After the tour of Waterford, we drove to the Rock of Cashel. This is one of the destinations that brought us to Ireland in the first place - so we had been looking forward to this part of the trip for a long, long time. Even the road leading up to the Rock of Cashel was captivating.
For many years the historic site was left unmaintained, ravaged both by brutal weather and local people looking for building resources. Fortunately now there is a move towards preserve these types of historical places - though the work is extensive.
You can see an Abbey in the fields below...
While we toured the Rock, there were crows darting in and out of the walls and windows playfully.
You can see remnants of an Irish fresco along the chapel ceiling. Cormac's chapel is currently being "dried out" - years of rain penetrating the building left the chapel susceptible to mold. Preservation is underway to mitigate the effects and prevent further damage.
This face haunts the wall of the cathedral.
Nick and I broke off from group, taking a walk down the hill towards the Abbey below.
A beautiful view of the Rock of Cashel from the Abbey.
A tree grows in the graveyard...
While we walked around the Abbey, two young children darted in and out of the shadows, climbing up, down, and over the broken walls. What an remarkable playground...
We left the Abbey and walked back up the hill towards the rock.
the infinite beauty of Ireland...