Visitor Attractions & Places of Interest

Clonmel

Clonmel means 'Meadows of Honey' (Cluain Meala) in Gaelic and is poised on the banks of the Suir. Its hard to believe that it once withstood a Cromwellian siege for three brutal months.

There is a very good Heritage Trail that points out the interesting historical facts that can be obtained from the Tourist Office in St Mary's Church, Mary Street.

Rock of Cashel

The Rock of Cashel is Ireland's most renowned and imposing ecclesiastical ruin. The one time home of the kings of Munster rises out of the wide plain, dominating the countryside and appearing, from the main road, as if still in use. Officially it is known as St Patrick's Rock and here St Patrick plucked the shamrock which he held up in explanation of the Trinity. The full value of the visit is in the astonishing group of buildings: the round tower, the old castle, St Patrick's Cross and Cormac's Chapel where St Patrick converted King Aenghus in the 5th Century. Brian Boru was crowned King of Ireland on this spot in the early 11th Century. Don't hurry - absorb the atmosphere!

Kilkenny

Kilkenny, Ireland's medieval capital, with its abundance of historic buildings is now the country's creative capital with a Craft Trail of the studios and workshops and of course the annual Arts Festival in August. It is known as the City of Marble because fine black marble was once quarried on the outskirts until 1929. The Castle and Grounds are a must standing majestically beside the River Nore. You should visit the excellent design centre and restaurant opposite the castle.
Rothe House is a typical middle class house from the Tudor period built in 1594. St Canice Cathedral Has its origins from the 6th century but has been restored though out the centuries.

High Cross at Ahenny

Anner is near to many historical sites: a standing stone at Giants grave,a Norman motte at Kilsheelan, several ring forts and tower houses. Further afield are several portal dolmen, high crosses at Ahenny and a splendid round tower and ruined cathedral on the coast at Ardmore. Near Cahir is the Swiss Cottage, a 'cottage orné' of great charm, designed by John Nash and built in 1810.

Ormonde Castle at Carrick-on-Suir

Ormonde Castle, is the best Irish example of an Elizabethan mansion, 15th century. It was built by Sir Edward MacRichard Butler on a strategic bend of the River Suir and has lain in ruins for centuries. What still stands, attached to the ancient battlements, is last surviving Tudor manor house in Ireland. It was built in case Elizaberth I came by Thomas Butler. She never did and you wonder why not.

Cahir Castle, Cahir

Once a stronghold of the powerful Butler family, the castle retains its impressive keep, tower and much of its original defensive structure. It is one of Ireland's largest and best preserved castles. It is situated on a rocky island on the River Suir. It has an excellent audio-visual show and guided tours.

A 30 minute walk from the Castle along the Suir takes you to

Swiss Cottage

a delightful thatched roof 'cottage orne' (a rustic house embodying the ideal of simplicity) situated on an elevated site with access across a bridge over the Suir and stone steps. It was built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Glegall, to a design by the famous regency architect, John Nash, he who designed the Brighton Pavillion for the Prince Regent. Its interior contains a graceful staircase and wallpaper manufactured by the Dufour factory, one of the first commercially produced parisian wallpapers. On the walls of the box office is a reproduction of pages from the 'Retrospections of Dorothea Herbert', the diaries of which the Mandeville family have loaned to Trinity Collage. It tells of the young Lord Caher, the aforementioned Richard Butler.
His mother was a poor woman of the town. When old Lord Caher died it was found that this woman's child was to inherit. So the other expectants kidnapped him and brought him to France where he lived in poverty. But a Mrs Jefferies, sister to the Chancellor FizGibbon, head about these two boys. Her daughter, Miss Jefferies was in a convent in France. So Mrs Jefferies found the boys and educated them and married her daughter off to the young Lord Caher.

Caves

Near Mitchelstown are interesting caves, which were discovered over a century ago, when a quarryman's crowbar slipped into a crevice and opened up the entrance.There are three massive caverns in which you are surrounded by drip formations uniting stalactites and stalagmites to form several impressive columns with names such as 'Lot's
Wife' and 'the Tower of Babel' which is one Europe's finest columns

Bru Boru National Heritage Centre

Irish music, song, dance, and even banquets may all be enjoyed at the Bru Boru National Heritage Centre, the 'Palace of Brian Boru', at the foot of the Rock of Cashel.

Gardens and horticulture

Mount Congreve Gardens, Kilmeaden is a beautiful 80 acre garden consisting of exclusively planted woodland. 2000 different rhododendrons, magnolia walks, a Camellia collection and a Georgian green house.
Fairbroke House Gardens, Kilmeaden, is a romantic walled garden laid out in and between a former mill. Woodland garden with historic millpond.
Killurney Garden, Ballypatrick, award winning garden (Overall winner of the Irish Garden Award 2008) set in one acre with natural pool fed from mountain stream. A variety of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and a scree bed.

Farmers Markets

There are a number of markets that take place on different days of the week at Clonmel, Carrick on Suir, and Cahir.

Pubs

In local pubs,a warm welcome awaits those interested in music, singing, and traditional dancing. Pubs like the Railway Bar or Lonagans in Clonmel or out of the way places such as Clay Pits outside Carrick on Suir. Perhaps you prefer to relax with a Guinness and enjoy the art of conversation - still very much alive in Ireland.