The Butler Trail of CLONMEL AUDIO GUIDE APP Welcome to CLONMEL
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1. The Main Guard, Clonmel R 2. FranciscanRIVER Friary, SUI Abbey Street 3. The Quays SUIR ISLAND 4. Town Hall 5. Hearn’s Hotel 6. Tipperary County Museum 7. Old St Mary’s Church 8. West gate R671
To Waterford Audio Guide Tour For over 650 years, the Butlers were the most powerful and influential family in Clonmel. They built much of its great architecture, brought industry to the town and gave Oliver Cromwell’s army a bloody nose! Download the Butler Trail audio guide app to hear fascinating stories of the wars, the walls, the entrepreneurs and the brewers that helped to shape modern Clonmel. Then continue the Butler Trails through the nearby towns of Cahir and Carrick-on-Suir.
T. 6 PUBLIC KICKHAM S CAR PARK
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T T. PUBLIC ELL S . ITCH 4 CAR PARK M NELSON S
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To Waterford 1. THE MAIN GUARD
The Main Guard occupies a dominant position on the corner of the two main streets in Clonmel. It was built around 1685 by James Butler, the first Duke of Ormond, to serve as the town’s new courthouse.
It is a handsome building – in fact, it may even have been designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the architect behind St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
5. HEARN’S HOTEL Just opposite the Town Hall on Parnell Street, stands Hearn’s Hotel. On the front of the building you will see the name ‘Hearn’, and also ‘Bianconi House’.
The name Bianconi links all three parts of the Butler Trail – Clonmel, Cahir and Carrick-on-Suir.
Charles, or Carlo Bianconi was an Italian immigrant to Ireland, who by all accounts was a most remarkable, resourceful and good-hearted man.
He is credited with having revolutionised public transport in Ireland by linking towns across the country with his horse and carriage service.
And it all started here, outside Hearns Hotel, on 6 July 1815. 2. FRANCISCAN FRIARY, ABBEY STREET The Franciscan Friary in Abbey Street,is the last resting place for some members of the Butler family. Seven of the Butler Lords of Cahir lie buried inside, in a recess underneath the Tower. Their bodies are arranged around the effigies of a Knight Templar and his wife, of the House of Ormond.
If the Friary is open, take a few moments to go inside and discover the Butler tombs.
6. TIPPERARY COUNTY MUSEUM
What do a rowing boat…an Olympic medal and a saxophone all have in common?
You will find these items, and the stories behind them, inside this friendly and intriguing museum. Located in the heart of Clonmel’s civic centre, the museum’s vision is to enable visitors to experience the cultural richness and pride of County Tipperary. 3. THE QUAYS The River Suir surges past Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir before entering the Sea at Waterford. It is Ireland’s third longest river and as well as being famous for its wild brown trout, it is also home to Atlantic salmon, who return here each year to spawn.
Eels used to be exported from Clonmel to Europe - in fact, trade of every sort has long been central to Clonmel’s existence.
7. OLD ST MARY’S CHURCH
Old St Mary’s is a fascinating 13th-century church. But what really interests us here, is the section of old town walls, and an incredible story of courage, tenacity and ingenuity that links the Butlers and the people of Clonmel.
The year is 1650. Oliver Cromwell is leading his New Model Army on a devastating campaign to conquer Ireland.
Listen to the Butler Trail audio guide app to hear the story of how the Earl of Ormond takes personal charge of the defence of Clonmel. 4. TOWN HALL
For centuries, Clonmel was the administrative headquarters of the Butler family. It is still an important regional centre and is the largest inland town in Ireland. It is appropriate therefore that Clonmel should have a town hall which befits its size and status.
This town hall, on Parnell Street, dates from 1881, but the original town hall was built in the seventeenth century on the site of a private mansion called Hamerton Hall, owned by a man called Richard Hamerton, a timber merchant.
8. WEST GATE Standing on the site of a medieval town gate, it makes a very imposing landmark on O’Connell Street.
And the perfect location to finish the Butler Trail in the heart of Clonmel, with a choice of colourful shops, bars and restaurants to relax in before exploring the other Butler Trails and Ireland’s Ancient East.
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120 min M3 Kilkenny 8 Butler Sites G M4 D M6 M50 Playground M7 70 min M9 Time to take it all in R697 To Dublin N76 M7 Shannon Fishing 50 min K i Dundrum M8 L 9 Callan 20 min Mullinahone M9 W Gardens K 10 To Limerick M8 W Rosslare Port Cashel i R692 Town Heritage Walk i Knocktopher 7 C J10 Tipperary N74 R692 A Golfing Emly 12 R701 Fethard i L D B i Visitor information C J N24 J10 SLIEVENAMON Other Heritage Sites i R689 R697 Glen of Aherlow 4 G R696 i F Walled Town Cahir 6 i i 5 Kilsheelan 2 N24 Clonmel Carrick-on-Suir GALTEE MOUNTAINS H M 3 ROADS, ROUTES & TRAILS E Suir Blue Way 1 er Suir N24 M9 Butler Trail Riv I Links to Butler Trail To Cork M8 Roads R678 Ardfinnan 11 N24 East Munster Way Rathgormack 1 7 Tipperary Heritage Way R680 1 7 2 Clogheen8 COMERAGH MOUNTAINSA G Suir Blueway1 - Walking 7 2 8 A A G G 2 8 A G Suir Blueway2 - Kayaking 8 3 KNOCKMEALDOWN9 B B H H B 3 9 MOUNTAINS To DungarvanH N25 Waterford City 3 9 4 10 C C I I I 1 107 C J BUTLER SITES 4 1Cahir Castle 107 5Athassel Abbey 11 Granagh Castle PLACES OF INTERESTA D Fethard Horse D G SensoryJ & J Glen of Aherlow J 1 7 5 2 118 A A D CountryG Experience G Mobility Garden K 1 Ormond Castle7 5 2Swiss Cottage11 8 6Kilkenny Castle 12 Fethard Knockroe Tomb B E E H K K Rock of Cashel B K 2 Kilcash Castle 8 6 3Cahir House 12 9 Callan Friary B Ahenny High CrossesB E MarlfieldH Village Trail H GlengarraL Woods L Fethard Medieval Walls 6 3 12 9 C F F I L L 3 The Main Guard9 Hotel 10 Kells Priory C Kilkieran High CrossesC F The IApple Farm I Mitchelstown Caves M Tipperary Co. Museum 3 9 4 10 C D J J 4 10 11 D D J J 4 10 5 11 D E K K K 5 11 6 12 E E K K 5 11 6 12 E F L L L 6 12 F F L