Sunday, March 17, 2013

Like a Rock

What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than with a visit to the Rock of Cashel, otherwise known as St. Patrick's Rock.

According to local mythology, the Rock of Cashel originated in the Devil's Bit, a mountain 20 miles north of Cashel, when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock's landing in Cashel. Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

She Sells Sanctuary

Dunbrody Abbey was founded in 1170 on the instructions of Strongbow by his nephew, Herve de Montmorency, after the Norman invasion of Ireland. Herve de Montmorency made a grant of the lands to the monks of Bildewas in Shropshire, England on condition that they would build the Abbey for monks of the Cistercian Order. The Abbey was to contain a sanctuary for all malefactors. Dedicated to "St. Mary the ever Blessed Virgin and St. Benedict", it has sometimes been called the Abbey of St. Mary de Port because of this refuge.