Introduction to Tipperary
Tipperary is ³The Premier County² Tipp can offer you wonderful views, castles, beautiful countryside and a warm welcome.
A Brief History of Tipperary
The first engagement of the Irish War of Independence took place at nearby Solloghead Beg quarry on 19 January 1921 when Dan Breen and Seán Treacy led a group of volunteers in an attack on members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who were transporting gelignite.
It is often mistaken as the county capital, which has never been the case.North Tipperary and South Tipperary, have their administrative centres of Nenagh and Clonmel respectively. However, it has a large agricultural catchment area in West County Tipperary and East County Limerick and was historically a market town of some significance. It still boasts an extensive butter-making and milk processing industry today. The town is situated on the N24 route between Limerick and Waterford and has a railway station on a line following the same route, but has an infrequent service. However, the nearby station of Limerick Junction has full services to Cork City and Dublin in addition to Limerick and Waterford.
Welcoming signs on roads entering the town quip "You've come a long way..." in reference to the World War I - era song written by Harry Williams and Jack Judge "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" popular among the British military as a marching song. However, with distance from home the over-riding theme, local people prefer the old song of remembrance "Tipperary so far away" which commemorates one of its famous sons, Seán Treacy, who died at the hands of British forces in Talbot Street, Dublin in October, 1920. In an address to the people of Ballyporeen on June 3rd, 1984, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, quoted a line from this famous song - " And I'll never more roam, from my own native home, in Tipperary so far away."
The town was the site of a large military barracks of the British Army in the 50 years before Irish Independence and served as a military hospital during World War I. On September 30, 2005, Her Excellency, Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, in a gesture of reconciliation, unveiled the newly refurbished Memorial Arch of the barracks in the presence of several ambassadors and foreign emissaries, military attaches and town dignitaries; a detachment of the Local Defence Force, the Number 1 Irish Army Band and various ex-service organisations paraded. In a rare appearance, the Royal Munster Fusiliers banner was carried to mark the occasion. However, given the notoriety of the place in the folk memory, there was only a small representation of townspeople in attendance. The Arch is the only remaining porch of what was the Officers mess and has panels mounted bearing the names of fallen members of the Irish Defence Forces (on United Nations service), and American, Australian and United Kingdom armed services. The area surrounding the edifice is beautifully landscaped.
Areas of Interest in Tipperary
Cashel Heritage Centre
The Heritage Centre invites you to investigate the rich heritage of Cashel, one of Ireland's most significant Ecclesiastical Centres dating to before St. Patrick.
It provides the visitor with a series of changing exhibitions, a large- scale model of Cashel in the 1640's, highlighting the lesser-known treasures of the town. The Charters of Cashel, King Charles II 1663 and James II 1687 are also on permanent display. Languages on commentary - English, French, German, Irish, Italian and Spanish.
Athassel Abbey Historic Buildings
Near Golden. Augustinian, the largest medieval priory in Ireland, dating from the 12th century, very extensive outbuilding in a riverside setting.
Mitchelstown Cave Caves Cahir
Situated midway between Cahir and Mitchelstown. Visitors, schools and group outings are shown daily through almost half a mile of this world famous show cave.
Slieveardagh Heritage Centre
Slieveardagh Heritage Centre was opened in 1995. It is located in a former 19th century church. The Heritage Centre tells the interesting story of the area which has had a varied and chequered history ranging form coal mining to the Young Irelanders of the mid 19th century.
Rock of Cashel
A spectacular group of medieval buildings set on a 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. There is an audio visual show entitled "Strongholds of Faith", which is available in English, French, Italian and German and various other exhibitions.
The Crock Of Gold
The Crock Of Gold, Castle Street, Cahir run by the Hayes Family is dedicated to customer satisfaction. At The Crock of Gold we promote our beautiful country, local attractions, Celtic culture, literature and the best of Irish goods, with sincerity, energyand enthusiasm. We take the time to recommend activities to our visitors and feel a happy customer is better than a quick sale.
Cashel Folk Village
Cashel folk village is a delightful series of informal reconstructions of various traditional thatched village shops, a forge, and other businesses, together with a penal Chapel situated in a confined area within the town of Cashel, near to the famous Rock Of Cashel. An extensive display of signs and other commercial memorabilia add to the appeal of this pleasant display of local history.
Marl Bog
Marl Bog is located on the Tipperary to Thurles road, 1 km on Tipperary side of Dundrum Village. The Lake, which was built by a landlord, named Maude, feeds another pond, the water from which drove the mill wheels on the estate.
Clonmel Heritage Trail
Clonmel Heritage Trail begins at the Town Hall along Dowds Lane where Bulmers Cider is produced and to Jail Gate in Gladstone Street which was built in the late 1700s. The trail leads to the North East Tower which was built as a lookout post, onto Short Street where it is said Cromwell breached the walls of the town.
The town walls can be seen while on the way to Saint Marys Church, onto Anne Street and the Friends Burial Grounds. Visitors will then travel past the White Memorial Theatre, Irishtown, the West Gate built 1831, The Main Guard an office where tolls and customs were collected, the Franciscan Firary founded in 1269, along the Quays where huge buildings show how important Clonmel was as a trading town, past the Court House to Hearns Hotel.
Bishop's Wood Dundrum
The area is called Bishop's Wood because at one stage it was designated church property. The Earl of Montalt owned the state until 1905 and the remains of the gamekeeper's lodge still stands in the woods.
Flora: The forest is coniferous - mainly Sitka and Norwegian spruce. Some groups of broadleaves, especially oak, have been retained with scattered ash and Western red deer. Other flora, old oak woodland vegetation.
Fauna: The forest is home to a variety of bird and animal life including fox, fallow deer. Red squirrel, whiskered bats, pipistrelle bats and long eared bats.
Bothan Scoir
The Bothan Scoir is a 17th century cottage dating from around 1640. It was known locally as Hanleys Cottage and is described as a one roomed peasants stone cottage. According to research it was built on Lawlers Estate, he being the local landlord. There were seven families living on land at that time. There were two cottages, four of them built of stone, the rest made of mud and wattles. It is thought that Bothan Scoir was at one time a school. The cottage would have had floor which was compressed by sheep which were allowed into the cottage.
Traditional Music and Craic in Tipperary