Rock of Cashel

Pictures taken at The Rock of Cashel on our Summer Holiday 2015 in Ireland
Rock of Cashel According to local mythology, the Rock of Cashel originated in the Devil's Bit, a mountain 30 km north of Cashel when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock's landing in Cashel. Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century. The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. In 1101, the King of Munster, Muirchertach Ua Briain, donated his fortress on the Rock to the Church. The picturesque complex has a character of its own and is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe. Few remnants of the early structures survive; the majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Hall of the Vicars Choral To the south of the cathedral, at the head of the steeply inclined approach road to the site is a long two-storey building. In the early 15th century Archbishop O'Hedian built the hall and later the dormitory to the east, to house the Vicars Choral, a group of men, both lay and cleric, appointed to sing during the services. The upper level comprised the main living room of the Vicars Choral with a large fireplace in its south wall. This room has been restored with a timber gallery at its west end. The vaulted undercroft beneath the hall contains a collection of stone sculpture mostly from the Rock. The original St Patrick's Cross is housed here to protect it from weather damage. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Hall of the Vicar's choral The kitchen : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Hall of the Vicars Choral The Hall of the Vicars Choral was built in the fifteenth century. The vicars choral were laymen (sometimes minor canons) appointed to assist in chanting the cathedral services. At Cashel there were originally eight vicars choral with their own seal. This was later reduced to five honorary vicars choral who appointed singing-men as their deputies, a practice which continued until 1836. The restoration of the Hall was undertaken by the Office of Public Works as a project in connection with the European Architectural Heritage Year, 1975. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
The Hall of the Vicars Choral Interior detalis of the Hall of the Vicars Choral : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Hall of the Vicars Choral Interior detalis of the Hall of the Vicars Choral : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Hall of the Vicars Choral Interior detalis of the Hall of the Vicars Choral : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Old stone carving Evangelists St. Luke and St. Mark : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
Saint Patrick’s Cross The original St Patrick's Cross from the 12th century is housed here to protect it from weather damage. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Elephant and castle Another carving rescued from wear and tear of the elements outside. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel St Patrick's Cross Between the Hall of the Vicars Choral and the cathedral is a replica of the 12th-century St Patrick’s Cross. The original is now displayed in the undercroft of the Vicars Choral. The Cross is unusual among Irish high crosses in not having a ring around the cross head and in having subsidiary supports at each side of the shaft, although only one survives. As with most 12th-century high crosses, there is a figure of the crucified Christ on one side clad in a full-length robe; on the other side is a figure of a bishop or abbot. The often-repeated suggestion that the base was the inauguration stone of the kings of Cashel is highly improbable, the base stone having clearly been chosen, quarried and worked along with the cross. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Cormac's Chapel Cormac's Chapel is one of the earliest, and finest churches in Ireland built in the Romanesque style. The building consists of a nave and chancel with projecting towers on the north and south walls of the nave. The nave has doorways in its north and south walls and both nave and chancel have connecting attic chambers (crofts) above their vaulted ceilings. Unusual features, which have parallels in England and on the continent, include the string courses and blind arcading on the internal and external walls. These are most clearly seen on the south-facing sandstone façade. The arched doorway of three orders, with an animal carved on the tympanum, (the stone filling the inner semicircular head of the arch) is another Romanesque feature.The south door is not as impressive as the larger, more ornate original main entrance doorway on the north side of the building. The carved tympanum above this north door shows a large lion being hunted by a small centaur (half man, half horse) with a bow.and arrow and a Norman-style helmet. Now hemmed in by the walls of the cathedral, this entrance originally faced onto an open space. Above the blind arcading of the interior walls of the nave is a plain barrel vault with ribs. Towards the east end, openings in the north and south walls lead to the towers. The south tower has a spiral stairs, which gives access to the crofts above. The larger more ornate doorway in the north wall gives access to the ground-floor room of the north tower. This may have been a tiny subsidiary chapel. The nave was originally lit from the west by three windows now partly blocked by the transept of the later cathedral. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
Cormac's Chapel Cormac's Chapel is one of the earliest, and finest churches in Ireland built in the Romanesque style. The building consists of a nave and chancel with projecting towers on the north and south walls of the nave. The nave has doorways in its north and south walls and both nave and chancel have connecting attic chambers (crofts) above their vaulted ceilings. Unusual features, which have parallels in England and on the continent, include the string courses and blind arcading on the internal and external walls. These are most clearly seen on the south-facing sandstone façade. The arched doorway of three orders, with an animal carved on the tympanum, (the stone filling the inner semicircular head of the arch) is another Romanesque feature.The south door is not as impressive as the larger, more ornate original main entrance doorway on the north side of the building. The carved tympanum above this north door shows a large lion being hunted by a small centaur (half man, half horse) with a bow.and arrow and a Norman-style helmet. Now hemmed in by the walls of the cathedral, this entrance originally faced onto an open space. Above the blind arcading of the interior walls of the nave is a plain barrel vault with ribs. Towards the east end, openings in the north and south walls lead to the towers. The south tower has a spiral stairs, which gives access to the crofts above. The larger more ornate doorway in the north wall gives access to the ground-floor room of the north tower. This may have been a tiny subsidiary chapel. The nave was originally lit from the west by three windows now partly blocked by the transept of the later cathedral. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Cormac's Chapel Cormac's Chapel is one of the earliest, and finest churches in Ireland built in the Romanesque style. The building consists of a nave and chancel with projecting towers on the north and south walls of the nave. The nave has doorways in its north and south walls and both nave and chancel have connecting attic chambers (crofts) above their vaulted ceilings. Unusual features, which have parallels in England and on the continent, include the string courses and blind arcading on the internal and external walls. These are most clearly seen on the south-facing sandstone façade. The arched doorway of three orders, with an animal carved on the tympanum, (the stone filling the inner semicircular head of the arch) is another Romanesque feature.The south door is not as impressive as the larger, more ornate original main entrance doorway on the north side of the building. The carved tympanum above this north door shows a large lion being hunted by a small centaur (half man, half horse) with a bow.and arrow and a Norman-style helmet. Now hemmed in by the walls of the cathedral, this entrance originally faced onto an open space. Above the blind arcading of the interior walls of the nave is a plain barrel vault with ribs. Towards the east end, openings in the north and south walls lead to the towers. The south tower has a spiral stairs, which gives access to the crofts above. The larger more ornate doorway in the north wall gives access to the ground-floor room of the north tower. This may have been a tiny subsidiary chapel. The nave was originally lit from the west by three windows now partly blocked by the transept of the later cathedral. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Cormac's Chapel Cormac's Chapel is one of the earliest, and finest churches in Ireland built in the Romanesque style. The building consists of a nave and chancel with projecting towers on the north and south walls of the nave. The nave has doorways in its north and south walls and both nave and chancel have connecting attic chambers (crofts) above their vaulted ceilings. Unusual features, which have parallels in England and on the continent, include the string courses and blind arcading on the internal and external walls. These are most clearly seen on the south-facing sandstone façade. The arched doorway of three orders, with an animal carved on the tympanum, (the stone filling the inner semicircular head of the arch) is another Romanesque feature.The south door is not as impressive as the larger, more ornate original main entrance doorway on the north side of the building. The carved tympanum above this north door shows a large lion being hunted by a small centaur (half man, half horse) with a bow.and arrow and a Norman-style helmet. Now hemmed in by the walls of the cathedral, this entrance originally faced onto an open space. Above the blind arcading of the interior walls of the nave is a plain barrel vault with ribs. Towards the east end, openings in the north and south walls lead to the towers. The south tower has a spiral stairs, which gives access to the crofts above. The larger more ornate doorway in the north wall gives access to the ground-floor room of the north tower. This may have been a tiny subsidiary chapel. The nave was originally lit from the west by three windows now partly blocked by the transept of the later cathedral. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Cormac's Chapel In 1647, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Cashel was sacked by English Parliamentarian troops under Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin. The Irish Confederate troops there were massacred, as were the Roman Catholic clergy, including Theobald Stapleton. Inchiquin's troops looted or destroyed many important religious artefacts. Some of the soldiers saw fit to leave their names in the chapel as well. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
Cormac's Chapel Cormac's Chapel is one of the earliest, and finest churches in Ireland built in the Romanesque style. The building consists of a nave and chancel with projecting towers on the north and south walls of the nave. The nave has doorways in its north and south walls and both nave and chancel have connecting attic chambers (crofts) above their vaulted ceilings. Unusual features, which have parallels in England and on the continent, include the string courses and blind arcading on the internal and external walls. These are most clearly seen on the south-facing sandstone façade. The arched doorway of three orders, with an animal carved on the tympanum, (the stone filling the inner semicircular head of the arch) is another Romanesque feature.The south door is not as impressive as the larger, more ornate original main entrance doorway on the north side of the building. The carved tympanum above this north door shows a large lion being hunted by a small centaur (half man, half horse) with a bow.and arrow and a Norman-style helmet. Now hemmed in by the walls of the cathedral, this entrance originally faced onto an open space. Above the blind arcading of the interior walls of the nave is a plain barrel vault with ribs. Towards the east end, openings in the north and south walls lead to the towers. The south tower has a spiral stairs, which gives access to the crofts above. The larger more ornate doorway in the north wall gives access to the ground-floor room of the north tower. This may have been a tiny subsidiary chapel. The nave was originally lit from the west by three windows now partly blocked by the transept of the later cathedral. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Cormac's Chapel Cormac's Chapel is one of the earliest, and finest churches in Ireland built in the Romanesque style. The building consists of a nave and chancel with projecting towers on the north and south walls of the nave. The nave has doorways in its north and south walls and both nave and chancel have connecting attic chambers (crofts) above their vaulted ceilings. Unusual features, which have parallels in England and on the continent, include the string courses and blind arcading on the internal and external walls. These are most clearly seen on the south-facing sandstone façade. The arched doorway of three orders, with an animal carved on the tympanum, (the stone filling the inner semicircular head of the arch) is another Romanesque feature.The south door is not as impressive as the larger, more ornate original main entrance doorway on the north side of the building. The carved tympanum above this north door shows a large lion being hunted by a small centaur (half man, half horse) with a bow.and arrow and a Norman-style helmet. Now hemmed in by the walls of the cathedral, this entrance originally faced onto an open space. Above the blind arcading of the interior walls of the nave is a plain barrel vault with ribs. Towards the east end, openings in the north and south walls lead to the towers. The south tower has a spiral stairs, which gives access to the crofts above. The larger more ornate doorway in the north wall gives access to the ground-floor room of the north tower. This may have been a tiny subsidiary chapel. The nave was originally lit from the west by three windows now partly blocked by the transept of the later cathedral. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Cormac's Chapel The ornate stone sarcophagus at the west end of the nave was strongly influenced by the Scandinavian Urnes style with intertwined beasts and snakes on its damaged front panel. It is roughly contemporary with the chapel but was moved here from the 13th-century cathedral in 1875 : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Rock of Cashel The Cathedral and residential tower. The cathedral was greatly altered in the 15th century, possibly by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian (1406-40), when parapets were added and the residential tower at the west end of the nave. O’Hedian also endowed the Vicars Choral with lands and built a hall for their accommodation on the Rock. The cathedral underwent many troubles, notably its sacking by Lord Inchiquin on behalf of the English Parliament in 1647. However, it was still used by the Church of Ireland until 1749, when the old site was abandoned and cathedral status was conferred on St John's church in the town. The old cathedral on the Rock remained partly roofed for some time but gradually fell into decay. By 1848, the roof had collapsed as had part of the residential tower. Most of the east gable of the choir also fell during these years of abandonment and neglect. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
The Cathedral Crossing under the tower. There are no known surviving records relating to the 13th-century construction of the present cathedral. Consequently, the evidence for its dating is purely architectural. The choir was probably begun under Archbishop Marianus Ua Briain (1224-38) or his immediate successor David mac Cellaig Ó Gilla Pátraic, who died in 1253. The remainder was probably completed during the long episcopate of David MacCarwill (1253-89). The cathedral was greatly altered in the 15th century, possibly by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian (1406-40), when parapets were added and the residential tower at the west end of the nave. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Cathedral There are no known surviving records relating to the 13th-century construction of the present cathedral. Consequently, the evidence for its dating is purely architectural. The choir was probably begun under Archbishop Marianus Ua Briain (1224-38) or his immediate successor David mac Cellaig Ó Gilla Pátraic, who died in 1253. The remainder was probably completed during the long episcopate of David MacCarwill (1253-89). The cathedral was greatly altered in the 15th century, possibly by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian (1406-40), when parapets were added and the residential tower at the west end of the nave. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Cathedral There are no known surviving records relating to the 13th-century construction of the present cathedral. Consequently, the evidence for its dating is purely architectural. The choir was probably begun under Archbishop Marianus Ua Briain (1224-38) or his immediate successor David mac Cellaig Ó Gilla Pátraic, who died in 1253. The remainder was probably completed during the long episcopate of David MacCarwill (1253-89). The cathedral was greatly altered in the 15th century, possibly by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian (1406-40), when parapets were added and the residential tower at the west end of the nave.. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Cathedral North Transept altar. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
Tomb weepers Stone carving from tomb in the North transept of Saint Patrick's Cathedral interior. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Butler family tomb End slab of the Butler Family tomb chest : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel 16th-century tomb Stone carving from tomb in the North transept of Saint Patrick's Cathedral interior. The stone carving seems to depict family trees interwoven. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Tomb Tomb sculpture representing the crucifixion and weepers : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
The Cathedral There are no known surviving records relating to the 13th-century construction of the present cathedral. Consequently, the evidence for its dating is purely architectural. The choir was probably begun under Archbishop Marianus Ua Briain (1224-38) or his immediate successor David mac Cellaig Ó Gilla Pátraic, who died in 1253. The remainder was probably completed during the long episcopate of David MacCarwill (1253-89). The cathedral was greatly altered in the 15th century, possibly by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian (1406-40), when parapets were added and the residential tower at the west end of the nave. Crossing under the tower. A view from the North Transept towards the South one. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Wall paintings There are significant remains of 15th century wall paintings on the east wall of the south transept. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel The Cathedral Nave, residential tower in the back. There are no known surviving records relating to the 13th-century construction of the present cathedral. Consequently, the evidence for its dating is purely architectural. The choir was probably begun under Archbishop Marianus Ua Briain (1224-38) or his immediate successor David mac Cellaig Ó Gilla Pátraic, who died in 1253. The remainder was probably completed during the long episcopate of David MacCarwill (1253-89). The cathedral was greatly altered in the 15th century, possibly by Archbishop Richard O'Hedian (1406-40), when parapets were added and the residential tower at the west end of the nave. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Stairs Stairs inside the Residential Tower : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
Coat of arms A plaque depicting a coat of arms dated 1607. Below detail from upper left side of the coat of arms, they seem to be lions heads. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Rock of Cashel The Cathedral and the Round Tower. The oldest and tallest of the buildings is the well preserved round tower (28 metres), dating from c.1100. Its entrance is ¨3 m from the ground, necessitated by a shallow foundation (about 90 cm) typical of round towers. The tower was built using the dry stone method. Modern conservationists have filled in some of the tower with mortar for safety reasons. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Fallen cross Some of the crosses are a bit worn. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Maher family grave Another grave with a traditional high cross accompanied by a more modern headstone. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
Kennedys I don't know whether these Kennedys are in any way related the ones who emigrated to America. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Ellen Fitzgerald Irish high cross on Ellen Fitzgerald's grave. She died in 1947. Some people are still buried here. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Graveyard Another set of Irish high crosses : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel Scully's Cross Scully's Cross, one of the largest and most famous high crosses here, originally constructed in 1867 to commemorate the Scully family, was destroyed in 1976 when lightning struck a metal rod that ran the length of the cross. The remains of the top of the cross now lie at the base of the cross adjacent to the rock wall. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel
Hore Abbey Hore Abbey seen from the Rock of Cashel. Originally founded by the Benedictine order in 1266, Hore Abbey was given to the Cistercian monks from Mellifont Abbey in 1272 by David McCarvill, Archbishop of nearby Cashel. Tradition says that McCarvill expelled the Benedictine monks after he had a dream that they were about to kill him. He endowed the Abbey generously with land, mills and other buildings previously belonging to the town, which caused local resentment. The Abbey was the last pre-Reformation Cistercian foundation in Ireland. It was never prosperous; at the time of the Dissolution the annual income of the abbey was valued at just £21. Most of the abbey was built in the thirteenth century, however many changes were made to the buildings in the fifteenth century including the addition of the tower in the centre of the transept. The cruciform church comprised, in addition to the chancel, a nave with aisles and two chapels to the east of each transept. The nave is exceptionally plain and the overall design is a perfect example of the conservative approach of the Cistercians. Hore was the only Cistercian monastery in Ireland where the cloister was positioned to the north of the abbey. It is thought that the site of the Rock of Cashel, close to the north of the abbey, may explain this departure from the usual arrangement. The ruins are now surrounded by fields of sheep and cattle and can be accessed by the public. : Cashel, Ireland, Irlanti, Rock of Cashel, castle, historia, history, kesäloma, linna, matka, summer holiday, travel