Mikey Ryan's Bar & Kitchen
What to order: the fish with pea purée and chunky chips, with a Whitefield beer.
Open daily; book on its website
geocalia
Day itinerary · 52.52° N · 7.89° W
The Rock of Cashel in a day, two hours from Dublin by bus.
Bus from Busáras, the Rock of Cashel with its cathedral, round tower and Cormac's Chapel, Hore Abbey on foot and lunch on the main street.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Cork fromBarcelona 2 h 30Alicante 2 h 45Sevilla 2 h 45Málaga 3 hLanzarote 4 hFuerteventura 4 h 15Gran Canaria 4 h 15Tenerife Sur 4 h 15
Part of Rock of CashelIrish pubs
Add to my trip
Total time10 h
By car1 h 45 each way
From Dublin2 h 15 by bus · under 2 h by car
EntryRock €8 · chapel extra
WalkingAbout 2 h
DifficultyEasy
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Dublin 2 h 15 by bus
Bus Éireann 245X from Busáras · arrives at 10:13
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1
Rock of Cashel: cathedral, round tower and Hall of the Vicars Choral
adult €8 · last guided tour 15:45 in season
- Carry on on foot
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2
Cormac's Chapel, with Ireland's only Romanesque frescoes
tickets only at the ticket desk; sign up on arrival
- 10 min on foot
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3
Hore Abbey, at the foot of the Rock
across the meadow; footwear that can take mud
- 15 min on foot
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4
Mikey Ryan's Bar & Kitchen
open daily; book on their website
76 Main Street, Cashel · +353 62 62007
Bar €€Book -
Back home 2 h 15 by bus
245X to Busáras, arriving at 17:50; there is another at 19:40
Approximate cost
About €110–120 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Rock of Cashel: cathedral, round tower and Hall of the Vicars Choral
A car-free day trip from Dublin: the Rock of Cashel is the hill of the kings of Munster, crowned by a roofless cathedral, a round tower and a Romanesque chapel with the only frescoes of that style in Ireland. The scheduled bus drops you in the town mid-morning and picks you up mid-afternoon, and in between everything is done on foot.
The day, hour by hour
8:00 · Bus from Busáras. Bus Éireann's 245X to Cork stops in Cashel at 10:13.
10:25 · Rock of Cashel. About 500 metres from the stop. The cathedral, round tower, high cross and the Hall of the Vicars Choral; €8.
11:30 · Cormac's Chapel. Guided visits only; tickets are bought at the Rock's ticket office, so sign up as soon as you arrive.
12:15 · Hore Abbey. Go down to the meadow of the Cistercian ruins, with the best view of the Rock.
13:15 · Lunch at Mikey Ryan's. Cooking with Tipperary produce on the main street, every day.
15:38 · Bus back. It reaches Busáras at 17:50. If you want more time, there is another at 19:40.
Time1 h 20
Change the route
By car: Cahir Castle, about 20 minutes to the south:
Cahir Castle, beside the River Suir
Friday to Sunday, a special-occasion lunch or dinner in the former church:
Chez Hans
Without organising anything: Paddywagon, with Cork and Blarney, €85:
Day trip from Dublin to the Rock of Cashel, Cork and Blarney
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Chez Hans
What to order: the lamb or the hake, and the scallops as a starter if they are on the menu.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday only; book by phone or email
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Rock of Cashel
All year except 24 to 26 December. From 17 March to 15 October the Rock is open until 17:30; in winter until 16:30, with the last entry at 15:45.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Check the OPW's social media
The Rock can close at short notice because of wind or works.
- 2In winter, don't dawdle
From October to March the last entry is at 15:45.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth doing in a day?
Yes: the bus leaves you four and a half hours in the town, enough for the Rock, Hore and lunch.
How much does it cost?
The Rock, €8; the bus, according to Bus Éireann's fare; and lunch.
What if I go on a Sunday?
Check Bus Éireann's Sunday timetable first. Mikey Ryan's opens from 12:00 and Chez Hans serves Sunday lunch from 12:30 to 15:30.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/ireland/cashel/itineraries/rock-of-cashel-and-hore
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.