# Rock of Cashel The hill with the cathedral, round tower and Romanesque chapel of the kings of Munster, in Tipperary, with Hore Abbey at its foot and Cahir Castle nearby. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/ireland/cashel · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Cashel is a town in Tipperary, in south-central Ireland, and the Rock of Cashel is the limestone hill that rises above it, crowned by a group of medieval buildings visible for miles: a roofless Gothic cathedral, a round tower, a 15th-century tower house and Cormac's Chapel, Romanesque, with the only frescoes of that style left in Ireland. It was the seat of the kings of Munster; Brian Boru was crowned High King here in 978 and in 1101 the hill passed to the Church. It is one of the most photographed sights in the country and lies less than two hours from Dublin. ## How do you get there from Dublin? By car. A little under two hours along the M7 and the M8. There is a public car park near the Rock; from there you walk up. By bus. Bus Éireann's 245X line (the former X8 to Cork) leaves Busáras at 8:00 and reaches Cashel at 10:13. For the return, the 15:38 reaches Dublin at 17:50, and there is another at 19:40. From the stop it is about 500 metres' walk to the Rock. On a tour. Paddywagon runs a day tour from Dublin with the Rock of Cashel, Cork and Blarney Castle, entry included. By train, no: the nearest station is in Thurles, and there is no convenient connection. ## What to see The Rock takes an hour to an hour and a half. Go into the roofless cathedral, look closely at the round tower, the high cross and the Hall of the Vicars Choral, the residence of the cathedral's singers. Cormac's Chapel, with its Romanesque frescoes, can only be seen on a guided visit and tickets are bought on the spot. On the way down, cross the field to Hore Abbey, 13th-century Cistercian ruins at the foot of the hill, from where you get the best photo of the Rock. If you have a car, twenty minutes to the south is Cahir Castle, a medieval castle beside the River Suir. In July and August, Brú Ború, the cultural centre at the foot of the Rock, hosts evenings of traditional music and dance. ## How long do you need, and where to eat? A day from Dublin is enough for the Rock, Hore and lunch in the town; with Cahir, better by car or with a night. On the main street, Mikey Ryan's serves cooking with Tipperary produce every day. For a special dinner, Chez Hans, in a former church next to the Rock, opens Friday to Sunday. The Cashel Palace, a 1732 palace on the main street, has a Michelin-starred restaurant. Cashel is also a good halfway stop if you are going from Dublin to Cork or Cobh. ## Dónde está - Zonas: Irish pubs - Cerca: Kilkenny (a 45.9 km), Cobh and Cork (a 79.2 km), Galway and the Cliffs of Moher (a 114.9 km), Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains (a 118.3 km) ## Qué hacer - **Rock of Cashel: cathedral, round tower and Hall of the Vicars Choral** (1 h 20 · All ages; uneven floors and low doorways · Adult €8, senior €6, student or child €4, family €20): On a limestone hill above the town cluster the buildings of the former seat of the kings of Munster: the roofless Gothic cathedral, the round tower, the high cross, the 15th-century tower house and the Hall of the Vicars Choral, where the entrance is. Brian Boru was crowned here in 978, and in 1101 the hill passed to the Church and became one of its great centres of power in Ireland. The visit, guided or self-guided, costs €8 and takes an hour to an hour and a half. The last guided tour leaves at 15:45 in season and at 14:30 in winter. The OPW warns that it may close at short notice because of bad weather or works: check its social media before you go. There is public parking below and the climb is short. - **Cormac's Chapel, with Ireland's only Romanesque frescoes** (Adults and teenagers interested in art): Cormac's Chapel is the most valuable piece on the Rock: a Romanesque chapel wedged between the cathedral and the tower, which preserves inside the only Romanesque frescoes left in Ireland. You can only enter on a guided visit, in small groups. Tickets for the chapel are sold only at the Rock's ticket office, not online, and times change according to the weather and works. Ask as soon as you arrive and sign up for the first free slot; if you go late in the day, there may be none left. - **Hore Abbey, at the foot of the Rock** (40 min · All ages; you cross a meadow): West of the town, in a meadow at the foot of the Rock, are the ruins of Hore Abbey, which Discover Ireland presents as Ireland's last medieval Cistercian monastery. It was Benedictine at first; in 1272 the Archbishop of Cashel expelled the monks and brought in Cistercians from Mellifont Abbey. What remains is the cruciform Gothic church, with its tower, part of the east range and the remains of the cloister. It has no published ticket office or opening hours: you get there by crossing the meadow, which turns muddy in the rain, so wear sturdy footwear. Go after the Rock: from here comes the classic photo of the hill with the cathedral silhouetted against the sky. - **Cahir Castle, beside the River Suir** (1 h · All ages; narrow stairs in the towers · Adult €5, senior €4, child or student €3, family €13): In the centre of the town of Cahir, south of Cashel, a medieval castle stands beside the River Suir, with walls, several courtyards, towers and a portcullis at the gate that is still impressive. It is the kind children like: you climb up, lean out of the battlements and understand how it was defended. The ticket costs €5 (family €13) and it is run by the OPW, like the Rock of Cashel. Allow an hour. By car it is about 20 minutes from Cashel; the 245X bus also stops at Cahir, about 20 minutes after Cashel on the way to Cork. - **Nights of traditional music and dance at Brú Ború** (2 h · All ages): Brú Ború is the cultural centre of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the association that looks after Irish traditional music, and it stands at the foot of the Rock. In July and August it stages the Summer Show evenings, with traditional music, song and dance in its theatre. The rest of the year it has the Sounds of History exhibition, on the history of Irish music, a café and a restaurant. The website does not publish dates and prices on the front page: check the programme section before planning your evening. If you are sleeping in Cashel in summer, it is the best plan after dinner. - **Day trip from Dublin to the Rock of Cashel, Cork and Blarney** (12 h · Adults and teenagers who can manage a day on a coach · Adult €85, student or over-65 €75, child up to age 12 €60): If you do not want to drive, Paddywagon combines three southern visits in one long day: the Rock of Cashel in the morning, about ninety free minutes in Cork, with time for the English Market, and Blarney Castle with its gardens and the stone you kiss. It leaves from Beresford Place, next to Busáras, at 8:00 and returns around 20:00, for €85 with tickets included. It is a lot of coach: at Cashel there is time for the Rock, not for Hore Abbey. If Cashel itself interests you, it is better to take the scheduled bus or drive and spend a whole day. ## Dónde comer - **Mikey Ryan's Bar & Kitchen** (Bar, Cashel, €€). Qué pedir: the fish with pea purée and chunky chips, with a Whitefield beer. - **Chez Hans** (Restaurant, Cashel, €€€). Qué pedir: the lamb or the hake, and the scallops as a starter if they are on the menu. ## By plane: Fly to Dublin and head two hours south For Cashel you fly into Dublin, with direct flights from many Spanish cities. With a hire car it takes a little under two hours along the M50, M7 and M8. Without a car, take the coach from the airport to the city centre and then Bus Éireann's 245X from Busáras. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Cashel Palace Hotel** (Spa hotel): The palace The Cashel Palace is a 1732 Palladian house, right on the main street, with the rear gardens looking towards the Rock. It was restored as a five-star hotel with 42 rooms and suites, each one different, and the Michelin Guide has awarded it two of its keys. Eating and the spa Its fine-dining restaurant, The Bishop's Buttery, has a Michelin star; there is also the Queen Anne Room and the pub Mikey Ryan's, from the same house, on the same street. The spa has treatments, a thermal circuit, seaweed baths and a pool, with views of the gardens and the Rock. How to get there It is on Main Street, a few minutes' walk from the climb up to the Rock and from the Dublin bus stop. Ask about parking when you book if you are coming by car: the website does not give details. - **Baileys Hotel** (Small hotel): The hotel Baileys is a small hotel at 42 Main Street, right in the centre of Cashel, a few minutes' walk from the Rock. It has a restaurant and the Cellar Bar, in the building's cellar, so you can have dinner without going out. The rooms There are single, double, twin and family rooms, with underfloor heating in the bathroom, television and room service. The wifi is free. The website mentions parking with the family rooms; if you are coming by car, confirm it when you book. How to get there On the main street, near the stop for the 245X bus from Dublin and Cork. It is a practical mid-priced option for sleeping in Cashel and going up to the Rock at opening time. - **O'Briens Cashel Lodge and campsite** (Country house): The house O'Briens Cashel Lodge is a guesthouse with a campsite on the edge of town, on the land between the Rock of Cashel and Hore Abbey. The Rock is a short walk away. It is the place that puts you closest to both sights. The rooms and the campsite There are double, twin, king and triple rooms, and a camping and caravan area with the Rock in view. It has private off-street parking and a room used for meetings and classes. How to get there It is on the outskirts, next to the Rock. The website does not publish prices or the campsite season: book directly and ask about dates if you are coming with a tent or caravan. ### Servicios - **Bus Éireann 245X bus: Dublin–Cashel–Cork**: Four buses a day from Busáras (8:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 18:00) to Cashel in about 2 h 10; return at 9:42, 13:34, 15:38 and 19:40. ## By car: By car through Tipperary: Cashel, Hore and Cahir By car, Cashel combines with Cahir Castle in the same day and is a natural stop on the way to Cork, Cobh or Kilkenny. The M8 runs right past. Remember to drive on the left. Presupuesto orientativo: 90–180 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Cashel Palace Hotel** (Spa hotel): The palace The Cashel Palace is a 1732 Palladian house, right on the main street, with the rear gardens looking towards the Rock. It was restored as a five-star hotel with 42 rooms and suites, each one different, and the Michelin Guide has awarded it two of its keys. Eating and the spa Its fine-dining restaurant, The Bishop's Buttery, has a Michelin star; there is also the Queen Anne Room and the pub Mikey Ryan's, from the same house, on the same street. The spa has treatments, a thermal circuit, seaweed baths and a pool, with views of the gardens and the Rock. How to get there It is on Main Street, a few minutes' walk from the climb up to the Rock and from the Dublin bus stop. Ask about parking when you book if you are coming by car: the website does not give details. - **Baileys Hotel** (Small hotel): The hotel Baileys is a small hotel at 42 Main Street, right in the centre of Cashel, a few minutes' walk from the Rock. It has a restaurant and the Cellar Bar, in the building's cellar, so you can have dinner without going out. The rooms There are single, double, twin and family rooms, with underfloor heating in the bathroom, television and room service. The wifi is free. The website mentions parking with the family rooms; if you are coming by car, confirm it when you book. How to get there On the main street, near the stop for the 245X bus from Dublin and Cork. It is a practical mid-priced option for sleeping in Cashel and going up to the Rock at opening time. - **O'Briens Cashel Lodge and campsite** (Country house): The house O'Briens Cashel Lodge is a guesthouse with a campsite on the edge of town, on the land between the Rock of Cashel and Hore Abbey. The Rock is a short walk away. It is the place that puts you closest to both sights. The rooms and the campsite There are double, twin, king and triple rooms, and a camping and caravan area with the Rock in view. It has private off-street parking and a room used for meetings and classes. How to get there It is on the outskirts, next to the Rock. The website does not publish prices or the campsite season: book directly and ask about dates if you are coming with a tent or caravan. ### Servicios - **Rock of Cashel public car park**: Public car park near the Rock, with coach spaces; the OPW asks groups to use it rather than drive up. ## Car-free: The 245X bus and Cashel on foot Without a car, Cashel can be done in a day with the Bus Éireann bus or a tour. The town is small: the bus stop, the Rock, Hore Abbey and the restaurants are all within walking distance. Presupuesto orientativo: 80–160 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Cashel Palace Hotel** (Spa hotel): The palace The Cashel Palace is a 1732 Palladian house, right on the main street, with the rear gardens looking towards the Rock. It was restored as a five-star hotel with 42 rooms and suites, each one different, and the Michelin Guide has awarded it two of its keys. Eating and the spa Its fine-dining restaurant, The Bishop's Buttery, has a Michelin star; there is also the Queen Anne Room and the pub Mikey Ryan's, from the same house, on the same street. The spa has treatments, a thermal circuit, seaweed baths and a pool, with views of the gardens and the Rock. How to get there It is on Main Street, a few minutes' walk from the climb up to the Rock and from the Dublin bus stop. Ask about parking when you book if you are coming by car: the website does not give details. - **Baileys Hotel** (Small hotel): The hotel Baileys is a small hotel at 42 Main Street, right in the centre of Cashel, a few minutes' walk from the Rock. It has a restaurant and the Cellar Bar, in the building's cellar, so you can have dinner without going out. The rooms There are single, double, twin and family rooms, with underfloor heating in the bathroom, television and room service. The wifi is free. The website mentions parking with the family rooms; if you are coming by car, confirm it when you book. How to get there On the main street, near the stop for the 245X bus from Dublin and Cork. It is a practical mid-priced option for sleeping in Cashel and going up to the Rock at opening time. ### Servicios - **Bus Éireann 245X bus: Dublin–Cashel–Cork**: Four buses a day from Busáras (8:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 18:00) to Cashel in about 2 h 10; return at 9:42, 13:34, 15:38 and 19:40. ## As a family: A hill with a castle and ruins to explore Children like Cashel more than you might expect: you climb a hill, step into a cathedral with no roof and walk down across a meadow to ruins you can wander through. By car, Cahir Castle rounds off a perfect day. ### What works best Rock of Cashel, with a €20 family ticket Hore Abbey, for running around the meadow among the ruins Cahir Castle, with battlements and a portcullis Brú Ború, on summer evenings ### Where to stay Baileys Hotel, with family rooms O'Briens Cashel Lodge, with camping ### Where to eat Mikey Ryan's, with a terrace ### Good to know Uneven floors and stairs at the Rock: a baby carrier works better than a pushchair Only assistance dogs are allowed at the Rock and at Cahir ### Qué hacer as a family - Rock of Cashel: cathedral, round tower and Hall of the Vicars Choral - Hore Abbey, at the foot of the Rock - Cahir Castle, beside the River Suir - Nights of traditional music and dance at Brú Ború ## With teenagers: Kings, monks and medieval frescoes For a teenager with a little curiosity, Cashel tells a story that makes sense: King Brian Boru crowned here, the hill given to the Church, monks driven out of Hore. Cormac's Chapel, with its frescoes, is the kind of thing you won't see anywhere else. ### What works best Cormac's Chapel, with a guided visit Rock of Cashel and its round tower Cahir Castle The Paddywagon tour, if you also fancy seeing Cork and kissing the Blarney Stone ### Where to stay Baileys Hotel, in the centre ### Where to eat Mikey Ryan's ### Good to know Tickets for Cormac's Chapel are only sold at the ticket office Visit times change through the year: arrive early ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Rock of Cashel: cathedral, round tower and Hall of the Vicars Choral - Cormac's Chapel, with Ireland's only Romanesque frescoes - Hore Abbey, at the foot of the Rock - Cahir Castle, beside the River Suir - Day trip from Dublin to the Rock of Cashel, Cork and Blarney ## Consejos ### Arrive at opening time Tour coaches arrive mid-morning. At 9:00 the Rock is quiet. ### Check the weather and the OPW's channels The Rock can close at short notice because of wind or works; the chapel visit times change. ### Pay for the chapel at the ticket desk Tickets for Cormac's Chapel are sold only there, and there are few places. ### Wear good footwear There are uneven floors, low doorways and stairs; with a pushchair it is difficult. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How do I get from Dublin to the Rock of Cashel without a car? On Bus Éireann's 245X bus from Busáras, about two and a quarter hours, or on Paddywagon's day tour with Cork and Blarney. ### How much does entry cost? Adult €8, seniors €6, students and children €4, family €20. Cormac's Chapel is paid separately at the ticket desk. ### How much time do I need? One hour to an hour and a half for the Rock; half a day with Hore Abbey and the town. ### Can I go with a dog? Only assistance dogs are allowed on the Rock. ### What else is nearby? Hore Abbey, at the foot of the hill, and Cahir Castle, about 20 minutes by car.