Ireland Trip #64: Rock of Cashel's Roofless Cathedral

Roofless Cathedral

The Rock of Cashel was both a fortress and a cathedral. It was founded in the 300s AD and the current castle that stands on it was built in 1100 A.D. The adjoining Cathedral, like the castle, lay in ruins and is roofless like the castle.


ROOFLESS HISTORY - In the mid 1600’s, the Church of Ireland stopped using the cathedral and they removed the roof. They dismantled it because the roof was rich in lead, which could be used to make ammunition. Alchemists of the time also believed that the lead could be turned into gold, with the right catalyst. During those times, that belief made lead a very valuable commodity.  

Roofless cathedral

WE'VE MOVED -  When the Rock of Cashel and Cathedral began having roof problems, rather than fix them,  the Bishop moved the church into town in the 1730s, abandoning the property. 

Large cemetery in the back of the cathedral

LARGE CEMETERY - In the back of the Fortress and Cathedral was a large cemetery, filled with Celtic crosses and lots of dead people throughout the last two centuries. :)

The Rock of Cashel and Roofless Cathedral

HOW BIG WAS THE PROPERTY? - At it's height, the abbey owned over 200 acres!  That's a considerably large plot at that time, but necessary to abide by cistercian tenets of being self-sufficient.



NEXT: Some Odd Carvings Inside the Rock of Cashel 

Cathedral

Old sketch of the Rock of Cashel

VIDEO OF SEAMUS, OUR GUIDE: 
Inside the castle known as the Rock of Cashel- our great tour guide Seamus was explaining the architecture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x29AKRyx4V0