Page 22 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

Rock of Cashel
20 EUROPE

A symbol of royal and priestly power for over 1,000 years,
this is one of Ireland's most spectacular archeological sites. From
the 5th century, it was the seat of the kings of Munster, whose
kingdom extended over much of southern Ireland. In 11 01,
they handed Cashel over to the Church, and it flourished
Dublin•
as a religious center until a siege by English troops in 1647
A TLAr•ITIC IRELAND
OCEAW culminated in the massacre of its 3,000 occupants. The
() ROCK OF
CASHEL
UNITED cathedral was finally abandoned in the late 18th century. A
KINGDOM
good proportion of the medieval complex is still standing, and
Cormac's Chapel is one of I rei and's most outstanding examples
of Romanesque architecture (Romanesque Style, seep. 122).
CASHEL MUSEUM
The 15th-century, two-story Hall of the Vicars
Choral was once the residential quarters of the ROCK OF CASHEL GUIDE Angel corbel in
the Hall of the
cathedral choristers and today displays copies KEY
Vicars Choral
of medieval artifacts and furnishings. Its lower n 12th CentUiy
level houses the Cashel Museum, which 4 St. P atri:: k's c ret5s
(replica)
exhibits rare silverware, stone carvings and
12 Cormac's Chapel
St. Patrick's Cross, a 12th-century crutched
cross with a crucifixion scene on one side and 13 Round bwer
animals on the other. The cross stands on a 0 13th CentUfy
supporting coronation stone dating from the 6 Cathedral porch
4th century. Tradition held that the kings of 7 Nave
C ashe I were crowned at the base of the cross. 8 Cret5sing
9 South transept
CORMAC'S CHAPEL 10 Choir
The king of Munster, Cormac MacCarthy, 11 North transept
A Cormac's Chapel
donated this chapel to the Church in 1134, D 15th Centwy Superb Romanesque carving adorns
because it had helped to protect the Rock of 1 Ticket offi::e 3 Dormitof)' this chapel-the jewel of Cashel. The
C ashe I from being invaded by the Eoghanachta 2 Hall of the Vicars 5 Castle tympanum over the north door shows
clan. Romanesque in style, the chapel was Choral (museum) a centaur in a helmet aiming his bow
and arrow at a lion.
constructed in sandstone with a stone roof
and two towers on either side of the nave and
chancel The interior is decorated with various GAl Replica of St
Outer wall Patrick's Cross
motifs, some showing dragons and human
heads. At the west end of the chapel is a stone
sarcophagus embellished with serpent carvings.
This is thought to have once contained the
body of Cormac MacCarthy. The chancel is
decorated with the only surviving Romanesque
frescoes in Ireland, which include a depiction of
the baptism of Christ.

LIFE OF ST_ PATRICK
Born in Wales in 385, St Patrick lived his early
I ife as a pagan. At the age of 16, he was
Hall of the Vicars Choral
captured and sold as a slave to work in Ireland. The Vicars Choral, a group of
During his captivity, he converted to Christianity men appointed to sing during
and dedicated his life to God .. He escaped services, were housed in this
building. The ceiling, a modern
and traveled to France, where he entered St
reconstruction based on
Martin's monastery to study the scriptures, medieval designs, features
under the guidance of S t Germain of Auxerre. several decorative corbels. Entrance
He was appointed Bishop to Ireland in 432
and went on to found some 300 churches and
baptize more than 12 0, 000 people, including
Cashel Museum
King Aenghus, when he visited Cashel in 450. Stone carvings and religious
Today, the life of St Patrick, Ireland's patron artifacts are displayed in this
saint, is celebrated on March 17 all over the museum in the hall's lower
world with special religious services and the level, or undercroft.
wearing of shamrocks-the three-tipped clover
leaf thatis the national emblem of Ireland.