Royal Sites of Ireland

The Rock of Cashel is a prominent rock outcrop just north of Cashel town, rising almost 100m above the surrounding plain. It is a dominant feature in the landscape with extensive views. Considering the name, archaeology and topographical character of the Rock, it seems likely that this royal site was originally a stone fortification on an imposing and naturally defensive rock outcrop. Cashel became recognised from around the 8th century AD as the provincial capital of Munster.

The overkings of Munster in historic times were often known as kings of Cashel, with evidence from the 7th to 12th century AD pointing to their being inaugurated at the Rock of Cashel. Archaeological excavation beside Cormac’s Chapel has shown that there was a small wooden church and cemetery here in the 9th century and it seems that several of the kings of Cashel from this period also held ecclesiastical offices. Cashel then becomes a centre for intense Christian activity unlike the other provincial capitals, possibly because the kings of Munster adopted Christianity early on. The Rock was given to the church in 1101 and the surviving structures date mostly from the 12th and 13th century. Together they form one of the most remarkable assemblages of Celtic art and architecture to be found anywhere in Europe.

Rock of Cashel CO. Tipperary

Cormac’s Chapel

Hall of the Vicars Choral

The Cathedral

County Tipperary

Historic Periods Early - High and Late Medieval Period

Altitude 109 m

Coordinates 52°31′12″N 7°53′25″W

KEY FEATURES

While recognised from the 8th century AD as one of the provincial capitals of Ireland, the Rock does not as yet appear to have had lengthy earlier use as a centre for ritual and assembly. The earliest material found on the hilltop dates from around 400/500 AD. There are traces of apparent defensive works around the perimeter of the Rock including walls, scarping, ditches and possible enclosures. Whatever original secular royal site was here has been submerged beneath the triumphant panoply of ecclesiastical structures, which form a unique and distinctive outline against the sky.

Cormac’s Chapel

Dating from the 12^th century, the chapel of Cormac Mac Carthaigh King of Desmond (South Munster), is the finest and most complete Romanesque church in Ireland. Expertly constructed of coursed sandstone block, it contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland. Other notable features include an exquisitely carved tympanum depicting a small centaur hunting a lion. The chapel has recently been the subject of extensive conservation works by the OPW.

Round Tower

The Round Tower is the oldest surviving building on site. It dates to the early 12th century and was probably built by Muircheartach Uí Briain and completed around 1101, the year the site was gifted to the church. It is 28m tall from base to the top of the conical stone-capped roof and was made from limestone and sandstone.

The Cathedral

This massive 13^th century cruciform plan, limestone rubble-built Gothic cathedral is centrally located in the outcrop summit. It was constructed around Cormac’s Chapel, incorporating its west gable, and has a 15^th century tower house built into the western end of its nave. A highly decorated wall painting depicted the crucifixion has recently been discovered and conserved in the south transept.

Hall of the Vicars Choral

This 15^th century restored medieval building functioned as a hall for a group of eight Vicars Choral, a mix of laymen and clerics engaged to chant the services in the cathedral. The building contains the original sandstone St Patrick’s High Cross and a well-hidden Sheela-na-gig on its south-eastern outer wall corner.