TIPPERARY HOLIDAY GUIDEBOOK 2015 Ireland ...It’s not such a long way! www.tipperarytourism.com | www.tipperarytourism.ie www.facebook.com/TourisminTipperary @tourtipperary ‘If you’re looking for the Ireland that the locals know and love, you’ve found it.’ Nenagh Castle WELCOME Welcome to Tipp – it’s closer than you think Tell me about Tipperary (or Tipp, as it’s known throughout Ireland)? It’s an escape and an experience all at once. One of Ireland’s most famous regions, you’ll be assured of a big welcome and a chance to experience the best that Ireland has to offer. Unexplored walking trails are just miles from world famous historical monuments and castles. Friendly locals You can take a trip of our walled towns – Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clonmel and Fethard – or immerse yourself in the mythology and history of our glens and vales. All those interested in water sports and angling will enjoy the Lough Derg and River Shannon area. And a good variety of accommodation lies just minutes from spectacular scenery. We can guarantee there’s something for everyone. Walk Arts Festivals through unspoilt hillsides and visit country pubs and cafés. Doherty Tom by photograph Enjoy Tipperary’s sporting tradition – Thurles town is the birthplace of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Enjoy Discover your roots! some of Ireland’s quirkiest festivals, play golf on challenging courses or take in a day at the races. Base yourself in any village or town in Tipperary and you’re never too far from one of our many walks or cycling trails. You may just want to wander down forest trails, taking in unspoilt scenery while working up an appetite or take long treks through a little scrub and follow grassy mountain trails. Sometimes you don’t want to be just a tourist but feel like blending in with the locals on your holiday. With a huge number of events and festivals going on in Tipperary right throughout the year, you’ll meet lots of people from Ireland and other countries and get a real taste for life in what we call the ‘Premier County’. what a session! Our tip for DID YOU KNOW? Ireland’s only eco-village is located in the historic town of Cloughjordan. The eco-village is surrounded by 50 acres of land dedicated to woodland and active food production. With a community farm, guided tours of the village and regular workshops, why not experience this unique resource for yourself? For further details, see www.thevillage.ie 3 www.tipperary.com | www.discoverireland.ie/tipperary ‘Make the iconic Rock of Cashel your first stop on a historical trip of Tipperary.’ Rock of Cashel Our tip for DID YOU KNOW? ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ is a well known song written in 1912 and heard all over the world. It was favoured as a marching song for Irish regiments in the First World War. Our tip is to ignore the song’s famous line and take the trip. You will soon realise it’s not such a long way to Tipperary at all! 4 CASTLES AND HERITAGE ‘Make the iconic Rock of Cashel ‘Tipp’ toe through time Tipperary has seen its fair share of visitors over the years. And it is true to say our history and your first stop on a historical trip landscape has been shaped by them and the time photograph by Tom Grace Tom by photograph they spent here. We invite you to walk with us Ormond Castle of Tipperary.’ through the ages as we tell the story of Tipperary and its heritage. From the first settlers to the Norman invasion, each culture has left its mark. Listen carefully and you can probably still hear the chants of an early monastic settlement or imagine the tribes and traders as they arrived through the Cahir Castle ages. From the Rock of Cashel to Ormond Castle, Carrick-on-Suir to St. Ruadhan’s Abbey, Lorrha, you’ll experience the early days of the High Kings of Ireland and early Christian period. And a tour of our walled towns, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clonmel and Fethard will bring you right back to medieval Ireland. Our heritage – your adventure Roscrea Castle A haven for heritage, Tipperary boasts some of Ireland’s most famous historical monuments and castles. You can immerse yourself in the mythology and history of our county and choose to visit one of our many visitor attractions to get a sense of how these iconic sites have influenced the history of where we are today. photograph by Kevin Byrne Holycross Abbey MUSEUMS LÁR NA PÁIRCE MUSEUM SOUTH TIPPERARY ST. MARY’S FAMINE COUNTY MUSEUM AND WAR MUSEUM Slievenamon Road, Thurles T: +353 (0)504 23579 Mick Delahunty Square, Clonmel Thurles T: +353 (0)504 21133 Tells the story of Gaelic Games T: +353 (0)52 613 4550 A fascinating look back at this – hurling, football, camogie and This museum displays the harrowing period in history. The handball. Hall of Fame, audio- history and heritage of Co. museum contains one of the visual presentation, GAA shop Tipperary. It brings themed largest collections of original and tourist information. exhibitions, workshops, talks Great Famine memorabilia in and demonstrations to eager Ireland. Please phone for further audiences annually. information. 5 www.tipperary.com | www.discoverireland.ie/tipperary Helping you pick your itinerary The Butler Trail In a region famed for its history and The Butler family and their relatives were steeped in heritage, finding your starting among the most enduring influences point can be the toughest part. We’re sure on the landscape of Tipperary. Visit The you’ll find an option to suit you. Choose Butler Trail, launched in 2012, linking one of these tours or with a little more Ormond Castle, Carrick-on-Suir, The time, do both. Each one should take you Main Guard in Clonmel and Cahir Castle between two and three days. and the delightful Swiss Cottage. But Start off in Nenagh town and see its 13th the Butler heritage is to be seen also century Castle and Heritage Centre/ in Kilcash, in Fethard with it’s intact Museum, located in the old County Gaol medieval walls and in North Tipperary buildings. Travel on to Lorrha and visit towns of Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea. St. Ruadhan’s Abbey, which was built Tales of politics, love, intrigue and around 1,000 AD. Head towards Roscrea statesmanship and how Tipperary Heritage Town and walk the Heritage Town evolved from Norman times await you in Trail, visiting Roscrea Castle, and the 18th learning about the Butlers. century Queen Anne style Damer House. Next, explore Thurles town and continue on to Holycross and visit the 12th century The Derrynaflan Trail Holycross Abbey. Finish off this wonderful tour by seeing Cashel with its famous 13th The Derrynaflan Trail is a heritage trail century castle. linking ecclesiastical and historic sites Begin in Tipperary Town and walk the town in mid and east Tipperary. There are Heritage Trail. Then continue on to the over thirty sites on the trail spanning Rock of Cashel and take in life in pre- 15 centuries from early Christian times. Norman Ireland. Follow that with a trip to Fethard Medieval Walled Town. Drive on It takes you to sites like Holycross to Carrick-on-Suir and visit Ireland’s only Abbey, Kilcooley Abbey, Buolick Tudor Manor (Ormond Castle) before church, Crohane, and Derrynaflan going to Clonmel to visit the famous itself; a peaceful and tranquil place, a Westgate and the Main Guard. Finish up church on a green island surrounded in Cahir and delight in the wonderful Cahir by bog, and the place where an Castle and the Swiss Cottage. incredible treasure was discovered. This is just a taste of Tipperary history. A free audio guide can be downloaded Stay a couple more days and fully from www.abartaaudioguides.com appreciate all that we have to offer you! 6 CASTLES AND HERITAGE CARRICK-ON-SUIR Find out more about your CARRICK-ON-SUIR HERITAGE CENTRE FAMILY HISTORY Main Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary A fascinating trove of photographs, Have you ever wondered about your documents and artefacts from the Irish roots? You may have heard town’s past including Carrick-on-Suir 1799 Census and the 17th Century songs and stories passed down Butler Church Plate Collection. about Tipperary and wondered what your people went through all those T: +353 (0)51 640200 years ago to make a fresh start and E: [email protected] W: www.carrickonsuirancestry.com how hard it must have been to leave their friends and family. CARRICK-ON-SUIR – CLONMEL – CAHIR BUTLER TRAIL With three Genealogy Centres in the Carrick-on-Suir – Clonmel – Cahir County, it’s easier than you think; From 1185, the Butlers were one of the • North Tipperary Genealogy most important families in Ireland for over 500 years. Learn how they shaped Centre, Nenagh Tipperary by taking the Butler Trail: • Brú Ború Cultural Centre, Cashel Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir; the Main Guard in Clonmel; The Swiss • Tipperary Excel Centre, Tipperary Cottage and Cahir Castle in Cahir; and Kilcash, Nenagh and Roscrea Castles and the towns of Fethard and Holycross. Town T: +353 (0) 52 744 2652 The Butler Trail For further information on tracing CASHEL your roots check the website www.rootsireland.ie CASHEL FOLK VILLAGE Dominic Street, Cashel, Co. Tipperary Cashel Folk Village consists of three museums (Famine Museum, 1916 Easter Rising Museum and War of NENAGH Independence Museum), plus The Garden of Remembrance, The NORTH TIPPERARY GENEALOGY CENTRE Penal Chapel, the Tinkers Caravan, The Governors House, Kickham St., Nenagh, Co.