Rock of Cashel
Medieval Heritage Sight on the Plain of Tipperary
Day 3 – Visit to the "Rock" on Our Drive from Dublin to Kinsale
Leaving Dublin and the Kilmainham Gaol, we got our first look at Ireland's green fields and farms. Midway, we toured the Rock of Cashel – a group of ecclesiastic buildings perched upon a 200 foot limestone outcropping in County Tipperary. The site dates back to the 5th century, when the ancient kings of Munster ruled. St. Patrick came to the fortress around AD 450 to baptize King Aengus.
The ruins seen today date back to the 11th century when the Rock was given to the Church. The subsequently built structures represent three architectural styles: early Christian, Romanesque, and Gothic. The large collection of medieval buildings show Christianity's rising influence and power during the Middle Ages. Our guided tour was a fascinating addition to our growing knowledge of Irish history.
We met our guide at St. Patrick's Cross. This is a copy of the 12th century cross that was erected to celebrate the Church's acquisition of the Rock.
The 12th century round bell tower is the oldest building remaining on the site. It is made of stacked stone and rises 92 feet. It served as a lookout and storage place for the monks' precious treasures.
The huge chunk lying on the ground (lower right corner) is a portion of the structure that was knocked down by a massive storm in 1848.
Note the gargoyles carved into the cathedral wall.
The cathedral, built in the 13th century, features the high ceilings and pointed arches typical of the Gothic style.
This is the cathedral's choir section with its tall, narrow Gothic windows.
The tall, O'Scully family crypt dominates the graveyard.
The ruins of the 13th century Hore Abby can be seen below the fortress wall, and beyond lies the Plain of Tipperary.
After our morning tour, we hiked down from the Rock to a cafe where we were treated to a group lunch. Our guide, Paul, instructed each of us to sit with our buddy and get acquainted over lunch.
Later in the day, we settled into the Friar's Lodge in Kinsale. Paul invited us to gather together for a wee nip of sherry, and we each took a turn introducing our buddy to the group. It was a great way to get to know everyone!
About Those Days on the Bus
First of all, Rick Steves' tours all travel in full-size buses. Our small group had plenty of room in which to spread out. Secondly, our bus was equipped with a first-rate sound system. Paul, a former school teacher, kept us entertained with tall tales and historic facts that prepared us for the day's activities. He had a great playlist of Irish tunes, both traditional and contemporary, to help set the mood. He taught us how to use AirDrop on our iPhones, and we had great fun sharing group photos.
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Then, there was our excellent driver, Mark. He was a real pro! We traveled over some pretty narrow roads when we got out on the west coast. We marveled at the way he threaded the big bus through some tight spots, especially when we met another bus.
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Finally, Ireland is a small country, and our 14-day tour was filled with amazing stops on each of our travel days. We never felt like we were on a long, boring journey!
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Our journey through County Tipperary was only the first memorable travel day on our 14-day tour. We arrived in Kinsale for a two-night stay and another great three-course group dinner.
