Local Attractions |
Thurles
The Source Arts Centre opened on 2nd October 2006 and is Ireland's newest arts centre.
It consists of a 250 seat auditorium with fully flexible seating, and a dedicated gallery space.
A year round programme of events will include film, theatre, dance, ballet, opera, music, family events and visual art exhibitions. And alongside the professional events The Source will have a community and youth outreach programme.
For more information about whats on in the Source Arts Centre click here>> |
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The Cathedral of the Assumption is the fourth church to be built on this site. The first one recorded was a Carmelite church built in the early fourteenth century. After the dissolution of the monasteries it fell into disrepair and was later demolished. The second church, known as the Mathew Chapel was built around the mid eighteenth century under the patronage of a local man George Mathew. The third church, the 'Big Chapel', was dedicated to Saint Patrick, and was a spacious, T-shaped building built between 1807-1808 at a cost of £10,000. The Big Chapel served as the Cathedral until the early 1860s.
Work began on this, the fourth church in 1861. The Archbishop, Patrick Leahy, was an enthusiastic student of Roman history and architecture. The architect J.J. McCarthy abandoned his normal Gothic revival style to accommodate Dr Leahy's preference, and designed the building in an Italianate Romanesque style, modeled on the Cathedral of Pisa in Italy.
The bell tower or campanile is one hundred and fifty feet high and is Thurles' most important landmark. On the other side of the Cathedral is the free standing Baptistry which resembles that of Pisa and other European Cathedrals - an unusual feature in Ireland. The Rose Window in the facade of the building was designed by Mayer and Co. of Munich.
For more things to see in Thurles visit www.thurles.ie/visit-culture.php |
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Holycross
Holycross Abbey
Outside Thurles, is the Holy Cross Abbey (located in the village of Holycross), which was founded in 1169 by the King of Thomond of the Cistercian monks. A relic of the true cross owned by the King was given to the Abbey. Founded originally in 1168 for Benedictines by the King of Munster, Donal O Brien, the abbey was transferred to the Cistercians about 1182. A particle of the True Cross was enshrined in the abbey, and Holycross became one of the most frequented places of pilgrimage inIreland. Suppressed in 1536, the abbey was made over in 1563 to the Earl of Ormonde, but through the protection of the Butler Family the monks remained at Holycross until the 17th century.
It was very prosperous and several of the Abbots were peers of Parliament. The Abbey was suppressed in and given to the Earl of Desmond. In the grounds of the Abbey are a complete set of Stations of the Cross and were erected in honour of Padre Pio.
In 1966 a new destiny opened up for Holy Cross. A move was initiated locally to restore the Abbey church and bring it back into use for the local community. Archaeological excavations began in the Abbey shortly afterwards and restoration began in 1971. A celebration of the restoration was held in October 1975, which included the official opening |
Holycross Abbey |
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Cashel
Cashel has a very ancient history, albeit only documented since the 4th Century.The Rock of Cashel, with its well preserved ecclesiastical remains, is one of Ireland's most spectacular landmarks, rising above the surrounding plain and dominating the land route southward.The large Cathedral, ancient round tower and the very early Romanesque Cormac's Chapel , perched on a dramatic outcrop of rock, were silent witnesses to many of the stirring events of Irish History; St.Patrick converted the local King Aenghus,here in the 5th century; Brian Boru was crowned King of Ireland on this spot in the early 11th Century. The Vicar's Choral has been restored and the site, one of the most visited in Ireland, now provides an interpretative centre, (multi lingual) an interesting museum, guided tours and superb views over the extensive and beautiful plains of Tipperary. |
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Cahir
Cahir Castle is one of the largest and best preserved castles in Ireland. It was one if Ireland's best known tourist attractions.
Cahir Castle was built originally in the 13th century on a site of an earlier native fortification called a cathair (stone fort), which gave its name to the place.
- Granted to the powerful Butler family in late 14th century
- Castle enlarged and remodelled between the 15th & 17th century.
- Fell in ruin in the late 18th century
- Partially restored in the 1840's
- Presently managed by Duchas.
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Cottage This is a superb example of an early 19th century "cottage orne". It is picturesquely situated on an elevated site with access by stone steps.
The Cottage consists of 3 floors. The basement contains the old kitchen and wine cellar and is hidden completely underground. The entrance to these rooms is through an underground passageway, so that servants could be availed of, but not seen.
The Cottage was restored between 1985 and 1989 and is well worth a visit, in order to fully appreciate its history, enchanting beauty and situation. Extensive woodland and riverside walks abound. |
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Nenagh
Nenagh Castle
The finest cylindrical keep in Ireland - known to generations of Tipperary people as the "Nenagh Round" - was built around 1200 by Theobald Walter, the founder of the great Butler dynasty of Ormonde. It formed the north corner of a pentagonal court with a towered gatehouse on the southern side and strong towers on the north-west and south-east angles. This has now vanished, save for fragments of the gatehouse and east tower, but the keep survives to a height of 100 feet. Its topmost quarter was added about 1860 by the Bishop of Killaloe in emulation of Windsor Castle - the original height to the wall-walk being about 75 feet. There were four storeys, including a basement, with a first-floor entrance giving access to a winding mural stair that was once enclosed by a protecting turret. The second and third floors have narrow loops with large embrasures for crossbowmen, but the top floor is well lit by four windows and was clearly the main chamber. |
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| Lough Derg is 32,000 acres (13,000 hectares) of spectacular waterway, ideal for all kinds of watersports, cruising and angling. Beautiful countryside around the lake shore, perfect for walking, cycling, horse riding and other visitor pursuits. |
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