Local Attractions

Immediately around the locality are some of the most beautiful and historical sites in Ireland. They include:-

CAHIR ABBEY.
The Abbey of Our Lady was founded in the thirteenth century in the reign of King John by Geoffrey de Camville, a Norman Knight. It was an Augustinian foundation of the Order of the Canons Regular. It contains a high central tower, some tine widows and interesting carved heads.

CAHIR CASTLE.
Cahir Castle is one of lreland's largest and best preserved medieval fortresses. It dates to the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries and was the home of the Butler family for more than five hundred years. In 1964 it was designated a national monument when acquired by the State. Built on a rocky island in the middle of the river Suir, it retains its impressive keep and much of it's original defensive structure. Open all year round there is a guide service and an excellent audio visual presentation. Contact 052 7441011.

ST PAUL'S CHURCH
Designed by John Nash and completed in 1817 at a cost of £2,307, the church is a delightful Gothic Revival building. It is one of only two known Nash designed churches to have survived. There is a very fine interior with superb plaster work, stained glass and a vast array of wall plaques. Well worth a visit.

SWISS COTTAGE
The delightful ''Cottage Orne'', was built for Lord Cahir in 1810. It was designed by John Nash and it was used as a hunting and fishing lodge. After extensive renovations in the 1980's it is now a national monument and is open from march to November. Access is by guided tour only.
Contact 052 7441144.

TOBAR IOSA
A recently restored antiquity of Cahir is the Holy Well known as Tobar losa - 'The Well of Jesus'. It is located 1km. North West of Cahir Castle on the N24. This well is a relic of pre- Christian times, possible seventh or eighth centuries. The old pagan custom adopted by early Christians, of affixing multi-coloured rags to the holly tree that adjoins the well, is still the custom even to this day. A stone with two carved crosses rests on a slab said to be used in Penal Days as a 'Mass Rock'.

THE OLD PARISH CHURCH
The ruins of the Old Parish Church which last saw use in the 1820's, stands just off the Square in Old Church Street. This church is unusual in that it is divided by a conspicuous ''Curtain Wall'' which was used after the Reformation to allow both Catholics and Protestants to worship simultaneously under the one roof. The left side of the cemetery was given over mostly for military burials, a vestige from the last century when Cahir was an important garrison town. Richard Pennyfeather, Baron of the Exchequer who presided over the trial of Daniel O'Connell is buried here.

FETHARD
Has some of the finest remaining medieval town wails in Ireland. It is situated North of Clonmel and was fortified in 1376. Extensive restoration work has been carried out on the wails in recent years. Nearby, is a folk farm and transport museum.