AMAZING ROCK OF CASHEL, one of the BEST collections of medieval architecture anywhere in Europe!

Its pouring with rain, which is perhaps not that unique in Ireland in winter, it just makes it a little inconvenient for my visit to film today’s Naked Ireland video, which just happens to be very special. Today we’re in Cashel in County Tipperary and we’re visiting the very impressive Rock of Cashel. But, as always, if you visit a popular tourist destination like this in the pouring rain in winter time, you’re sure to have it practically all to yourself.

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This group of buildings mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries is one of the best collections of medieval art and architecture found anywhere in Europe. And while the main existent buildings date from this period the site is much older. Even prior to the Norman Invasion, the kings of Munster used this site for several hundred years before.

In fact, another name for The Rock of Cashel is St Patricks Rock, as legend has it that St Patrick banished Satan from a cave 20 miles from here and this event resulted in rocks from Devil’s Bit Mountain flying through the air and landing here.

In 1101 the site was donated to the church by the then King of Munster. For those living outside Ireland, Munster is one of Ireland’s 4 provinces.

This is a pretty immense building, and while much of what we’re going to see is ruins (albeit incredible ruins), there’s also a restored chapel, Cormac’s chapel, which contains Ireland’s only surviving Romanesque Frescos and the oldest stairs in Ireland. Unfortunately, a visit to the chapel interior is by guided tour only and so we’ll not be seeing it in this film. But it might be something you’ll want to book in advance of your visit.

The disadvantage of visiting these places in winter is often that that’s when they do their maintenance, so sometimes the monuments will be undergoing repairs, I’m guessing that’s what all the iron railings are for here.

This cruciform designed cathedral, was ransacked by English Parlimentarian soldiers in the mid 16 hundreds. Irish troops where massacred as were the Catholic clergy and unfortunately many important religious artifacts where destroyed.

There are many interesting graves both inside and outside the cathedral so maybe leave some time on your trip to really take a leisurely walk around and explore them. Obviously, due to the inclement weather, I’m moving a little faster than I normally would in a site like this. But this place is a fascinating glimpse into Ireland’s ecclesiastical past. Perhaps the rain beating down on these stones adds a certain sombre atmosphere to the site.

We’ll take a trip outside now, I say outside, but since there no roof we’ve kinda been outside all the time. It’s all open to the grey sky above. And from this vantage point on the rock of course you can get a good view of the surrounding area. You can see why this site would have been of such strategic importance.

The 28 meter high round tower is the oldest preserved structure here dating from around 1100. Ireland is famous for these towers, but this is a particularly fine example. Believe it or not these towers were built in dry stone – in other words without mortar. Hard to believe. These were the skyscrapers of their day. This tower has had some mortar added by conservationists. Still it’s amazing it’s still standing.

The first time a saw the rock of Cashel was many years ago as I was driving to Cork from Dublin at night. It was all lit up and looked incredible after dark. In those days whatever way the main Cork road was, you passed it. Whereas now it doesn’t lie directly on the route anymore.

We take a quick look at this interesting and sizable rock that stands near the entrance, we can only guess what function this might have had when this cathedral and is surrounding buildings were bustling with life, other than tourists. Actually, I think it's a collapsed section of wall.

…and then I’ll bid you farewell, until our next Naked Ireland adventure.