Cashel

Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland

After departing from Dublin in our rental car we set out on our journey to Blarney Castle. Along the way we happened upon what turned out to be one of Ireland's most iconic tourist attractions. Hidden in Co. Tipperary you can find the Rock of Cashel. Thought to be the location where Aengus, the King  of Munster, was converted by St. Patrick, this site welcomes visitors virtually year round. 

Take me to church!

Walking through the ruins, it is not difficult to imagine what it must have felt like to walk through this cathedral at the height of it's day. I mean, just think about all of the tapestries that must have hung on the walls, the whispered conversations of patrons to the church not paying attention to the priest, the children whose mother's cuffed their ears for being to rowdy. The list could go on. Many centuries have passed since St. Patrick walked through those hills yet the majority of the cathedral is still relatively intact. Because of this, it almost seems like adding a new roof would do the trick to make this a functioning church again.

Welcome to the Rock

Anyone else getting some Vlad Dracula vibes?

We opted for the non guided tour, which we gained for free for dining in a local pub, but tickets to the site are pretty cheap. There are also a few more buildings on this same site that can be accessed on the guided tour. The non-guided tour that we opted for gives access to the main building and the grounds. Most of the tombs on the grounds were far too old to be able to make out names, but their final resting place has a spectacular view. 

Happy Travels!