Much of my time visiting my godfather in Ireland involved staying at the Cashel Palace Hotel, which was owned by Vincent O’Brien until about 1980-1 whereafter Vincent accommodated the Colonel in a guest house next door to the main house at Ballydoyle.
But, for several school holidays the Cashel Palace was where I would stay and I have many fond memories of the place.
Now, admittedly, among Irish country houses the Cashel Palace is somewhat modest and there are undeniably many more impressive buildings scattered about Southern Ireland, some of them with truly stunning vistas. But the ‘Palace’ had character, made so by its friendly staff.
The Cashel Palace Hotel was built in 1730 by Archbishop Theophilus Bolton. It was designed by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce who was also the Architect of the Old Parliament House in Dublin, which is now the Bank of Ireland on College Green. In style it can be placed between Queen Anne and Early Georgian.
A crowned harp can be seen over the entrance. This is a ‘fire mark’ issued by the Hibernian insurance Company of Dublin who were in business from 1771 to 1839. They were the first company in Ireland to transact Fire Insurance.
Some of these rooms were damaged during the Wolf Tone Rebellion of 1798. They were remodelled after 1800 in the Regency Style by the 1st Earl of Normanton, then Archbishop of Cashel.
Following a decision by Archbishop Richard Lawrence to transfer the Diocesan headquarters to Waterford in 1833 the Palace was divided for use by the Dean of Cashel and a Canon of the Church of Ireland. The decision was made by the Church to sell the property in 1959 and in May 1962 it was first opened as a Luxury Hotel by Lord Brockett, who also owned the Wicklow Hotel in Dublin and Benner’s Hotel in Tralee at that time.
The gardens contain the descendants of the original hop plants used by Richard Guinis (an agent for Archbishop Price of Cashel in the 1740’s) to brew the first “Wine of Ireland”. Mr Guinis and his son Arthur went on to brew this beer in Dublin and to found the famous Guinness Brewery at St. James’ Gate. The garden also contains a private walk (The Bishops Walk) to the Rock of Cashel upon which was built the 13th Century Cathedral which served as the ancient seat of the Kings of Munster.
The Cashel Palace Hotel as seen from the gardens where begins the 'Bishop's Walk' to the 'Rock' (see below)
The Colonel raising a glass with receptionist Mary and chef Conner c.1980
Barman Dennis who had a full-time job looking after the Colonel's imbibing
No story about Cashel would be complete without mentioning 'The Rock'.
From the Cashel Palace (so named as it was a Bishop’s Palace) could be seen the 'Rock of Cashel'.
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 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.
The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. In 1101, the King of Munster, Muirchertach Ua Briain, donated his fortress on the Rock to the Church. The ruins are one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe. Few remnants of the early structures survive; the majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries.
The 'Rock' of Cashel
Some may recall HM's visit to Cashel, together with the Duke of Edinburgh, on 20th May 2011 - courtesy of 'Rainbow'