The Rock of Cashel is the site of Cashelmore, the Royal Freehold of Queen Nuala of Munster.
Overview[]
Rising 200 feet above the plains of County Tipperary, the steep, craggy hill known as the Rock of Cashel served as both the site from which the kings of Munster ruled and as a religious landmark, commemorating the spot upon which St. Patrick baptized King Aengus in CE 450. In 977, the legendary Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster atop the Rock, and it remained the seat of Munster’s royalty until 1101, when it was given over to the Church.
Atop the summit stands a complex of buildings including the 13th century ruins of Cashel Cathedral, Cormac’s Chapel (built in the 12th century) and St. Patrick’s Cross (a modern copy of the original).
The Freehold[]
Inside the rock, accessible through a hidden doorway near the base of the hill, is Cashelmore, the freehold of Queen Nuala and the center of the region’s Seelie Court. Apprised by her late sister Morgania of the existence of an ancient faerie stronghold within the stone, Nuala devoted the first few years after her arrival in Hibernia to reawakening the enchanted site and reconstructing its glittering palace from the chimeric ruins left by its original owners.
Surrounding the palace is a glade of perpetual twilight, complete with chimeric skies of dusky rose and gray in which glimmer a few evening stars. The lush grounds around Nuala’s palace of shining spires and graceful towers features a riotous array of night-blooming flowers.
Aside from the rooms set apart for official receptions and audiences, the remainder of the rooms inside the palace reflect Nuala’s keen interest in the pursuit of magical knowledge. She owns a vast library of real and chimerical books and manuscrits, including a handwritten collection of Yeats’ unpublished early poetry (a gift from King Fiachra of Connaught). She also has several fine historic artifacts, gifts from her nobles and other admirers.
Commoner Kithain are allowed inside only on designated days and on formal occasions. Nuala does not feel easy in their company, blaming them for the death of her sister during the Accordance War (despite the fact that few Irish commoners had any involvement in that Concordian struggle for sidhe dominance).
References[]
- CTD: Immortal Eyes: Court of All Kings, p. 72.