360 Style Rock of Cashel Tour

If you are traveling to Ireland, I highly recommend you visit the Rock of Cashel. Known as Carraig Phádraig in Irish, the Rock of Cashel features the ruins of a 12th-century tower and Gothic cathedral. Located about halfway between Dublin and Cork, if you are driving between the two, the Rock of Cashel is a must-see landmark.

It costs €8 for a single adult ticket (which is around $9.20 at the time of writing this), and children cost half that. You can walk around the grounds, taking in the splendor of the place completely on your own, opt for an audio guide, or book a guided tour. Of course, you can do what we did and spend a lot of time on your own AND take a guided tour as well. The guided tour is nice because it is very informative, plus it is the only way to access Cormac’s Chapel. During tourist season, they limit the number of people that can be inside the chapel, so arrive early to ensure you get a spot.

If you are planning a visit to the Rock of Cashel, I suggest staying in, or close to, Cork. This way you can see Blarney Castle, which is absolutely amazing, around the same time. You could stay in Kilkenny, which also has a castle, or some other nearby town, but Cork offers more options for just about everything.

If you are into exploring ruins, especially on your own, I suggest walking over to Hore Abbey, which can be seen from the Rock of Cashel, just across a field. Your kid(s) will be able to run wild here, and will be able to experience the ruins up close and personal. Depending on the time and season of your visit, you may get Hore Abbey all to yourself, which is nice if you want to soak in the energy of the place.

More information about the Rock of Cashel can be found on the official website: https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/the-rock-of-cashel/