The Rock of Cashel, also known as St. Patrick’s Rock, is a historic site located in County Tipperary.
It’s one of Ireland’s most iconic ancient landmarks. And it really stands out, rising out of the Golden Vale of Tipperary.
Though evocative, it’s quite a mishmash of medieval treasures.
If you take a medieval fortress, Gothic cathedral, Romanesque chapel, and bishop’s residence and smoosh that all together in a relatively small space, you’ll get the awesome Rock of Cashel.
You may have seen it before — in princess or King Arthur movies. It’s also up for UNESCO status.
Grit and grim history clings to the Rock. If you are heading from Dublin in the east to County Kerry or County Cork in the west, it’s the perfect mid-way stop!
Quick Tips:
- The Rock is in the small town of Cashel in County Tipperary.
- Try to arrive early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds.
- You can pre-book a ticket online on the website.
- You can only visit Cormac’s Chapel on a guided tour, which you must book onsite when you arrive.
- The Rock is a medieval site with uneven terrain, cobblestone paths, and some steps.
Mini History Of The Rock Of Cashel
The History Bit
The Rock of Cashel stands on limestone outcrop 200 feet high.
The earliest surviving structures on the Rock of Cashel date from the 12th century. But it’s likely that some form of wooden church or other buildings existed on the site earlier.
By the 4th century, the Rock was fortified and was the seat of the High Kings of Munster for several hundred years before the Norman invasion.
Ireland’s most famous king, Brian Borg, was crowned High King of Ireland there in 978.
After that, in the 12th century, another king gave the Rock to the church and it became a major religious center.
In 1552, it became one of Ireland’s four bishoprics. From then on, the Bishop of Cashel resided there in a nice comfy “gaff” (Irish slang for house).
No archbishop could be without his own cathedral, so one was added in 1270.
It all was fine for a few centuries.
But then, in the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell intervened. In addition to butchering every Irish person who looked crooked at him, he looted and destroyed the Rock of Cashel and its treasures.
The Rock was pretty much destroyed as a place of worship. But then, happily, in the 20th century, it became a popular tourist attraction.
In fact, Queen Elizabeth specifically asked to visit the Rock during her historic visit to Ireland in 2011.
The rest, as they say, is history.
The Mythology Bit
The Rock is associated with the legend of St. Patrick’s Banishing of the Devil. It’s intertwined with the Christianization of Ireland.
The story goes that during his mission to convert Ireland to Christianity in the 5th century, St. Patrick visited the area near what is now the Rock of Cashel. While there, he encountered a powerful demon or the devil himself.
St. Patrick, in his holy fervor, banished the devil from a nearby mountain known as the Devil’s Bit (located about 20 miles from Cashel). As the devil fled, he took a bite out of the mountain in anger or frustration.
The piece of rock that the Devil bit off was spat out and landed in the plain below, forming the Rock of Cashel.
Later, St. Patrick baptized the King of Munster on the Rock.
Guide To Rock Of Cashel: What To See
Hall of the Vicar’s Choral
This hall is the spot where you enter the site. The hall was built in the 15th century and restored in 1975.
It’s a nice mixture of worked stone and decorative wood. It once housed minor clerics appointed to sing and chant during church services.
Unlike the rest of the complex, it’s well preserved and almost baronial.
A large wall tapestry shows King Solomon with the Queen of Sheba. It’s intentionally imperfect, as the weavers thought only god was perfect.
The hall also houses the weathered 12th century high cross of St. Patrick, which was moved indoors for preservation in 1982. A replica is outside near the entrance.
The hall is home to an audio-visual theater to give you the scoop on the history of the Rock.
Round Tower
Dating from around 1100, the Round Tower is one of the oldest structures on the site. It was built using local limestone and stands at approximately 100 feet tall.
The tower is cylindrical and tapers slightly as it rises, a typical feature of Irish round towers.
The entrance is 12 feet above ground. The monks would shimmy up a ladder and then pull it up to prevent entry.
The Round Tower served as a bell tower to call the faithful to prayer, a lookout post, and a place of refuge. In times of attack, valuable religious items and manuscripts could be stored safely within its thick stone walls.
Cormac’s Chapel
This is a small — but magnificent — Romanesque Chapel, which was built by Cormac MacCarthy and consecrated in 1134.
It’s considered the earliest and finest surviving example of a Romanesque church in all of Ireland and even in Europe.
It’s a relatively sophisticated structure with vaulted ceilings, wide arches, and carved tympanums over both doorways.
The chapel boasts one of the best preserved Irish frescos from the medieval period, which has been painstakingly restored.
At the west end stands a sarcophagus, probably that of Cormac or his brother.
Even more impressive is the tympanum over the north door. It depicts a grinning monster with its clawed feet trampling two animals.
There are replicas of what the complex once looked like for you to peruse as well.
You can only visit the chapel on one of the Rock’s guided tour. I confess I snuck in when one was leaving to inspect the place.
Cathedral
The Gothic cathedral was finished in 1270. It must have been a relief to the workers because the structure took 40 years to put up.
Unfortunately, the roof is gone, making it a bit of a cold, echoing shell. It was removed (who knows why) by the Anglican archbishop Arthur Price.
That exposed the site to the elements. But there’s still much to admire. And the scale is grand.
Both transepts (the arms of the cross shaped layout) have beautiful triple lancet windows.
There are chapels and 16th century tomb niches, many with animals carved in to them.
The four story bishop’s residence was at the western end of the cathedral nave.
Graves
Beyond the Rock itself lie the walled grounds. It was once considered a great honor to be buried here.
The space is home to the graves of long dead priests, monks, and aristocrats. Some are extremely ancient and marked with Irish high crosses.
Things To Do In Cashel Town
If you have the time, you can potter about Cashel. It’s just a short jog away.
You’ll find plenty of traditional Irish pubs and good restaurants. Ladyswell Restaurant is a keeper!
You can also check out Cashel Folks Village. It’s an old world museum with a fab collection of historical memorabilia about Ireland’s War of Independence, the Easter Rising, and documents on the Great Irish Famine.
The Bolton Library has the country’s finest collection of antiquarian books outside Dublin. There are works by Dante, Swift, and Machiavelli.
Another place you may want to visit is Hore Abbey, which you can actually see from the Rock.
Don’t worry, it’s not named for medieval hookers. “Hore” derives from the Irish word “iubhair,” which means yews tree.
The ruins are quite impressive and date from the 13th century.
Tips For Visiting The Rock Of Cashel
How To Get To the Rock
The drive from Dublin to the Rock of Cashel takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
There’s a designated parking lot. You pay at the machine on the way out.
There is a steep path leading up to the entrance.
There are guided day tours from Dublin that include the Rock of Cashel as part of a full-day itinerary. They are long — lasting 12-13 hours.
Tickets & Hours
Tickets are 8 euros per person or 20 euros for a family.
Cormac’s Chapel can only be visited on a guided tour, which you can book when you arrive. Check the website for times. The tour takes 20 minutes and it’s first come first serve.
The Rock is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm from mid March to mid October. The other months it closes at 4:30 pm.
Best View
The best place to take a iconic photo of the Rock is a bit north along the R66o or the R639.
Pro Tip
When you’re done visiting the Rock, you have the option of making the short walk towards Home Abbey. The route is signposted.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the Rock of Cashel. You may find these other Ireland travel guides useful:
- Dublin bucket list
- 1 day in Dublin itinerary
- 3 days in Dublin itinerary
- 10 days in Ireland itinerary
- beautiful places to visit in Ireland
- what not to do in Ireland
- guide to the Guinness Storehouse
- guide to Kilmainham Gaol
- tips for driving in Ireland
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