Lane Tavern
which is a lovely old Irish Pub but with a difference — it has
a Beer Garden. At Rockside is Chez Hans a popular restaurant,
converted from a chapel, specialising in seafood and home-made ice-cream.
The Cashel Folk Museum of rural life is situated in Moor Lane
and is open Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 7.30pm (Admission charge). There
is a multi-lingual facility in this reconstruction of 18th century life.
Situated on the Rock of Cashel whose buildings date mainly from
the 12th and 13th centuries. The earliest of which is the Round Tower
— a remarkably well preserved construction with the entrance doorway
10ft above ground level, as was the custom.
Cormacs Chapel was begun in 1127 and with its ornately carved
beasts and human figures is a superb example of the Irish Romanesque
style and is in excellent condition.
