Amenities

Attractions in the local area.

Kilkenny Castle

One of the most instantly recognised buildings in Ireland, Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century. William the Earl Marshall built the first stone castle on the site, which was completed in 1213. This was a square-shaped castle with towers at each corner; three of these original four towers survive to this day. The Butler family bought the Castle in 1391 and lived there until 1935. They were Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde and lived in the castle for over five hundred years. They were a remarkable family, resilient, politically astute and faithful to the crown and to Ireland as dictated by the politics of the times. These loyalties determined their fortunes and career, and so too the fortunes of their seat
The property was given to the Nation in 1967 and the castle and grounds are now managed by the Office of Public Works. The gardens and parkland adjoining the castle are open to the public and the Parade Tower is a conference venue.

Holycross Abbey, situated about four and a half miles from Thurles in Co. Tipperary, it is located in a magnificent setting on the banks of the River Suir.
It is a fantastically situated monastery dating back to the early twelfth century. It was built by Donal Mór O'Brien for the Order of Tiron and takes its name from the relic of the True Cross. Before the close of the twelfth century, it was passed on to the Cistercians. It became a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the country. The church has many interesting features including a variety of fascinating windows, mural paintings and many fine carvings.

Holycross Abbey

The Rock of Cashel, 200ft high limestone outcrop was a fortress of the Munster kings since the 5th Century. It was also an ecclesiastical centre in the middle ages and is most famous for Cormac's Chapel, which has the finest example of Romanesque architecture and stone carving in medieval Ireland. Interior architectural features have been found to be the work of Italian Artists. A guided tour of the Rock is a must, and the town is also worth a walk about.

Rock of Cashel

Mitchelstown Caves are located in county Tipperary 12 kilometres east of Mitchelstown. The Caves are open year-round for guided tours. The tours are approximately 3 kilometres in length going through several caverns with examples of different types of formations many of which are given colourful names. The above is called the Golden Fleece.

The caves were discovered in 1833 when a farm labourer dropped his crowbar into a crevasse while quarrying limestone. What was discovered is a prehistoric cave of great beauty and scientific interest.
The limestone being dissolved by rainwater percolating through the soil and stone is redeposited in the cave as the drops of water evaporate in the air forming stalactites, stalagmites, calcite columns, and flow stones among other examples of formations which are to be seen in the caves. Considering that it takes over a thousand years for a stalagmite or stalactite to grow a few centimetres the formations found in Mitchelstown Caves are highly impressive. Examples of 350 million year old fossils are to be seen as well as some cave fauna.

Kings River Tipperary

Attractions in the local area.