The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-02-24

not on the ground of elaborate decors
tion, in which it is deficient, but by the
magnlfc Of it's outlines. It meas
ures 210 feet from east to west, and ITO
feet along the transepts. The austere
simplicity of the church, the pure grace
OF the lofty lancet windows, the exqui-
site harmony of pillar, arch and capital,
combine to make the Cathedral of Oashel
one of the finest existing specimens of
Gothic architecture.
It is not known by whom or at what
period the Round Tower was erected;
but beyond doubt it is structure of
great antiquity. No other in the coun-
try is in SO fine state of preservation.
The archiepiscopal castle Is considered
an erection Of the same period as the
cathedral. twill be noted that all these
buildings were reared before the foot of
Strongbow polluted Irish soil; the cath
edral, indeed being completed in the
very year that the traitor McMurrough
was comprising his treason.
The only other building on the Rock is
the Hall of the Wears choral, which was
not founded till 1921. On the plain
stands the ruin of Hore Abbey, or prop
erly, St. Marys; and Of the Franciscan
Abbey, erected by Archbishop Haoket IN
1850, and known by his name. Crosses
and monuments, sculptured tombs, and
tu}l-length eHgies of warriors admirably
executed, lie around in profusion. In
truth, in no spot are there collected so
many irrefutable proofs of the civiliza-
tion of our ancestors, whom the Norman
English pr claimed as barbarous and
pretended to be so eager to oivilize.
In the memorable year 1172, q synod
was held on the cathedral on the Rock,
at which the celebrated document known
as the Bull Of Pope Adrian was read to
the assembled prelates Of Ireland-all
being present save the Archbishop Of
Armagh. This document, which pur-
ported to hand over the island to the
English king, was read by Christianus
O'Conarchy, Bishop Of Llsmore, and Pa
pal Legate, who presided over the synod.
In the same year another scene of
shame was enacted in Cashel, when
Donogh O'Brien, king OF Limerick, paid
homage to Henry the Second as his SOY.
ereien. This was in some sort atoned
for two years subsequently, when the FL
libustering Strongbow and his followers
were badly beaten at the battle Of Thur
Les, and Cashel witnessed them IN full
retreat, though it likewise gave them
shelter.
From this time forward, for several
centuries, the Rock was the center of a
district in u state OF perpetual disturb
ance; and Cashel had to bear it's part in
q drama which was very unlike the scenes
Of religious calm with which the city had
been familiar in the days when ite fate
lay wholly in the hands of the 'barbar-
ous" Irish. The beat of the war-drum
was heard nearly as often as the toll OF
the church-bell. It may be interesting
to note that Edward Bruce attended
mass in the cathedral on Palm Sunday,
in the year 1916, in the course Of his
memorable campaign in Ireland.
AS Cashel remained in English hands
almost without an interval from the time
OF the invasion, 1t is not surprising to
learn that most of it's archbishops for
long series Of years were of the Norman
race. In l406, however, Richard Oiled
ian succeeded to the see. Besides erect
ing the hall for Wears choral mentioned
above, he required the castle and the
cathedral. But these acts were of no
merit in the eyes Of the English settlers;
for the archbishop, it would appear, was
stained all over with one damning fault
"he made very much of the Irish, and
loved none OF the English And those
same settlers petitioned parliament that
no Iriahman should be allowed to hold
benefce or Office in the church; and par
lament straightway granted their petit
tion; whereupon Archbishop O'Hedian
received the honor OF impeachment.
In the reign OF Henry the Seventh, the
first serious saorilege was perpetrated on
the Rock Of Csshel That wild Gerald
inc, who has been called "the great Earl
Of kildare" ," had feud with Archbishop
Creagh, and, sweeping down on the arch
iepioopal city with knights and men-at-
arms, set fire to the cathedral. The earl
aud the prelate being both Of tho Same
stock, the quarrel may be regarded % q
family one, and q very pretty one ss it
stood. Instead Of receiving punishment,
Kildare was loaded with honors and in
trusted with the government of the
kingdom. s5.3.. s.s5 i &.
An attempt was recently made 60 have
the Rock of Oashel turned over to . com
mission, ID the name off the Irish nation,
Tor preservati0n, nif not restoration; but
tho clalnors of the biieots, comnbiped with
|EnRlmh jealousy ofl irish patriotio effort,
isteated this praisev desian.