Cashel (Tipperary)

Cashel on the map of Ireland

Cashel ( Irish : Caiseal Mumhan , meaning Stone Fortress of Munster ) is a city in the county ( County ) Tipperary , the southern Midlands Republic of Ireland . Cashel is the seat of a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and an Anglican Bishop who is also Bishop of Ossory . The population is around 3000, with the surrounding area 11,400 people.

The city is on a bypass of the M8 from Dublin to Cork City ; until 2004 it was the intersection of the N8 with the national roads N62 and N74. Cashel is best known for the Rock of Cashel , a place that includes a ruined church and fortifications.

The municipality of Cashel is a member of the European Charter - Villages of Europe , a group of rural municipalities from all 28 EU countries.

View over Cashel with the ruins of Dominic's Abbey

history

The Rock of Cashel , from which the city has its descent, is an elevation of stratified limestone. At the very top of the rock are many notable ruins. Originally it was known as the magic or fairy mountain, or "Sid-Druim". In pagan times, the "rock" was the fortress or castle of the Eóghanachta clan , the former rulers of Munster. In Irish, Caiseal means a circular stone fortress and is the name of many other places in Ireland. The "Book of Rights" shows that the name comes from the Irish word Cais-il , which means "tribute stone" because the Munster tribes paid tribute on the rock. After Aengus Mac Natfraich's grandfather built a fortress, Cashel became the capital of Munster. At the time when St. Patrick gained supremacy over the entire royal fortresses of the province, Aengus ruled as King of Cashel.

In the 4th century, the Eóganach dynasty built their capital on and around the rock. In the following period the kings of Munster ruled there.

Culture and sights

Hore Abbey in Cashel

Cashel Blue

The Rock of Cashel is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in Ireland. The city also has many other attractions, such as the GPA Bolton Library, which has many books that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

The Heritage Center and the tourist information center are located on the main street. (Admission is free.) They put a model of Cashel in 1640 on display as well as a multimedia presentation in several languages.

In addition, the charter granted by Kings Charles II (1663) and James II (1687) are on display in the Heritage Center.

The best way to walk is downtown Cashel, the Gregorian St. John's Cathedral, the adjoining Bolton Library, the city walls, the former deanery, the ruins of the Dominican monastery of St. Dominic or the Archbishop's Castle, which is now one of the leading hotels , explore. The former Cistercian abbey of Hore is located just outside the city gates below the Rock of Cashel .

But Cashel is also known for its blue cheese , called Cashel Blue , which is actually made in Fethard , a village 16 km from Cashel. In addition, the city is the seat of a museum for country life.

Sports

Cashel King Cormacs GAA is the local Gaelic Athletic Association Club.
Cashel Town Football Club is the local football club.

Personalities

The British Prime Minister Robert Peel (1788-1850) began his parliamentary career as a member of the House of Commons for Borough Cashel. The politician Noel Davern was born here in 1945.