CASHEL, city and urban district of Co. Tipperary, Ireland, 96 m. S.W. of Dublin on the Great Southern railway. Pop. (1926) The town lies at the base of the Rock of Cashel (300 ft.), the summit of which is occupied by remains of St. Patrick's cathe dral, a round tower, Cormac's chapel and an ancient cross, on the pedestal of which the kings of Munster were crowned. Of the defences of the rock, a guard-tower and portions of the wall re main. At the base of the rock is Hore Abbey, a Cistercian founda tion of 1272, and within the town is a Dominican priory Legend states that the vision of an angel blessing the rock, seen by two swineherds in the 5th century, led Corc Mac Luighdheach, king of Munster, to establish a stronghold here. It became one of the chief seats of the kings of Munster, but in IIor was given over to the church. Here Henry II. received the homage of O'Brien, king of Limerick, and, later, Edward Bruce held his Irish parliament. The cathedral was burnt in 1495 by the earl of Kil dare. Cashel was captured during the wars of 1647. It was re duced from an archbishopric to a bishopric in 1839 and was dis franchised in 187o.