Today we travel to the Rock of Cashel - an ancient home of the King and later the Archbisho. Legend says that the Rock itself originated in the Devil's Bit, a mountain 20 miles to the north when St Patrick bansihed Satan from a cave, resulting in the rock being hurled to its present site. A more likely legend is that this was the site of the conversion of King Munster by St Patrick in the 5th Century. Today, it is a major tourist attraction.
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| This mural in the car park highlights the Rock above |
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| The legend of St Patrick |
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| These photos are from a film strip and show the Rock without the scaffolding |
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| The chapel is especially covered with the scaffolding |
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| The scaffolding sports a nice photo of the chapel |
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| The interior of the chapel |
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| Frescoes decorated the chapel but have deteriorated |
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| The end view of without the scaffolding |
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| The round tower may be the oldest structure on the Rock |
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| The bishop's residence |
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| The visitor's center and subject of some restoration work |
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| The cathedral was an open forum (no seats) cruciform |
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| Side altars as were common in cathedrals |
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| In 1749 the cathedral roof was removed by Anglican Archbishop Arthur Price, a very controversial decision which reduced the Rock to a tourist attraction in the time since. |
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| This spire is actually the base of a large Celtic cross. the top lays on the ground alongside |
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| Our guide Sarah was very informative and pleasant |
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| This is a reproduction cross that replaces the sandstone cross that was wearing in the weather |
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| The surrounding countryside was at one time under the protection of this Rock |
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| Brenda Ford and Bob in visitor center ready to see the movie |
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| This is the original sandstone cross that used to stand in the courtyard |
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| The interior of the visitor center has been restored to give the flavor of what the Rock was like in its hey day |
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| Back in the car park, we noticed this statue of The Cashel Dancers . . . |
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| . . . which inspired Bob & Theresa . . . |
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| . . . which inspired others . . . |
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| We stopped for lunch at Newbridge Silverware in Newbridge |
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| They had a nice restaurant but it was quite crowded due to our other bus arriving just a few minutes prior |
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| We enjoyed the company of Rose & her daughter Brenda during the trip. Rose is 95 and was able to do most things everyone did. |
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| John Lennon's Mercedes & Larry Hagman's Jaguar |
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| Upstairs was a unique museum |
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| And a Vespa! |
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| A photo of the Rose of Tralee contestants visiting Newburgh Silverware |
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| Lots of Christmas decorations |
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| Bob mugs with a very lifelike statue |
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| The trees outside were decorated for Christmas |
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| We passed the Irish Horse Racing Association and this roundabout was decorated with this interesting sculpture - steel rails bent in the form of horses |
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| Dublin and mass at the Pro-Cathedral of St Mary |
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| Bishop Hying again presided. Note that the front of the altar shows two angels in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament |
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| St Joseph |
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| St Therese of Lisieaux |
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| An ornate tomb in the nave |
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| This statue in front of the Cathedral pays tribute to two martyrs of the Catholic persecution during the reformation, when simply being Catholic was sufficient to warrant imprisonment and even death |
A trip to Glendolough and our farewell dinner!
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