MONDAY 
CASHEL

It's a long way to here. That song always reminds me of the last episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
The Rock of Cashel, aka Carraig Phádraig was a royal site from the 4th century until 1101 when it was handed over to the church.
This is the slop sink in the Hall of the Vicars Choral.
The structure is 15th century but the stuff in it are not from the hall.
The fireplace and a replica of the choral seal.
Funny, the tower house on the left is a couple of centuries newer than the cathedral on the right but has crumbled a good deal more.
It's someone's tomb. I didn't see any sign indicating to whom it belongs.
The Cormac's Chapel was closed for renovations, which is a shame because they have a lot of frescos like this.
This is what the fresco in that other picture is supposed to look like. You can kind of make out Jesus.
The interior of the north transept.
A lot of birds nest in the little holes in the walls of the cathedral.
There are lots of Celtic crosses in the graveyard.
Someone named Thomas died in 1801.
If the map I photographed in the cathedral is correct, this tower is one of the oldest parts of the structure, dating back to the 12th century. The cathedral is 13th century and the Hall of the Vicars Choral is 15th century.
Down the hill is Hoare Abbey.
That's the outside of the choral hall.
I never saw anywhere that said so, but it's possible that the exterior wall would have been from when it was a royal site. I mean, why would a cathedral need a fortress?
Inside are a bunch of artifacts like this medieval coat of arms.
An arcaded tomb slab from Athassel Abbey, about eight kilometers south of Cashel.
So some person over 1100 years ago rang this bell.
The town of Cashel from up on the hill.
The ruins of the Dominican Abbey in town.
They really should take better care of their churches over there. I mean, how many church ruins do you see here in America?
Some little shops in Cashel and a woman and her little kids out for a walk.
Let me read from the Cashel Town Council marker. (Well the English part anyway.)

Kearney's castle was built in the 15th century by the Kearneys, a prominent merchant family in medieval Cashel. Blessed John Kearney, a member of the family, was hanged in Clonmel in 1652 during the reign of Cromwell. It was used as a garrison by Lord Inchiquin during the Sack of Cashel in 1647. The castle is now a hotel.

I wonder how many locals call their scrotum the Sack of Cashel?

TO AVOCA