Ever since I had read of the Rock
of Cashel I had wanted to see it. I had been in Ireland two
years before for a Christmas wedding of my daughter and had toyed
with the idea, but a travel agent had said that it would be very
cold and not really a good idea for such a trip at that time of
year. So we hadn't gone. But in 1999, when again revisiting County
Cork, we were destined to go--and we did!
We drove that day up the "Dublin Road" from
Cork City, passing through Watergrasshill,
Fermoy,
Mitchelstown, Cahir and
into the town of Cashel. The Rock towers over and dominates the
skyline and is very impressive. It is a short walk, a bit steep,
up the road from the parking area to the Monument.This is a very
interesting trip and very worth while. You can pass through the
Monument by yourself or wait for a guided tour, which we did.
Cashel will remain with us forever. The beauty, solitude, grandeur
and the massive structures were indelibly impressed upon our minds.
It is a wonderful sight to visit!
One first enters the Hall
of the Vicars Choral, where the Choir Singers lived in its
dormitory. It was built in the 15th century. Another building
that you will see is The Chapel of King Cormac, consecrated in
1134. Joining these buildings is the Cathedral built between 1235
and 1270. It is now roofless and has a gravel floor.
In Cormac's Chapel is a very old and beautiful sarcophagus
which has been thought to be the burial place of King
Cormac. It was originally found in the Cathedral and brought
into the Chapel for safe keeping over a hundred years ago.
The
Round Tower is so unique and perfectly round that it is inspiring.
It is nearly 28 meters in height. The doorway is above the ground
level and the tower was thought to be a place where the inhabitants
of the Rock
would climb to hide from invaders.
The Cathedral, built from 1235-1270.
The Cemetery at Cashel, near the Round Tower overlooks
the Irish countryside.
Click
the right arrow to go to Page 2 of Cashel.
