County Tipperary rests in the centre of Ireland.
Its surrounded by Offaly, Laois, Cork, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Carlow and Kilkenny.
Irish name is Contae Tiobraid Árann - House of the Well of Ara.
Area: 4255 sq km (1643 sq mi).
Population (1996): 133 000.
County town: Clonmel, Population 15600 (1991), largest inland town in Ireland, on the Suir River. .
Administrative centres are at Nenagh, Population 5900 (1991) and Clonmel.
Lies for the most part in the basin of the Suir River. Largest inland county.
The name "Nenagh" is derived from two Gaelic or Irish words; "an" meaning "the" and "aenagh", "fair". The first "a" is dropped in each word, thus giving the anglicised form of "Nenagh". The addition of "Urmhumhan" gives the aenagh or aonach (the modern spelling) a territorial location - the Fair of Ormond/East Munster.
Roscrea, The Wood of Cré, is situated in the north of the County on the N7 Primary Route.
Thurles, Dúrlas Éile Uí Fhógartaigh, is the principal town of East Tipperary and is in the heart of the Suir Valley (approx. population 8500), best known for being the birthplace of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Tipperary Town, Population 5000 (1991) is the seat of County Tipperary.
Cahir sits on a major crossroads with routes from each corner leading to Clonmel, Cork, Cashel and Tipperary itself.
North-east of Limerick city is Newport, a picturesque village with admirable examples of traditional wooden shop-fronts.
Carrick-on-Suir, with magnificent buildings has the exceptional amenity of the river for anglers and boatmen and is also the hometown of the world-renowned cyclist, Sean Kelly.
Cashel, Population 2300 (1991) , home of the Rock of Cashel.
Templemore, a Garda training school is located there.
Attractions of Tipperary
The centre of County Tipperary is known as 'the Golden Vale', a rich pastoral stretch of land in the basin of the River Suir, which crosses the county from north to south.
The region is part of the central plain of Ireland, but the terrain is diversified by several mountain ranges: the Knockmealdown, the Galtee, the Arra, and the Silvermines. The southern portion of the county is drained by the Suir River; the northern by tributaries of the Shannon, which widens into Lough Derg on the northern border.
Villages by the shores of Lough Derg such as Terryglass, Dromineer and Coolbawn, are pleasant and popular areas for picnics with boating and swimming.
The primary historical site is that of the Rock of Cashel, an imposing Cathedral and round tower encompassing some 2000 years of history, was once an important ecclesiastical centre and home to the Kings of Munster.
Nenagh Castle (c.1200) has a circular keep. Nearby are ruins of a Franciscan friary, founded in the 13th cent. and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell's forces in 1650.
Holycross Abbey was founded in 1168 and is used today as the Catholic Parish Church of the picturesque village. From being totally derelict it was restored to it's former glory and opened to the public in 1975.
Cahir Castle is a 15th century Butler stronghold.
Emly, situated on the Tipperary Limerick border just 8 miles from Tipperary Town, was an important monastic centre.
The Glen of Aherlow is famous for it's outstanding beauty.
The Galtee Mountains offer the visitor a whole host of outdoor pursuits from Hill walking, mountain climbing to pony trekking.
Ballykisteen Golf Club is about 200 metres from the centre of Limerick Junction, it is open to the public year round.
The river Suir is 85 miles (137 km) long, and rises on Devilsbit Mt., flows via Clonmel and Waterford to the Barrow River and empties into Waterford Harbour.
The river Nore also rises in Tipperary, in the northeast of the county.
Driving Directions
To get to Tipperary from Cork follow the N8 National Primary Route.
To get to Tipperary from Limerick follow the N7 National Primary Route.
To get to Tipperary from Dublin follow the N7 National Primary Route.
To get to Tipperary from Belfast go via Dublin as above.
To get to Tipperary from Rosslare follow the N25 National Primary Route.
To get to Tipperary from Galway follow the N6 National Primary Route to Loughrea and then head south on N65 via Portumna.
To get to Tipperary from Sligo follow the N4 National Primary Route to Boyle and then head south on N61 to Athlone. Follow the N6 National Primary Route to Moate and then take the N80 National Primary Route via Tullamore.
Maps and Routeplanners to help your plan your journey are available on irlguide.com.
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in Tipperary