County Tipperary

Farney Castle

Our next adventure took us through the beautiful county of Tipperary. Our fist stop was at Farney Castle. It was built in 1185 and would have consisted initially of a stout timber structure. The present existing stone round tower was completed in 1495 by Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond, (Known as ‘The Wool Earl,’ due to his enormous wealth). 

The castle is home to the Irish international designer, Cyril Cullen, where his famous handmade knitwear designs and fine porcelains are produced and sold in the castle shop

Holy Cross Abbey

Holycross is a very special and sacred place where you can walk in the footsteps of ancient Monks. Experience firsthand, through local guides, the story of Holycross, spanning 10 centuries of a changing social, political and religious landscape, in the very heart of Ireland.

Glasheen’s Old Abbey Inn

While awaiting our pick up from Derry, we stopped at the pub next door to the Abbey. Glasheen’s old Abbey Inn is a charming pub located in a picturesque setting. It is clean and warm and we were welcomed by the owner Francis. Typically the pub does not open until 4. But the fine lad opened up for us Americans early!

Rock of Cashel

Set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale, the Rock of Cashel, iconic in its historic significance, possesses the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. Among the monuments to be found there is a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House.

Originally the seat of the kings of Munster, according to legend St. Patrick himself came here to convert King Aenghus to Christianity. Brian Boru was crowned High King at Cashel in 978 and made it his capital.

Cahir Castle

Cahir Castle is one of Ireland’s largest and best-preserved castles. It stands proudly on a rocky island on the River Suir.

The castle was was built in the thirteenth century and served as the stronghold of the powerful Butler family. So effective was its design that it was believed to be impregnable, but it finally fell to the earl of Essex in 1599 when heavy artillery was used against it for the first time. During the Irish Confederate Wars it was besieged twice more.

At the time of building, Cahir Castle was at the cutting edge of defensive castle design and much of the original structure remains.

An excellent audiovisual show now provides sightseers with a detailed appreciation of the castle’s long history. Visitors also flock to the castle because of its role as a film and TV location – it has featured in productions like Excalibur and The Tudors.