ROCK OF AGES DELVE INTO IRISH ANTIQUITY AT THE ROCK OF CASHEL.Byline: Mike Comeaux Staff Writer CASHEL, Ireland - St. Patrick came here to baptize bap·tize v. bap·tized, bap·tiz·ing, bap·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To admit into Christianity by means of baptism. 2. a. To cleanse or purify. b. To initiate. 3. the royal family and accidentally stabbed the king. St. Patrick, as the legend goes, poked the king's foot with the pointed tip of a shepherd's staff, the kind bishops use in religious ceremonies. The king assumed it was part of the ritual so he silently endured the royal pain. Even if that tale isn't totally accurate, historians say they are quite certain that around A.D. 448, St. Patrick really did travel to this enormous, green rocky hill Rocky Hill, town (1990 pop. 16,554), Hartford co., central Conn., a suburb of Hartford, on the Connecticut River; settled c.1650, inc. 1843. Chemical coatings and synthetic textiles are made there. Rocky Hill was an important river port from 1700 to 1820. in the south of Ireland. Among other reasons, historians say it simply wouldn't have made sense for the great saint of Ireland not to have come to this place, which was then a hub of earthly power as well as early Christianity The term Early Christianity here refers to Christianity of the period after the Death of Jesus in the early 30s and before the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The term is sometimes used in a narrower sense of just the very first followers (disciples) of Jesus of Nazareth and the . Rising 200 feet above the emerald plain of the River Suir The River Suir (IPA: [ʃuːr], Irish An tSiúr or Abhainn na Siúire) is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Waterford after a distance of 183 kilometres (114 miles). in southern Tipperary County, the Rock of Cashel The Rock of Cashel (Irish: Carraig Phadraig), also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock , is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, County Tipperary. - also called St. Patrick's St. Patrick's or Saint Patrick's may refer to:
The Rock itself was a natural defensive fortress and, long before the time of Saint Paddy, the kings of the Munster region were using it as their inauguration place and royal seat of power. Kings in Cashel also had important links to the religious world, and in A.D. 1101 the king gave the Rock to the church. That's when the building boom started. In the 900 years since then, another set of rulers - powerful churchmen - erected the buildings that make a striking profile even to this day. As if pointing to the heavens, the towers and walls stir up feelings of awe, mystery and wonder, both by day and at night when they are illuminated by floodlights. If you've booked a room at a cozy inn at the foot of the rock, you can gaze out at the landmark from your bedroom and marvel at the majesty and mystical allure of this ancient place. Today, the oldest structure on the Rock is a distinctive round stone tower built in 1101. It was a free-standing bell tower, and it is still intact and complete, including its cone-shaped stone roof - a style unique to Ireland. The second-oldest building is Cormac's Chapel, named for the king who ordered it built. Before Cormac Mac Carthaigh issued that command in 1127, Irish stone churches were boxy box·y adj. box·i·er, box·i·est Resembling a box, especially in simplicity or rectangularity. box  i·ness n. and plain, without much stone carving
Stone carving is an ancient activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. . This compact chapel is one of Ireland's first, finest and most ornate Romanesque churches, built of squared sandstone with a finely cut facade, carved arches and rib-vaulted interior. On some pillars, carved stone heads seem to suggest different racial characteristics, resembling a very early United Nations. You can walk inside, look around and admire the fine details. Bring a small flashlight to get a better view of the frescoes in the interior above the doorway. There are debates about the meaning of the various images, and some say the images over the door might depict Solomon and the Queen of Sheba Queen of Sheba sultry Biblical queen who visits Solomon. [O.T.: I Kings 10] See : Beauty, Sensual . Also inside Cormac's Chapel is an ornate stone coffin, or sarcophagus sarcophagus (särkŏf`əgəs) [Gr.,=flesh-eater], name given by the Greeks to a special marble found in Asia Minor, near the territory of ancient Troy, and used in caskets. , said to be perhaps the resting place of Cormac or, more likely, his brother who preceded him as king. The largest structure on the Rock is a cathedral built in the 13th century. It's a tall building, squeezed in between the old round tower and Cormac's Chapel. The gravel crunches under your shoes as you stroll in and admire the lofty gray stone walls. Look up at the sky overhead, where the roof once was - it fell down long ago - and watch the birds swoop in through the pointed stone windows. Tall stone columns reach toward the clouds, and presiding over the whole scene is a wide variety of carved heads on many of the columns - some of the faces are smiling, others look unhappy, and others are somewhere in between and frozen in time. At your feet inside the cathedral are grave slabs, many dating to the 16th century and earlier, marking the death of landowners, church officials and wealthy merchants. Also, the churchyard outside has hundreds of gravestones marking the final resting place of townspeople from Cashel and the region. Generation after generation buried their loved ones loved ones npl → seres mpl queridos loved ones npl → proches mpl et amis chers loved ones love npl here in family graves, and so the gravestone inscriptions grew longer and longer as more names were added, forming a family history recorded for the ages. Through the centuries, this hilltop has seen multitudes gather for prayer and armies muster for violence. History tells of rebellion, bloodshed and so many bodies fallen dead inside the cathedral that they lay practically from wall to wall. The effects of mankind and the passage of time all took their toll on the cathedral, and in the mid-1700s it was abandoned. Cathedral status was shifted to the nearby St. John's Church St. John's Church may refer to: In Armenia:
In the U.S., any of numerous areas reserved by the federal government for the protection of objects or places of historical, scientific, or prehistoric interest. and taken into government care. Conservation efforts began. Some of the newest structures on the hilltop were the first ones targeted for restoration. The newer, 15th-century buildings - built as a residence and hall for church singers, known as the Vicars Choral - have been fully restored and serve as a museum, displaying artifacts artifacts see specimen artifacts. of daily life from centuries past as well as relics of stone sculpture Stone sculpture is the result of forming 3-dimensional visually interesting objects from stone. Carving stone into sculpture is an activity older than civilization itself. found at the rock. One exhibit is an original St. Patrick's Cross. This 12th-century artifact is unusual because, unlike other Irish high crosses, it does not have a ring encircling encircling (en·serˑ·k the vertical and horizontal crosspieces. The museum also shows a film of less than 20 minutes that is well worth seeing for a quick overview of the history and enduring significance of the Rock. There are various accommodations available in Cashel. Our choice, quite memorable, was a small modern inn called Legends Townhouse town·house or town house n. 1. A residence in a city. 2. A row house, especially a fashionable one. and Restaurant. It features comfortable, attractive rooms at a good price and a wonderful restaurant. The Rock is immediately to the rear of Legends, allowing guests and diners to enjoy fine, unobstructed views from the dining room and many of the bedrooms. Legends' capable proprietors are Rosemary and Michael O'Neill Michael O'Neill can refer to:
And if your visit includes a Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. when his restaurant is closed, which was our fate, Michael cheerfully helps out by offering suggestions for dining in Dining in is a formal military function for members of a company or other unit. The practice is thought to have begun in 16th Century England, in the monasteries and early universities. town. Hannigan's Pub, on the same street as Legends and about a block closer to the center of town, serves up tasty, simple pub grub Pub grub is food that is typically found in a British or Australian pub. This tends to be items such as steak and kidney pie, shepherd's pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash, hot pot, ploughman's lunch, pasties and similar items. in a pleasant location where you can also do some people watching. The town is small, so park your car and explore the narrow streets on foot. The landmark Rock can be easily reached by way of a short, not-too- steep road that climbs the base of the hill. Enter the compound through the Vicars Choral museum for a small admission fee. And remember to actually stop, observe and soak in the mystical marvel of the landmark limestone. After you leave, you'll probably find that in your mind and heart you've taken away a little piece of the Rock. IF YOU GO GETTING THERE: The Rock of Cashel is a two-hour drive southwest of Dublin on the main road, N8. HOURS, COSTS: From mid-September to mid-March, the Rock is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. From mid-march to mid-June, it stays open until 5:30 p.m. In the summer (mid-June to mid-September) it stays open until 7:30 p.m. Admission is 4.45 euros (about $4) for adults, 3.18 euros (about $2.90) for seniors, 1.91 euros (about $1.80) for students and children. NOTEWORTHY: Admission includes an audio-visual show and exhibitions. Access for visitors with disabilities can be made by prior arrangement. Guided tours are available on request. Public toilets and parking are nearby. INFORMATION: Rock of Cashel: (011) 353-62-61437 (international dialing code is 353). Legends Townhouse and Restaurant: (011) 353-62-61292; www.legendsguesthouse.com. Irish Tourist Board: (800) 223-6470; www.ireland.travel.ie. Southeast Tourism (the region's tourism agency) has an office at the town hall in Cashel; it is open from June to August. Phone: (011) 353-62-61333. Southeast Tourism has an office open year-round in the town of Clonmel, County Tipperary. Phone (011) 353-52-22960; www.southeastireland.travel.ie. CAPTION(S): 7 photos, box Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) A stone tower built in 1101, top, is framed by a cathedral arch at Ireland's Rock of Cashel. Above, the interior wall of the 13th century cathedral dwarfs a visitor. (3 -- color) At the Rock of Cashel, gravestones bear the names of family members who've been buried in family plots over the years. (4 -- 5 -- color) An ancient cross stands above the plain of the River Suir. The medieval buildings at the Rock of Cashel inspire awe in visitors. (6) Although the roof collapsed long ago, the cathedral at the Rock of Cashel is still magnificent. (7) The oldest structures at the Rock of Cashel, a huge outcropping of limestone, were built in the 1100s. Mike Comeaux/Staff Photographer Shaun Dyer/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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