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.
A lot of work goes into these videos as you can see. You can now buy me a pint as a means of appreciation for my work on Naked Ireland, no obligation, obviously - only if you can afford it... I appreciate it. Cheers.
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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.

[@cutesmiletoo]

Thank you for such wonderful videos😊💚💚💚💚

[@nakedireland]

No problem, it's a pleasure - so glad you're enjoying them.

[@nakedireland]

Yes, the guided tour sounds great. And hope you get better weather than I did Craig!

[@patrickdorn8652]

Outstanding video, as always. Thank you for covering sacred sites, ancient and modern, along with the pubs, beaches, and city streets. I've been to the Rock twice. Immense and atmospheric. Wished I could have stayed longer, because Cashel has several other interesting attractions.

[@nakedireland]

Thanks Patrick. Yes it’s a fascinating place - and I even forgot to mention the cheese!

[@WelshRob1964]

I recognised the drive up to the car park instantly Greg and the little gift shop, which was open when we were there. I remember our visit vividly, I looked over the wall at the same exact spot you did at the view of Cashel 😆. We did go into the chapel, which was nice. I remember being underwhelmed with the Rock of Cashel if I am honest, maybe it was because it wasn’t my idea to go there but my wife’s. Though I was probably tired with all the travelling we had been doing on that holiday, I may have been on holiday but its wasn’t much for me as I drove 100s of miles. I agree with you that architecture of it is astounding, and boy could they teach us a thing or two about building today, some of the rubbish that is build these days. I have enjoyed seeing it again, and do sympathise about the rain but being an Irishman you must be used to it 😝. I would like to go again and I think I would enjoy it far more now, maybe I have mellowed with age 🤔😆, it was over 20 yrs ago I visited.
I am hoping you made a video of Cashel town to? I remember liking the town a great deal, and we spent longer there than at the rock.

[@user-sw4nb7lv6i]

We'll be there in 4 weeks! Can't wait. Thanks for all the videos!!

[@nakedireland]

No problem, glad you enjoyed it. Have a nice holiday.

[@craigkirkwood4060]

Thanks for the video. Definitely something I want to do in September, and will probably do the guided tour as well.

[@billyo54]

I was born and reared a few miles from Cashel, so forgive me for pointing out a few things. Firstly the pronunciation is CASH -l like castle but with the H included. That large L shaped stone in the final minutes is a corner of the Bishops quarters which fell several centuries ago. The large broken High Cross which we see earlier is more recent (mid eighteen hundreds I think) and broke off after a storm in the mid nineteen seventies. I could see The Rock from my house and was sad when it came down. While there was damage done by the English, much of the damage to The Rock was done by the O' Brien clan from Clare (descendants of Brian Boru) in the eleventh century, who also burned the town.
I was impressed to see Queen Elizabeth ii when she visited The Rock some years back. It was wonderfully diplomatic of her guide not to mention the O' Briens part in the destruction of Cashel as the queen is in fact, related to the O' Briens through her ancestry.
I enjoyed the wee ramble around The Rock of Cashel and suggest you might take time to visit the town next time as I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[@nakedireland]

Thanks so much for those corrections William. Always good to have a local guide and the beauty of TH-cam is it allows us just that when people like yourself get involved. Many thanks for watching and taking the trouble to point this out.

[@patriciacarmenherederojuda6946]

Thank you for your nice video!!

[@nakedireland]

Thank you for your support Patricia.

[@belfast01uk]

Thanks Greg, very interesting. We will go later in the year. Cheers

[@nakedireland]

Thanks as always for watching.

[@doitatit]

That was fantastic Greg!! I reckon the weather really added to the atmospherics. It must have been up lifting to have seen it in it's full glory. What a tragedy Irish history been. That was genocide. No one can deny that. Such deeds have had a terrible effect on us, it's left such a trail of tears. Thank you for taking us on such a beautiful walk. Do you think you could get to Clonmacnoise? I've been there! Stunning site. I'd passed through Cashel hoping to get back, but never did , sadly.

[@nakedireland]

Ah you'll get back at some point Des! Yes, I'll look into a visit to Clonmacnoise. Always great to have these suggestions.

[@mdlahey3874]

Can you say what is the original meaning of the Irish name "Cashel", and why the stress is on the last syllable? Thanks!

[@nakedireland]

Yes, The Irish 'Caiseal' means stone and refers to a stone ringfort. Cashel is the anglicised version. I think my pronunciation with the emphasis on the last syllable may not be how it's pronounced locally - perhaps I've given it a bit of a European sounding pronunciation. But the great thing about TH-cam is that if you make an error like that, someone is sure to correct you - so stay tuned, and we'll find out if it's Cash-el or Cash-l. The more I think about it I've a feeling it's the latter. But hey, I'm from Belfast (a long way from Cashel), so I can be forgiven a small pronunciation error if that's the case?

[@mdlahey3874]

Thank you kindly!

[@nakedireland]

My pleasure, thanks for watching.