Cashel Things to Do Tips by Krumlovgirl Top 5 Page for this destination

Rock of Cashel

The Rock of Cashel really is an amazing site. It sits right outside the center of Cashel on a large mound of limestone. Large stone walls encircle a complete round tower, a roofless abbey, a 12th century Romanesque chapel, and numerous other buildings and high crosses. It is composed of four structures which are the Hall of the Vicars Choral, the cathedral, the round tower, and Cormac's Chapel. Hore Abbey (also worth visiting) is about one kilometer north at the base of the rock.

Address: 500m from centre of Cashel town off the Dublin Roa

Phone: +353 62 61437

Cormac's Chapel

Built in 1127, Cormac's Chapel is a small, solid, stone roofed chapel of cruciform shape. Inside the main door to the left is a stone sarcophagus, dating from 1125 - 1150, said to house the body of King Cormac. Snakes are carved in the stone in a figure "8" on its side to represent infinity or eternity. The interior is dark, but you will easily recognize the stone head carvings around the ceiling. The builders carved a likeness of their head and incorporated them into the building to signify their involvement in the building of the chapel. Restoration work is underway to remove the whitewash on the ceiling. Underneath the whitewash is beautiful and brightly painted fresco.

Rock of Cashel Cathedral

The cathedral is a 13th century Gothic structure that overshadows the other ruins. Rising over the center of the cathedral is a huge, square tower with a turret on one corner. Scattered throughout, are panels from the 16th century alter tombs and coats of arms from the Butlers. The cathedral is the large structure on the left side in the picture to the right. Cormac's Chapel is the small structure on the right side in the picture.