Cashel

Cashel is the home of one of the most famous historical sites in the country. The Rock of Cashel attracts many tourists each year to this southerly part of County Tipperary . An amazing outcrop of limestone which stands 200 feet, the Rock bears Cormac's Chapel, the Cathedral and the Hall of the Vicars' Choral as well as St Patrick's Cross and the Round Tower.

From about 370 A.D it was the seat of the Kings of Munster who reigned over much of Southern Ireland. In 1101 they gave the throne to the church. The town then flourished as a religious centre until it was laid under siege by the Cromwellian Army which resulted in the massacre of 3000 people. The abbey was finally vacated in the 18th century.

Nowadays it is a market town on the main road between Dublin and Cork . Cashel is a prosperous centre of tourism, unhindered by the dividing road. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive form Cork to Cashel and is a journey worth making if only to visit the Rock of Cashel.

The Heritage Centre in the town provides much information on the other attractions in the local area. These include the Bru Boru Heritage Centre, named after the 10th century King of Munster, the Dominican Friary and Holy Cross 9 miles north of Cashel.