Information Carrick-on-Suir Ireland
With its accompanying mansion, it looks magnificent in the old market town. Originally it was built in 1309 on top of an even older site and fortified in the fifteenth century with a number of towers to protect it in a more violent period of history in the area. “Black Tom” Butler added the mansion to it as a kind of extension in 1568. The 10th Earl of Ormond didn’t see the need to add any fortifications to the new lodgings, giving a unique perspective on domesticity in the Ireland of the Tudor era. Windows run through the castle itself almost continuously, lighting all areas. It is adorned with ornate plaster on the inside, and there is also a vast fireplace in the Long Gallery. Geographically, the town lies on three counties – Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny. It was originally an island settlement upstream of Waterford. Its name means Rock on the Suir, and it remained an island settlement until in the 18th century small rivers were diverted to form dry land so that the settlement was no longer locked by water. Originally called Carrickmacgriffin, first recorded mention of the town is 1247, when the right to host three fairs a year in the settlement was granted Matthew Fitzgriffin, Lord of the Manor of Carrick. Other history can be gleaned from the heritage centre, at the thirteenth century church site off the town’s Main Street. The town itself is also a centre for leisure activities. Experts tell you that the best place to fish on the River Suir is at Carrick-on-Suir and upstream of it. The town is also lauded as a destination among wild brown trout anglers. Boaters can also use the marina, with boat rentals available providing insurance details are provided. Carrick-on-Suir also has a golf club.
Attractions Carrick-on-Suir Ireland
Cahir Castle - Cahir
Located at Castle Street, Cahir, is one of Ireland's largest and best preserved castles. It is situated on a rocky island in the river Suir. The Castle's attractions include an excellent audio-visual show called 'Partly Hidden and Partly Revealed' in English, French, German and Italian, informing visitors about all the main sites of the area.
Carrick On Suir Heritage Centre - Carrick-On-Suir
This former Protestant church, now restored as a heritage centre, was once part of the Pre-Reformation burial ground and church site of Carrick Mor. Its interesting gravestones include a memorial to Thomas Butler, an illegitimate son of Thomas, tenth Earl of Ormonde. Dorothea Herbert, daughter of the eighteenth century rector and author of 'Retrospections' is also buried here.
Cashel Folk Village - Cashel
Located at Dominick Street, Cashel, it has a delightful series of informal reconstructions of various traditional thatched village shops, a forge and other business. It is housed within the town of Cashel, near by the famed Rock of Cashel.
Mitchelstown Cave - Cahir
Located at Burncourt, Cahir, is considered one of the most spectacular caves in Europe. The caves have three massive caverns, in which the visitor is surrounded by indescribable drip stone formations, stalactites, stalagmites and huge calcite columns.
Ormond Castle - Carrick
Located at Castle Park, Carrick on Suir, is one of the finest examples of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland. It was built by Thomas, the tenth Earl of Ormond in the 1560s. Closely integrated into the manor house are two fifteenth century towers. It is the country's only major unfortified dwelling from that turbulent period. The state rooms contain some of the finest decorative plasterwork in the country, including plasterwork portraits. Access to the castle is by guided tour only, with a maximum number of twenty people at one time.
