IRELAND - Cashel

The Celtic name for this Irish village is Caiseal Mumhan. The municipality lies 25km from Clonmel, the county administrative centre; 100km from Cork, the province capital and 180km from Dublin, the capital of Ireland. Up to 1101, Cashel was the seat of the kings of Munster.

The town lives an enchanted life under the protection of the Rock of Cashel. This cluster of medieval monuments rises dramatically out of Tipperary’s Golden Vale. The Heritage Centre, located on Main Street, has a model of Cashel in the 1640’s. The Rock of Cashel’s international significance is testified by its inclusion as a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Walking is the best way to discover Cashel at your leisure. You can see places of historical and cultural interest such as the Georgian cathedral, the Bolton library and the town walls, and learn about the folklore. The Bolton library houses "the smallest book in the world". Dominic's Abbey lies to the south east of the Rock and was founded in 1243. The Cistercian (Hore) Abbey is nestled in the fields to the west of the Rock. Many medieval building remains survive within the heart of the town, now built into the Georgian and Victorian fabric of the current streetscape. Some keynote buildings range from the medieval Kearney’s Hotel, the Palace Hotel, with its gardens and reputed birth place of Guinness, the beautifully proportioned Hogan Square, St. John’s Cathedral, Famine relief schemes such as the Famine Wall and Pipes, and restored 17th century vernacular Irish cottage. Guided walks through the town further reveal hidden historical gems. The Heritage Centre in the Main Street’s Old City Hall provides more information and the Folk Village Museum gives insight into Cashel’s historical pedigree. It houses one of Ireland’s most comprehensive Independence Period collections outside of the National Museum in Dublin. All original early approach roads to Cashel are defended and controlled by a network of ringforts set on higher land overlooking each road.

In addition, local artwork and crafts can be admired in Cashel, for example the work of textile artist Winnie Looby, and Rossa Pottery, both of which have received national acclaim. In the Larkspur Park Sports Complex in Cashel there are facilities for squash, indoor bowls, pitch & putt, tennis and golf. Brú Ború adjoins the car park at the foot of the Rock. It is beautifully designed and incorporates a folk theatre, restaurant, craft centre and genealogy service. Here they provide entertainment from June to September every Tuesday to Sunday. Cashel offers a taste of Tipperary's gourmet food, crafts, art studios, gracious accommodation, cultural activities, warmth and hospitality. Several styles and traditions meet within one town. Cashel’s Chez Hans restaurant is celebrated throughout the country.

Each year Cashel’s arts and culture flourishes with the November Arts Festival. Cashelised Arts Movement also brings an eclectic mixture of arts on to the street at key times of the year such as St. Patrick’s Day, early summer and again in the autumn. Cashelised uses public and private spaces to temporarily transform the town centre into a rich mosaic of the arts, thus using the town itself as its inspiration and canvas.

The invigorating surroundings of Cashel are a must see. The village Golden for example is built across the river Suir and is a popular venue for fishing. Other outdoor pursuits such as horse riding, golf and hill-walking are easily accessible from Cashel. The abbey of Athassel is the largest medieval abbey of Ireland and dates from the 12th century. Its serenity invigorates the visitor. Nearby Dundrum has a Celtic planetarium. It contains 60,000 domestic plants, shrubs and trees. Tipperary is an old market town that retains the charm and character of earlier times. The Bridewell jail, which is reputed to have held the father of the famous Ned Kelly before he was deported to Australia, has been refurbished and now houses the Heritage Centre and Family History Research Centre.

www.cashel.ie

Projects:

Making a sculpture

Documents:

Age Friendly Country Terms

South Tipperary Age Friendly Country Group Action Plan

Louth Age Friendly County Plan