Plan a trip to Tipperary

County Tipperary is Ireland's largest inland county, part of the Golden Vale in the southwest region in the province of Munster. Although there is a town called Tipperary, the capital city and the largest is Clonmel and the other large and important towns include Nenagh and Thurles.

Castles! Tipperary and Castles are almost synonymous! The most renown and iconic from the 5th century is the Rock of Cashel, five buildings and its round tower, was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. Then in the to the 12th century it was given to the church and became a monastery and religious center. There are many other castles each with a uniqueness of its own and mysterious and exciting history behind each one. For example, the 15-century Cahir Castle - once a military bastion and the Elizabethan manor, known as the Ormond Castle, was built as a private residence by, who else but the Earl of Ormond.

The land is mostly flat, but interestingly enough there are quite a few mountain ranges, the highest is Galtee or Galty which borders with the County of Limerick and is known for the Galty Nord Trail - the longest hiking trail in Tipperary. Other well-known mountain and woodland areas make this county ideal for nature lovers who want to hike, bike and trek through mountains and vales.

A unique building with an interesting history is the once-governor’s house and now The Nenagh Heritage Centre, built in the mid 1800’s. Until it closed its doors at the end of the 1800’s it was once a “jail” and prisoners were held there until executed! Then there is also the Tipperary Museum, one of the largest museums in Ireland, which (obviously) is all about the history of Tipperary. 

Like the song says “love and marriage – go together like a horse and carriage” – and this expresses what Horses and Tipperary are to each other! The connection and association of horses and the “Tipperarians” is part of the heritage and culture of the people of this county and started more than 2000 years ago! The museum Fethard Horse Country Experience unfolds the story behind the history of horses in Tipperary and its place in the world.