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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 Bor, 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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