Cashel is a great central base for your holiday in Ireland. The town is just off the main M8 motorway (3 exits for Cashel) so it’s a very easily accessed town.
Cashel is 1 hour from Limerick, Kilkenny, Waterford and Cork and has a good bus service in the town. Dublin City is 2 hours drive from Cashel. The nearest train station is Thurles (20 minutes away). The train from Thurles to Dublin only takes 1 hour, 15 minutes which makes for an ideal day trip to the city.
Rock of Cashel
(Walking distance from Willow Lodge Cashel)
The Rock of Cashel was originally the seat of the kings of Munster. According to legend, St. Patrick himself came here to convert King Aenghus to Christianity. Brian Boru was crowned High King at Cashel in 978 and made it his capital.
In 1101 the site was granted to the church and Cashel swiftly rose to prominence as one of the most significant centres of ecclesiastical power in the country.
The surviving buildings are remarkable. Cormac’s Chapel, for example, contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland.
The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most spectacular and – deservedly – most visited tourist attractions. Cashel Palace offers private access through our spectacular Gardens along The Bishop’s Walk. You are then free to enjoy an audio tour or join one of the guided tours with a local expert on Ireland’s Ancient East.
Cashel is a great town to explore after your visit. Ensure to take a stroll down Main Street Cashel to visit some lovely shops, cafes , restaurants and pubs in our pretty town. Don’t forget to take a walk through the beautiful and historic Hoare Abbey too!
Cahir Castle and town
(15 or 20 minutes drive from Willow Lodge Cashel)
Cahir Castle was built in the 13th century and served as the stronghold of the powerful Butler family. So effective was its design that it was believed to be impregnable, but it finally fell to the earl of Essex in 1599 when heavy artillery was used against it for the first time. During the Irish Confederate Wars it was besieged twice more.
At the time of building, Cahir Castle was at the cutting edge of defensive castle design and much of the original structure remains.
An excellent audiovisual show now provides sightseers with a detailed appreciation of the castle’s long history. Visitors also flock to the castle because of its role as a film and TV location – it has featured in productions like Excalibur and The Tudors.
Guided tours are available at the Castle in the centre of the town.
A lovely town park is located around the castle for walks, play area for children, feed the ducks, etc. Enjoy a nice coffee or lunch in Cahir or a visit to Cahir Arts to view or purchase some beautiful Irish art.
Swiss Cottage, Cahir
In addition to the Castle, visitors can also enjoy a short walk to the nearby Swiss Cottage, a delightful ornamental cottage built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, first Earl of Glengall. It remains an enduring local attraction in South Tipperary and an iconic image of the Ireland of yore.
Based on a design by the famous English Regency architect John Nash and inspired by nature, the cottage’s unusual and rustic features include a distinctive thatched roof while its external woodwork resembles branched trees. The nature theme continues throughout the former guest cottage’s internal furnishings and wallpaper.
Situated on an elevated site with access by stone steps, the Swiss Cottage interior contains a graceful spiral staircase and some elegantly decorated rooms. The wallpaper in the salon, manufactured by the Dufour factory, is one of the first commercially produced Parisian wallpapers.
Guided tours are also available at the Swiss Cottage, located within easy reach of the heritage town of Cahir.. an ideal visit for those in search of great Irish history.
Gorgeous walkway along the river from Cahir Castle to Swiss Cottage (4 km).
Holycross Abbey
(15 to 20 minutes drive from Willow Lodge Cashel)
Stop off in picturesque Holycross village with its cluster of thatched cottages and vibrant flowers. Get a sense of the history of this sacred place, a destination of pilgrimage for people all over the world.
Take a guided tour and hear the story of this incredible place from local guides, admire Cistercian art including the Sedilia and the Waking Bier and look out for Michael, said to be the oldest church bell in Ireland. Wander around the Padre Pio meditation garden, view the True Cross, share a secret at the whispering arch and see the only intact medieval chapter house doorway in Ireland.
Athassal Abbey
(5 minutes’ drive from Willow Lodge Cashel)
Visit one of Ireland’s most extensive monasteries, Athassel Abbey, stretching out along the banks of the River Suir.
The serene beauty of Athassel Abbey near the village of Golden, 7km from Cashel, belies its past as a major urban centre which once had 2,000 occupants. Established as an Augustinian monastery in the 12th century and dedicated to St. Edmund, Athassel Abbey is the largest medieval priory in Ireland.
The abbey was built for the Augustinians by William Fitz-Aldhelm de Burgho. It burnt down in 1447 and while now in ruins, there are many intricately carved stones, the remains of the cloisters to explore. Spend a few hours in the tranquil countryside and enjoy spectacular views of the Galtee Mountains. You do need to walk through a field to get into the Abbey so wear suitable footwear if the weather is inclement.
The Suir Blueway
Tipperary
The Suir Blueway Tipperary is a 53km kayaking and canoe trail from Cahir to Carrick-on-Suir and a 21km walking and cycling trail from Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir along the beautiful River Suir. It is perfect for a romantic amble along the riverside or a jam-packed family adventure by boat whilst sampling Ireland’s beautiful countryside and rich cultural heritage.
Enjoy a paddle on the River Suir’s flowing waters, go for a cycle or walk along its banks, a hike up nearby mountains, or a sedate stroll in bustling towns and villages. Suir Blueway Tipperary has something for all ages and interests.
Explore by Water
From casual kayaking to stand-up paddle boarding or an exhilarating ride down rapids, there are options to suit all levels along the Suir Blueway’s 53km.
If you are experienced and used to independent travel on the water, the Blueway provides a range of trails all the way from Cahir to Carrick on Suir. Start at beautiful Cahir Castle, paddle past the romantic Swiss Cottage and on to Ardfinnan and Newcastle. Further downstream, more accomplished paddlers can take on the challenge of the 300-metre whitewater Canoe Slalom Course in Clonmel, a training base for the Irish team. Paddle on towards Kilsheelan, enjoying mostly fast waters and terrific scenery all the way to Carrick on Suir.
Walking / Cycling
There is a 21km marked trail along the Suir Blueway river towpath from Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel which is ideal for leisure cyclists and walkers of all abilities. The stretch between Cahir and Clonmel is mainly for water-users, except for the short 4km stretch between Cahir Castle and the Swiss Cottage.
Starting at the Gashouse Bridge in Clonmel, walk along the river until you reach Sir Thomas’ Bridge, cross the bridge and leave the Blueway to follow the waymarked route of the East Munster Way into the foothills of the Comeragh Mountains until it rejoins the Blueway at Kilsheelan Bridge. Follow in the footsteps of merchants and tradesmen who made their living along this 17th century towpath. Take in beautiful bridges, castles and churches set in picturesque countryside – but keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as otters and heron!
Local Recommended Restaurants & Cafes in Cashel:
Chez Hans Restaurant (Opened Friday, Saturday, Sunday only) – http://www.chezhans.net/
Baileys Restaurant (Opened 7 days for Lunch & Dinner – Restaurant 42 and Cellar Bar) – https://www.baileyshotelcashel.com/cellar-bar/
Cashel Palace Hotel – Bishops Buttery – Michelin Star Restaurant.. for a treat or occasion! – https://www.cashelpalacehotel.ie/dining/the-bishops-buttery
Mikey Ryans Bar & Kitchen – https://www.mikeyryans.ie/
Feehans Bar – Lunch only – https://www.facebook.com/FeehansBar/
Bowes & Co – Breakfast & Lunch – https://www.facebook.com/bowesandco/
Ladyswell Restaurant – Breakfast & Lunch – https://www.facebook.com/LadyswellRestaurant/
Spearmans Cafe – Coffee & Treats.
Grogans Cafe & Ice-Cream Parlour – Breakfast, Lunch & Treats – https://www.facebook.com/Groganscafeandicecreamparlour/
Hansies Ice – Cream Parlour
Local Recommended Pubs & Bars in Cashel:
Feehans Bar
Foleys Bar
TJ Ryans Bar
Brosnans Bar
Guinness Bar at Cashel Palace Hotel
Pat Foxes Bar