Local Attractions
Content Blocks
Cahir Castle
Once the 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. The castle's attractions include an excellent audio-visual show which informs visitors about the castle.
Swiss Cottage
A delightful "cottage orné" built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Glengall to a design by the famous Regency architect John Nash. Its interior contains a graceful spiral staircase and some elegantly decorated rooms. The wallpaper in the Salon manufactured by the Dufour factory is one of the first commercially produced Parisian wallpapers. Situated on an elevated site with access by stone steps.
Mitchlestown Caves
Situated off the main Cork to Dublin road, Mitchelstown Cave is a must on your itinerary. Although the name can be deceptive Mitchelstown cave is located in Co. Tipperary at the foothills of the Galty Mountains. These limestone caverns, containing spectacular rock formations and prehistoric fossils, were discovered by accident in 1833 by men quarrying for stone. Within the caves, the temperature is constant at 12° Celsius all year.
Tours by informative guides will take you though three massive caverns in which you are surrounded by indescribable dripstone formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and graceful calcite curtains hang from sloping roofs, calcite crystals glisten like diamonds in the distance. Huge calcite columns and one of Europe’s finest columns the inspiring “Tower of Babel".
Visitors, groups & school outings are guided daily through a half mile of this world famous show cave. Groups should phone ahead of time for appointment, and are catered for winter and summer. Parking for cars and coaches is provided and toilet facilities are on site. Bring a picnic along and avail of the beautiful panoramic views of the Galty Mountains before your descent underground.
Rock of Cashel
A spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral. Attractions include an audio-visual show and exhibitions. Access for visitors with disabilities by prior arrangement.
The Vee Valley Drive
A spectacularly beautiful drive, where the scenery climbs and dips and changes constantly to delight the eye at every turn in the road. The road rises through beautifully wooded countryside along the river valley. The landscape then opens up offering a variety of textures and colours, including peat land, rocky headlands, rhododendron groves and blanket heather. A viewpoint, left, presents lovely mountain views. If this glorious panorama was presented in a 19th century painting, it would be considered highly romantic and even overstated. But these wonderful Knockmealdown Mountains are the stuff of romance and all the visitor can do is stop, stare and enjoy. After the exhilarating wilderness left behind, the hills fall away in great folds to reveal the Golden Vale below.
