One of my last excursions out of Dublin took my friend and me to the
Rock of Cashel, an imposing fortress that sits in the middle of the Irish countryside and is visible for miles around. We learned this was a traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years before the Viking invasions. Then in 1101, the King of Munster donated this site to the church where buildings were added in the 12th and 13th centuries.
For instance, a cathedral was built between the years 1235 and 1270. This structure is evidently different from most Irish Romanesque churches in that it does not include a central aisle but is based on a cruciform plan, complete with central tower and massive residential wing. It is a sophisticated and picturesque structure with a character all its own.
In 1749 the main cathedral roof was removed by Arthur Price, the Anglican Archbishop of Cashel. Price's decision to remove the roof on what had been the jewel among Irish church buildings was criticized before and since.
Walking through the church and residence buildings, visitors can see remnants of its Celtic art; apparently the art and medieval architecture found at
Rock of Cashel is the among the best collection found anywhere in Europe.
The buildings together with extensive grounds and graveyard sit on a plateau and are completely walled in, but that does not deter visitors from the viewing of high crosses and surrounding countryside!
