The first time I saw Cashel, I came around a curve in the road, and this vision appeared before my eyes.  The memory of that first glimpse will never leave me.  It was spectacular!  The Rock of Cashel (sometimes called Saint Patrick's Rock) rises majestically from a relatively flat countryside (if anywhere in Ireland could be called flat).  It's beauty is matched only by it's fascinating history.
        It was early in the 5th century when Cashel became a royal centre.  Aengus was king.  The story goes when Aengus heard of Patrick's arrival on the rock, he hurried to him asking to be baptised.  While the baptism was going on, Aengus' foot was pierced by the sharp point of the staff on which Patrick was leaning.  When the ceremony was finished, Patrick noticed his staff still piercing the king's foot.  He asked why Aengus had not said anything.  The king replied that he thought the piercing of the foot was part of the ceremony.
        Brian Boru, Ireland's greatest king, ascended to the throne at Cashel in 976.  With his death in 1014 at the Battle of Clontarf, Ireland lost the greatest (and most romantic) leader the country ever saw.  That honour has been rivaled by only one other person - Michael Collins.
        In 1101 Murtagh, who was Brian's great-grandson and king of Munster, turned Cashel over the Church.  Cashel went on to become the seat of one of Ireland's two Archbishops.  The other was in Armagh.

            
       Cormac's Chapel                                                                   Sarcophagus inside Cormac's Chapel

        Cormac Mac Carthy began building a church (oddly enough, named Cormac's Chapel) in 1127.  It is said to have been consecrated in 1134.  This church is one of the best preserved examples of Romanesque design in Ireland.

             
     Remains of a fresco                        Carved heads inside Cormac's Chapel             More carved heads decorate
     believed to be Christ                                                                                                  the chancel arch
     being baptised
 

        Above left, above the north door, a lion coward (with tail passing between its legs and along its flank) is a common Romanesque symbol of evil, while the centaur-sagittarius in this case represents the victory of the soul over the body (angel/man over beast) directing the power of good (the arrow - pointing at the lion just above its front leg) against evil (the lion).
        Above centre is the original St. Patrick's Cross.  The cross dates from the 12th century and is set into a 4th century coronation stone.  A replica now stands in the original spot.  The original was brought in due to erosion caused, in part, by acid rain.  This is a major problem experienced throughout Ireland.  It is devastating to think we may soon be unable to see the magnificent carvings on some of these monuments.
 

        The outside view of St. Patrick's Cathedral is interesting because it shows so well, the way the Cathedral was built.  There were passageways built into the walls.  Indeed big areas could be built inside the walls.  An example of this would be the leper's area.  Of course, you are unable to enter this area, but during the tour, the windows are pointed out.  The lepers would be able to attend Mass but still be segregated from the rest of the congregation.