Royal Sites of Ireland | Rock of Cashel

The Rock of Cashel is a prominent rock outcrop crowned with a striking silhouette of former ecclesiastical buildings, rising almost 100m above the surrounding plain, with Cashel town extending to the north. It is a dominant feature in the landscape with extensive views to and from the Rock. Considering the name Caisil, the archaeology and topographical character of the Rock, it seems likely that this royal site was originally a stone fortification sited 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 revealed that there was a small wooden church and cemetery in this location in the 9th century and it seems that several of the kings of Cashel from this period also held ecclesiastical offices. Unlike the other provincial capitals, Cashel then becomes a centre for intense Christian activity, possibly due to the early adoption of Christianity by the Kings of Munster. In 1101, the Rock was handed over to the Church and the surviving structures date mostly from the 12th and 13th centuries. 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

Wall Paintings of Cormac's Chapel

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 existed on the summit has been obscured beneath the triumphant panoply of ecclesiastical structures that form a unique and distinctive outline against the sky.

Cormac’s Chapel

Dating from the 12^th century, the chapel of Cormac MacCarthaigh 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 and environmental 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 bestowed upon 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 Gothic cathedral of cruciform plan, and built of limestone rubble walling with fine cut stone detail is centrally located in the outcrop summit. It accommodated the earlier Cormac’s Chapel, incorporating its west gable, and includes a 15^th century tower house built into the western end of its nave. A highly decorated wall painting depicting 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.