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One of the most
breathtaking moments of my entire life was the first time I
rounded a bend on the old Dublin - Cork road and caught
sight of the Rock of Cashel. No picture could do justice to
this 4th Century ecclesiastical fortress. You really do have
to be there. Cashel Lodge is as close as you can get, you
can just see the chimney pots in the bottom left of the
picture.
The legendary
Brian Ború, who became
the first High King of Ireland in 1002, was crowned King of
Munster here in 977. Though St Patrick himself created the
Bishopric of Cashel in the 5th century, the Rock was only
granted to the Church in 1101 by Muircheartach
O'Brien. In 1127, the bishop Cormac MacCarthy, began work on
the romanesque chapel, which survives to this day as the
most remarkable church of it's period in the country. The
round tower was added about the same time. A 13th century
cathedral is the largest building on the Rock and the whole
complex is said to be the most impressive collection of
mediaeval buildings in Ireland.
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