The Rock of Cashel

Today we're going to see one of the most visited spots in Ireland, The Rock of Cashel.  But on the way, we keep stumbling across ruins that aren't even listed in the guide books, and don't have any identification.  I guess they have too many over here to bother marking them all.

But when you see The Rock from miles away, you recognize that this is going to be special.

And then to add a modern flair.

Of course, up close it's even more impressive.

The only problem is that it is packed with tourists. 

Once again we walked up to a group with a guide, only to find it was a private tour that was half way through.  We did find out in time to start with a real tour at least.    This is Mary, our tour guide, discussing The Cross of St. Patrick.

The legend states that if you can put your arms all the way around it with your fingers touching on the other side, you'll never have a toothache.  Being the lanky guy that I am, I had no problem doing it. 

But then we were told that this is really a concrete replica of the actual sandstone cross which is in the museum. 

And this one is roped off so you can't get to it.  So I guess I'll have to continue my dental hygiene after all.

Cormac's Chapel is a little the worse for wear. 

I think the top of this looks like a face, and not a happy one at that.

They had a hurricane that knocked down part of the tower.  There is still one large block lying in front of it.

The rest of the rubble they sent to Wisconsin where it was used to build a church (they believe in recycling, I guess). 

Then there is a cathedral as well.  It's also pretty much a ruin by now, but impressive none the less.

Then there was another abbey just down the hill that used to belong to the Benedictines, but the bishop of Cashel (a Dominican) dreamed that they were going to cut off his head, so he decided to cut off theirs first.  Well they heard about this and decided leaving was the best plan, and the Dominicans took it over.

They had a round tower as well, and this was the tour guide that told us it was just used as a bell tower.

There was also a monument built in one corner of the cemetery in I think the 1800's that was as tall as this round tower.  But (as the guide described it) the not too bright builder put a solid iron rod down the center of it for support, and in the 1970's lightning struck it and it exploded!  Wish I had been there to see that (from a distance, of course).

Then we headed off, and contrary to the song, it really isn't a long way to Tipperary.

But we just passed through Tipperay on our way to Caher (or Cahir).  There we were going to see the Swiss Cottage built in 1810 for entertaining guests. 

But you can only see it on a guided tour, and one had just left.  We were also a little confused as to where our next B&B was located, so we decided to just head out to find it instead of waiting around.  But before we left we took a nice walk down by the river, so all was not wasted.

We had no problem finding our next B&B and it was situated right on a lake.