Jacqui & Chris in Ireland
The Rock of Cashel
1/03/2002

On the third day of our visit to Ireland we drove down to Cashel in County Tipperary where Chris' Grandma and her family grew up, and where some of them still live today. The highlight of the area is The Rock of Cashel.

Once the seat and symbol of the overkings of Munster, this naturally defensive fortress was given to the Church in 1101 and, soon after, became the seat of an archbishop. Ecclesiastical features took over from the fortress, with the oldest of these, the round tower, dating from around 1101. Next came Cormac's Chapel, 1134. In the 13th century the massive cathedral and towers were added. Lastly, in the 15th century, buildings were erected as the domestic quarters of the Vicars Choral.
[Location: Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland]

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The Rock of Cashel seen from the highway a few miles away. This was our view from the Bed & Breakfast we stayed in. Same view from B&B.
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Here Jacqui models the car we hired to drive around Ireland. A Ford Focus. The entrance to the Rock of Cashel. Jacqui standing next to St Patrick's Cross with the entrance to the west end of the Cathedral behind her.
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The "South Transept" Cathedral wall from the outside. Inside the Cathedral. The Cathedral ceiling and tower above.
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One of the many alcoves and sculptures in the Cathedral. A plan of The Rock shows the ages of the different structures. The north wall of the Cathedral.
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Around the outside of the Cathedral are many old graves. The eastern end of the Cathedral. A part of the older Cormac's Chapel can be seen on the left.
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The Cathedral and Round Tower from the N.E. side. The Cathedral and Round Tower from the northern side. The ruins of a medieval Cistercian abbey can be seen in the fields near The Rock.
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The southern wall of the Cathedral. Buried tombs can be seen on the floor. Granny's Kitchen at the foot of the Rock of Cashel, owned by Chris' Great Uncle Mikey (walking up).

All pictures taken with a Sony DSC-P1 digital still camera and recompressed using Adobe Photoshop 6.0.

<-- Ireland © Psycho FX !! 2002 Chris Miles