Rock of Cashel

The word ‘cashel’ is an Anglicised version of the Irish word caiseal, meaning ‘fortress’. In the 4th century the Rock of Cashel was chosen as a base by the Eóghanachta clan from Wales, who went on to conquer much of Munster and become kings of the region. For some 400 years it rivaled Tara as a center of power in Ireland. The clan was associated with St Patrick, hence the Rock’s alternative name of St Patrick’s Rock. In the 10th century the Eóghanachta lost possession of the rock to the O’Brien (Dál gCais) tribe under Brian Ború’s leadership.