Cashel

After breakfast at the hotel, we checked out and headed to the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland's most-popular tourist attractions. Set on a limestone plateau, the castle at the Rock of Cashel is a historical site south west of Tipperary. Known as St Patrick's Rock, the site is a series of buildings including a round tower, chapel, cathedral and castle. The main structures are from the 12th to 13th centuries and surrounded by a wall encircling a still-working graveyard. We left the Travelodge and got on the highway towards Cashel after breakfast. After getting a little lost in town, we found the parking lot for the Rock of Cashel and walked up the hill.

Museum

Our first stop at the Rock was the site museum at the visitors' center. This museum is in the barrel-vaulted undercroft (crypt) of the The Hall of the Vicars Choral and has various artifacts that were excavated from the site.

The Hall of Vicars Choral itself is a 15th century building within the cathedral where laymen were assisted with the worship. The highlight was the area upstairs where the chorus would perform.

Castle Grounds

While we were waiting for our guided tour of the castle to begin, we walked around the grounds. The castle is set high on a limestone cliff with views down into the fields of Cashel.

Cashel Castle

After touring the grounds, we took the guided tour of the castle itself. The oldest building is the 90 foot tall round tower dating back to 1100AD. The cathedral itself is built in the shape of a crucifix and was built in the mid-1200s.

Cormac's Chapel

Next we queued for Cormac's Chapel, an Irish Romanesque sandstone structure dating back to 1134 AD and built for King Cormac III. The celiing and choir were originally covered with frescos, which can still be faintly seen. Along the west wall was a 12th century sarcophagus with intricate carvings.