| Rising above the city of Cashel in central Ireland, the Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most impressive archeological sites. The site has links to the 4th century and many parts of the site date to the 10th century. In the 4th century the king of Munster choose the defendable high ground of The Rock as a fortress to exert his power. A legend says that when the King met St. Patrick and was converted, St. Patrick accidently stabbed the king in the foot with his staff. St. Patrick didn't see the wound and the king said nothing. Later, when St. Patrick saw the wound, he asked why the king had remained silent. The king replied that he thought it was part of some Christian initiation relating to the crucifixion.
The Rock eventually fell to the O'Briens, and they gave The Rock to the church to prevent another clan from gaining control of it. The church used it until 1647, when the Rock fell to a Oliver Cromwell and his followers. The Cromwellians burned and sacked the fort/church. The Rock was last used as a place of worship in the early part of the 18th century.
Now the ruins overlook the city of Cashel and provide a wonderful view into historical Ireland.
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