County Tipperary
The Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel, dominating the skyline for miles around Cashel Town, is one of the most visited heritage sites in the country. This stunning outcrop sits 200 meters above the plains of Tipperary, offering majestic views of the Galty, Knockmealdown, and Comeragh Mountains.
Among the buildings are the 92 foot sandstone round tower, Cormac's Chapel, the Cathedral, the 15th century Hall of the Vicars Choral, and Saint Paddy's Cross. The ruins are all that remain of this once-formidable Royal Palace, seat of the Kings of Munster from 370 AD through to 1101, when the incumbent King, Murtagh O'Brien, granted it to the Church, dedicating it to “God, St. Patrick, and St. Ailbhe”.
St. Patrick visited Cashel in 450 AD and baptized King Aengus and his brothers at what is called the Coronation Stone. Apparently St. Pat slipped during the ceremony and drove his crozier through the King's foot. Thinking this was all part of the baptismal rite, the brave monarch bit his tongue and bore the pain.
The Rock itself is said to have come from the Devil's Bit Mountain, south of Roscrea, after which a potent local cider is named. Apparently the Devil was in a terrible humor with a local king one morning, took a bite out of the Devil's Bit Mountain, didn't like the taste and spat it out so that the chunk landed 22 miles away at Cashel.