Rock of Cashel

Silhouetted against the sky, rising above the lush green fields of the surrounding countryside, the Rock is home to over 1,000 years of history, right at the heart of Ireland's Ancient East...

We should start all the way back in the 5th century, and the Rock’s association with Ireland's early Christian heritage, when it was also the Seat of the High Kings of Munster. It’s on this spot that St Patrick converted King Aengus to Christianity. Legend has it that during the baptism, St Patrick inadvertently placed his sharp-pointed crosier on the king’s foot under the water, causing it to bleed. Thankfully, Aengus believed it to be all part of the ceremony! 

The Eóghanachta clan ruled the region for centuries, but lost possession to the O’Briens in the 10th century under their leader, Brian Boru. And in 1101, his ancestor decided to present the Rock of Cashel to the church as a gift.

From humble beginnings, the buildings atop the Rock grew over the years to become the complex of interlocking structures that make it such a marvel.

At its centre is the 13th century cathedral anchoring the Rock, while the 15th century Hall of the Vicars Choral is where laymen once chanted cathedral services – their voices could be heard for miles. In the dark and damp of Cormac’s Chapel, 800-year-old frescoes line the archways: gold-headed saints, hands layered over sapphire blue, and robes of blood red strain to be seen against centuries of decay.