Rock of Cashel + Kilkenny
After departing Dingle, we stopped at the Rock of Cashel before heading to our accommodations in Kilkenny.
To our surprise, this site was not just a rock at a roadside attraction but an iconic monument that represents the evocative history of the Irish isle.
The site dates back to the 4th century as being the traditional seat of the kings of Munster, a southern province of Ireland. The castle and its grounds, fully walled, sit atop a hill overlooking the town of Cashel. The majority of the remaining buildings that we see today are from the 12th and 13th centuries and the chapel contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in the country. This Irish National Monument is recognized as some of the best examples of Celtic art and medieval architecture in Europe.
Kilkenny Castle
We arrived in Kilkenny mid-afternoon with two items on our agenda - to tour the castle which was located a few blocks away from our hotel and to have dinner at Left Bank, a renovated Bank Of Ireland Branch now turned bar and restaurant.
The original castle was built in 1260 and what we see today is a major restoration of the remodel from the mid-1600s. The castle passed through multiple families until the last of the Butlers decided after years of vacancy to sell it to the Castle Restoration Committee for a ceremonial £50. Now, it is fully owned by the people of Kilkenny.
