A South Tipperary county councillor has accused the state of neglecting one of Ireland’s top heritage and ecclesiastical sites. Speaking this week, Cllr Tom Wood (Ind.) who is the chief tour guide at the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary has claimed that the latest restoration project on the historic site will take years longer than it should.
He claimed, “If you look at the Rock from any angle today you will see a massive amount of scaffolding around Cormac’s Chapel. We have been told it is going to be there for four years. But it will be a miracle if it it’s gone within that time scale given my experience of the site.”
He added, “‘I cannot remember any time since the 1970’s when there has not been scaffolding on the Rock.”
The Rock of Cashel contains a number of ecclesiastical sites including the remains of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was built in the 13th century and was destroyed by fire in 1495. The building was later restored. However, when Cromwell’s forces brutally overwhelmed Ireland, Cashel Rock was destroyed once more.
It also contains Saint Cormac’s Chapel, which is the best-preserved building of the lot, and it can be found south of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Cormac’s Chapel was built in 1127 by Cormac Macarthy, king of Desmond and bishop of Cashel. The round tower is the third and last of the structures on the Rock.
The tower is an impressive 27.5m high and its top offers a spectacular view of the surrounding plains and mountains.
The legendary origin of the Rock of Cashel dates back to approximately 432 AD. Now a market town, Cashel was once a centre of royal and religious power.
According to legend, St. Patrick arrived in Cashel in AD 432 and baptised King Aengus, who became Ireland’s first Christian ruler.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CIN