The Rock of Cashel
The high king of Irish monuments
The Rock of Cashel
The high king of Irish monuments
Site Closed
Friday 22 November 2024
Closed due to severe ice and snow on-site causing dangerous conditions
Please Note : Opening hours may vary over the next few days due to adverse weather conditions being forecast
Admission
Guided/Self-Guided Tour:
Adult €8
Senior €6
Student/Child €4
Family €20
Group rate €6
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The Rock of Cashel
Set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale, The Rock of Cashel, iconic in its historic significance, possesses the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. Among the monuments to be found there is a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House.
Originally the seat of the kings of Munster, according to legend St. Patrick himself came here to convert King Aenghus to Christianity. Brian Boru was crowned High King at Cashel in 978 and made it his capital.
In 1101 the site was granted to the church and Cashel swiftly rose to prominence as one of the most significant centres of ecclesiastical power in the country.
The surviving buildings are remarkable. Cormac’s Chapel, for example, contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland.
The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most spectacular and – deservedly – most visited tourist attractions.
Highlights
Gallery
Opening Times
See Seasonal Opening Times
Notice
Closed 24 – 26 December inclusive.
Please note that all groups must be pre-booked.
Tour operators visiting The Rock of Cashel are requested not to drive directly to the site but rather to avail of the nearby car-park.
The tour times of the Chapel and the General Guided tours can change at any time due to weather and if we have works going on inside.
Cormac’s Chapel visit is by guided tour only.
Limited tickets for the interior tour of Cormac’s Chapel can only be purchased at the site.
Please ring ahead for tour times and details of same as these can change at short notice
Seasonal Opening Times
- 14 March - Early October
Daily 09:00
Last Guided Tour 15:45
Last admission 16:45
Average Length of Visit 1 – 1.5 hours- Mid October - Mid March
Daily 09:00
Last admission 15:45
Last tour 14:30
Average Length of Visit 1 – 1.5 hours
Getting Here
By Car – Public car park close to site.
By Bus – Take the X8 to Cashel and walk 500m from the centre of Cashel town off the Dublin Road.
By Train – The nearest train station is Thurles.
Click the relevant icon below to open Maps directions
Facilities
- Audio Visual Show
- Brochure
- Card Accepted
- Coach parking
- Events Venue
- Exhibition
- Gift Shop
- Guided tours
- Museum
Restrictions
- Appropriate footwear
- Assistance dogs only
- Hold hand rail
- Low Doorways
- No climbing
- Uneven walkways
Nearby sites to visit
The Rock of Cashel
Cahir Castle
A defensive powerhouse of the thirteenth century
Approx. 16.4 km from The Rock of Cashel
The Swiss Cottage
An idyllic fantasy of country life
Approx. 18.2 km from The Rock of Cashel
The Main Guard
A courthouse with centuries of history under its arches
Approx. 22.6 km from The Rock of Cashel
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Resources
Social Guide and Visitors Guides
Download, print and read our social guide (PDF) about visiting The Rock of Cashel. This will help first-time visitors, families and people with developmental and learning disabilities to prepare for a visit to The Rock of Cashel.
Download the Social Guide
Download the Visitors Guide
Guide français du Rocher de Cashel
Rock of Cashel Deutscher Reiseführer
Treoir as Gaeilge
Guida Rock of Cashel in italiano
Przewodnik po Rock of Cashel po polsku
Guía de Rock of Cashel en español