Best Historic Places in County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland - Map and Reviews

Set on a limestone plateau the castle at the Rock of Cashel forms part of a historical site in the town of Cashel 11 miles from south west of Tipperary. The site also known as the Cashel of Kings and St Patrick's Rock is a collection of buildings including a round tower, Romanesque chapel, cathedral and castle which are linked together as one building. The main structures on the site today are from the 12th and 13th centuries and are in reasonable repair. The entire site is surrounded by a large wall which also encircles an extensive graveyard with a number of high crosses. The oldest building on the site is the round tower dating back to 1100AD. The tower 90 feet in height is very well preserved and was built with an entrance 12 feet above ground level. Cormac's chapel dates back to 1134AD and was built for King Cormac III of Munster. The Romanesque church is unlike any other because it has twin towers at either side of the nave and chancel which were decorated by carpenters sent by the Abbot of Regensburg in Germany. The chapel also has barrel vaulted ceilings and intricate decoration over the main entrances. The Cathedral; built in the shape of a crucifix between 1235 and 1270, has a central tower. The western part of the cathedral is the part that is attached to the castle. The Hall of the Vicars Choral is a 15th century building within the cathedral where laymen were appointed to assist with the worship. This part of the site was restored by the Office of Public works in 1975 in connection with the European Architectural Heritage year and is now where visitors enter the site. Facilities As well as the collection of buildings the Rock of Cashel has exhibition space and an audio visual show outlining the history of the site. The site is open from October to March between 9am and 4.30pm, April to June 9am and 5.30pm and July and August between 9am and 7pm. During the Irish Confederate wars in 1647 Cashel was attacked by English soldiers under the command of the 1st Earl of Inchquin, Murrough O'Brien in one of the most brutal parts of the war. Most of the 1,000 civilians, apart from the Bishop and Mayor who had a secret hiding place, were killed. Following the killing the site was plundered for its religious artifacts and even the carriage belonging to the Bishop was stolen. Those items deemed worthless such as statues were smashed or defaced and then the whole town was set alight. It wasn't until 1749 that the Bishop of Cashel had the remains of the cathedral's roof removed.

St. Berrihert's Kyle is one of the most evocative and quietly remarkable early Christian sites in Ireland, tucked away in the Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary. The word "kyle" derives from the Irish word "coill," meaning a wood or grove, and this enclosure preserves exactly that ancient, wooded atmosphere. It is a small, circular stone-walled enclosure containing an extraordinary collection of early medieval grave slabs, cross-inscribed stones, and bullaun stones, all associated with the obscure but locally venerated saint Berrihert. The site is off the beaten path in the best possible sense — it receives few visitors despite its profound archaeological and spiritual significance, making it an ideal destination for those who seek undisturbed communion with Ireland's deep past. The historical origins of the site stretch back to the early Christian period, likely the 6th or 7th century AD, when Berrihert is believed to have established a hermitage or small monastic community here. Berrihert is an unusual figure in the Irish hagiographical tradition — his name has an Anglo-Saxon ring to it, and some scholars have suggested he may have been an English peregrinus, a wandering holy man who came to Ireland in search of spiritual solitude, in the tradition of that period when Irish and Anglo-Saxon Christian culture were deeply intertwined. His feast day has traditionally been observed locally, and he was venerated as a healer. The kyle contains what are considered some of the finest examples of early medieval incised cross-slabs in Munster, with dozens of grave markers carved in a range of styles that speak to centuries of use and reverence. The physical character of the site is deeply atmospheric. The enclosure is ringed by old stone walls and ancient trees, which give it a feeling of having been set apart from the world deliberately — a sacred precinct hidden within the landscape. Inside, the ground is uneven and mossy, and the grave slabs are arranged or have tumbled in ways that suggest long centuries of organic change. Some slabs bear simple incised crosses, others more elaborate designs. Bullaun stones — rounded hollows in rock used for ritual purposes, perhaps for grinding or for holding water believed to have healing properties — are also present. The light that filters through the tree canopy creates a dappled, otherworldly quality, and the sounds are almost entirely those of wind, birdsong, and rustling leaves. The surrounding landscape is the Glen of Aherlow, a beautifully sheltered valley running between the Galtee Mountains to the south and the Slievenamuck ridge to the north, in the south of County Tipperary. The glen is one of the most scenic in Ireland, lush and green, threaded by the Aherlow River. The nearby village of Bansha lies a short distance away, and the market town of Tipperary town is only a few kilometres to the north. The Galtee Mountains, the highest inland mountain range in Ireland, form a dramatic backdrop to the south and are accessible from the glen for walking and hiking. Reaching St. Berrihert's Kyle requires some local knowledge and a willingness to navigate rural roads. The site lies just off the R663 road that runs through the Glen of Aherlow, and signposting may be modest. Parking is very limited and the approach involves a short walk across farmland or along a lane. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear as the ground can be wet and uneven. There is no formal visitor infrastructure — no café, no interpretive centre, no entry fee — which is very much part of its appeal. The site is freely accessible but should be treated with respect as both a scheduled monument and a place that retains genuine spiritual meaning for local people. The best time to visit is from late spring through early autumn, when the foliage is full and the light is good, though the site has an undeniable magic on overcast autumn days when the atmosphere leans toward the contemplative and melancholic. Early morning visits, when mist still lingers in the glen, are particularly memorable. Because the site sees so few visitors, it almost always feels entirely private, a rare quality in heritage tourism anywhere in Europe. One of the most fascinating aspects of St. Berrihert's Kyle is the sheer density and variety of its carved stones. Estimates suggest there are over forty incised slabs and fragments within the enclosure, which is remarkable for such a small and obscure site. The concentration suggests that this remained a favoured burial place for the local community across many centuries, long after the original saint's community faded. The bullaun stones at the site were traditionally used in patterns of devotional rounds, a practice that blends pre-Christian ritual with Christian veneration in the syncretic way so characteristic of Irish folk religion. The site is listed as a National Monument, affording it legal protection, and it features in the records of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland, though it remains little known outside of circles devoted to early Irish Christianity and archaeology.