Rock of Cashel

On our last full day in Ireland, we drove to see the Rock of Cashel. It has so much history and legend. We heard people talk of fairies that dwell here. We've read that this is a "thin place" where our spirits feel a closeness to the other side...

I just thought it was beautiful. It made me happy to see that restoration was being done on frescoes that had been painted over in years past. Take a look:

We were feeling a little silly after a week of travel. Can you tell?

I'm going to list some interesting facts that I learned while we were visiting:

• The name Cashel comes from a Gaelic word meaning stone fort.
• Legend states that around 450 AD, St. Patrick came to Cashel and converted the king seated here.
• Some say that this limestone hill was created when St. Patrick cast the devil out of a nearby mountain cave. The devil in his anger took a bite out of the mountain and spat it out here.
• In 1101, the reigning king of Munster gave the Rock of Cashel to the Catholic Church.
• The oldest structure still standing is the tower, built with no mortar in the early 1100s.

• Cormac's chapel is also still standing and was consecrated in 1134.

• Most of the main cathedral was built in the 1200s.

• In 1647 all of the local townspeople fled to the church for protection from an attacking army. Soldiers lit fire to the church. Over 800 people were trapped inside and burned to death.
• The buildings were abandoned after that.

I'm so glad we drove out to see Cashel. It was such a unique place. I recommend visiting if you come to Ireland.

Not far from the Rock of Cashel, we could see more ruins, so we went over to check them out. It turns out that it was an abbey built by benedictine monks in 1266. It is called Hore Abbey. The monks only stayed a few short years before they were expelled by the archbishop after he had a dream that the monks were plotting to murder him.