Here we are in Cashel (Caiseal Mumhan) in Co. Tipperary (Contae Thiobraid Árann). It took only an hour to get here from Cork, thanks to the recently opened M8 motorway. Even the extra weight of another Garnish House mega-breakfast couldn’t slow our pace.
Cashel is a pleasant little town. There’s not much going on, but it’s small and has an undeniable appeal. It has more than its fair share of cosy little places to eat and drink, but since we’re only here for one night, there’s no time to explore them all.
After dumping our bags at the guest-house, we walked down the hill into town. Thankfully, the rain that had started in Cork and followed us all the way to Cashel had now subsided. giving way to very muggy air.
The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phadraig) is more than worth a visit. It really does dominate the town, perched as it is, towering over the streets below.
The various buildings are in astonishingly good condition, which is surprising, given that most of them are around 700 years old. It’s not hard to imagine the bishops, going about their daily duties in and around these buildings.
There are even bits of fresco remaining in places, although these are in very poor condition, indeed. Given their age, though, it’s amazing that anything is left at all.
Dinner was at the wonderful Chez Hans, a restaurant in a converted church. The ambience is lovely, the food even better.
Tomorrow sees us drive to Kilkenny (Cill Chainnigh) in the county of the same name.