CASHEL  , a

city of Co . Tipperary, Ireland, in the east parliamentary division, 5 in . S.E. of Goold's Cross and Cashel station on the main line of the Great Southern & Western railway, 96 in . S.W. from Dublin . Pop. of urban district (1901) 2938 . The town, which lies at the base of the Rock of Cashel, is of somewhat poor appearance, but contains several public buildings . There are also the cathedral church of St John the Baptist (c . 1780), the deanery house (once the bishop's palace), and a Roman Catholic church . Cashel gives name to a Roman Catholic archdiocese . The Rock of Cashel is the object of chief interest in the place . This elevation of limestone formation rises abruptly from the plain to a height of about 300 ft. and is a commanding object for many miles around . Its summit is occupied by one of the most interesting assemblages of ruins in Ireland, consisting of the remains of St Patrick's cathedral, a round tower, Cormac's chapel, and an ancient cross .

The chapel, which is said to have been erected by

King Cormac M`Carthy in the 12th century, combines the ancient form of high stone roof, having chambers between the pitch and the vault, with the richest Norman decoration; the chancel arch being of especial magnificence . The cathedral, of the 13th century, is cruciform in design, with lancet windows and pointed arches, and contains many interesting sculptures and tombs . In the adjoining cemetery there 'stands, on a rude pedestal, whereon the kings of Munster were crowned, the " Cross of Cashel," with an effigy of St Patrick and a portrayal of the Crucifixion sculptured on its sides . The round tower, situated at the north-east angle of the cathedral, is 8o ft. high with a circumference of 50 ft., and unlike the neighbouring ruins is built, not of the limestone of the " Rock," but of freestone . Of the defences of the Rock a massive guard-tower and portions of the wall remain . At the base of the Rock is Hore Abbey, a Cistercian foundation (1272), exhibiting a similar style of architecture to that of the cathedral on the Rock; and within the town is a Dominican priory (1243), of which the east window is a beautiful example of the style of the period . From the Rock itself an extensive prospect is commanded over the rich Golden Vale backed by the Galtee Mountains, the Devil's Bit, and other ranges; the clustering roofs of the city providing a picturesque foreground . The history of Cashel belongs to the early period of Irish chronology . Legend states that the vision of an angel blessing the Rock, seen by two swineherds early in the 5th century, led Corc Mac Luighdheach, king of Munster, to establish a strong-hold here . It became one of the principal seats of the kings of Munster, but in 1101 it was given over to the church by King Murkertagh O'Brien . It afterwards became noteworthy as the place where Henry II. received the homage of O'Brien, king of Limerick, and still later, where Edward Bruce held his Irish parliament . The cathedral was burnt in 1495 by the earl of Kildare .

Cashel was taken by

storm during the wars of 1647 . It was reduced from an archbishopric to a bishopric in 1839, and was disfranchised, on account of corrupt practice, in 1870, having previously returned one member to parliament .