The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-01-16
GAsHEL CATHEDRAL RUINS
MEMORIAL OF GRANDEUR AND
CIVILIZATION OF EARLY
IRELAND.

or the kings and princes who
reigned in or were associated with
Cashel, it is possible to mention but
a few, though many of them were
great and noble men-from Coro
who built the first palace and fort,
and the holy Prince Aengus, down to
the great warrior, Brian Boroihme,
who strengthened and improved the
Rock Notifications in 900, twenty-four
years before he was killed at Clon-
tart.
In 1101 another Of the kingly
OBriens, Murtagh, at large assem-
bly, of priests and people called by
him, sOlemnly alienated Cashel from
the crown of Munster, and dedicated
it to God and st. Patrick and Ailbe
forever. In 1115 this King, who was
held in great esteem, renowned his
kingdom to his brother Dermot, and
retired to st. Cartagh's Monastery,
Lismore. Donald O'Brien, the restor-
er of the Cathedral and the Palace,
converted Cormac's Chapel into a
| Chapter House, and bestowed consid-
cradle grants of land on the Archdi-
Geese, which his son, CARDIAC, largely
increased. Indeed, there are few
men, kings or otherwise, of impor-
lance in Irish history, who have not
been associated with this ancient city
in some way or other.
Plantagenet and Bruce and Strong
bow, the O'Neills and O'Donnells,
MacCarthy's and O'Connors, their
names all appear at one time or an
other in its annals.
! 1t is recorded that on Palm Sun
day, 1916, Edward Bruce attended
] Mass in the Cathedral; also that Rob-
ert Bruce visited it on his way from
Limerick.
A Parliament was held in Cashel
/ in 1872; and in 1882 a general mus
ter of forces was assembled there, to
oppose the Irish under Murrough
OBrien. In 1900 the great Hugh
O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, made a pill
grimage to Holy Cross Abbey, and
was met at the gates Of Cashel by the
Earl of Desmond And when O'Neill
and O'Donnell were finally vanquish-
ed, in 1901, the Lord President
marched from Cashel.
In 1911, early in the Civil War, it
was taken b.? Philip O'Dwyer, and
held for six years by the Confeder-
ates. In 1890, the followers of Will
liam, who were wounded at Limerick,
were hospitaled in the old city, and
in '9S the heads of three rebels adorn-
ed spikes at the northwest summit of
the Cathedral belfry
| Teampul Chormaic, the oldest and
most beautiful of the Cashel ecclesi-
astical ruins, is said to be the first
church in the kingdom built of stone
and mortar
AS in the case Of the Cathedral,
there are different opinions as to its
. founder. Some say it was erected by
Cormac MacCullenain on the site of
the one built centuries before by
Aengus, and others that it is too ar
tistic and highly decorated to belong
to such a remote period, and that it
was more likely built by Cormac
MacCarthy, the holy King of Desmond,
or that, at any rate, it was rebuilt
and completely redecorated by him
about the year 1927, and consecrated
with great solemnity in 1884, after
which a Synod was held within it's
walls.
1t is a cruciform building, Hiberno-
| 10 Hv.Io he al
square tower on each side. 1t is SO
feet long, Is feet wide. It is built of
sandstone blocks, and has a large
stone roof. The chancel, instead of
being in the center, is inclined to the
south. This is popularity to be
found only in few very ancient
churches, and is symbolica1 of the
Savior, Whose head inclined to one
side as He hung on the Cross. There
are distinct traces of fresco-painting
on the south wall
An old writer says of this chapel
"The sculptures of the capitals,
mouldfngs, ribs, cases and doorways
are marvelously beautiful" And
again: Nothing can exceed the grace
and beauty of the decoration abso-
lutely lavished on the interior and ex-
terror of the gem of ancient Irish art;
the arched mouldings, rich in sculp-
ture, serious and grotesque, the vault
ed roof, the noble doorway, the elab-
orately carved pillars, the exquisite
grace of the towers-all vie with each
other in. charm of design and won
drous finish and execution. Scarcely
stone in this temple but is enrich
ed with tracery as delicate as lace
work-tracery purely Irish in char
acter; closely akin to the ornamental
ton of the Book of Kells and the
bellshrine of st. Patrick, and speak
ing volumes for the Unborn grace and
the high culture of the unauthorized
i Celt,'
i There are three doorways, very rich
in sculpture. over the northern is
carved centaur armed with bow and
arrow, in combat with a lion. There
are several legendary explanations OF
the strange device.
j There are many historic and pic
turesque ruins IN the vicinity Of Ca