The hill top bore a fortress from very early times. Brian Boru was crowned king of Ireland in 977 and ruled from this stronghold.
In 1101 Muircheartach O'Brien handed it over to the church.
The famous Cormac's Chapel was built c 1127-34 and the cathedral alongside it was erected from east to west during the 13 century.
This is the smaller chapel with in
The nave was to be longer but eventually closed off at the west end by a 22m high, 12.6m x 8.8m residential tower probably built by Risteard O' Hedigan between 1406 and 1440.
There was three storeys below a vault and a hall above approached either by a long flight of stairs in the west wall or from a mural passage on the nave north wall.
A room and attic above is perhaps the result of later alterations.
The upper parts of the south wall fell during a storm in 1847.
In 1647 after the castle was stormed by Lord Inchiquin's forces 20 ecclesiastics were killed by being smothered in fire.
The facts in this article were gleaned from many sources. I will try to add the Rock's floor plans the next update.
