Get in
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Bus Éireann 245X runs four times a day from Dublin Busáras and Heuston station, taking 2 hr 30 min via Newlands Cross and Cashel. It continues via Mitchelstown and Fermoy to Cork, another 90 min. Cahir's main bus stop is on Castle St just off The Square.
Expressway Bus 55 runs daily every two hours from Limerick city via Limerick Junction and Tipperary to Cahir, continuing to Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and Waterford.
Bus 855 runs four times a day between Tipperary, Limerick Junction, Cahir, Cashel and Golden, with an extra evening run F Sa.
Two trains run M-Sa from Limerick Junction (for Dublin, Cork and Limerick city) to Tipperary town, Cahir, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and Waterford.
1 Cahir railway station is 300 m north of town centre. There are no facilities to collect online tickets here.
Get around
[edit]You can easily reach the Castle, Abbey and Swiss Cottage on foot. You need wheels for outlying sights such as the Cave, there's no public transport.
No local taxi, it would have to come from Clonmel to pick you up.
See
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- The Square is the town's pleasant well-preserved centre.
- 1 Cahir Castle, Castle St, Cahir E21 P652, ☏ +353 52 744 1011. Oct-Feb daily 9:30AM-4:30PM, Mar-Oct daily 9:30AM-5:30PM. Large castle on an island in the river, so it has a natural moat. It was built from 1142 over the site of a cathair or fort and enlarged to the 17th century. It was besieged twice but surrendered fairly tamely, so it was spared damage and is now one of the best preserved castles in Ireland. It passed into state hands in 1961 and is often used as a film or TV location. Adult €5, child €3, conc €4.
- 2 St Paul's is the Protestant Church of Ireland. It was designed by John Nash, not the most obvious practice ground for his Brighton Pavilion and Buckingham Palace.
- 3 Cahir Abbey or Priory of St Mary was built from the 13th century as an Augustinian foundation. The tower is 17th-century, erected long after the Abbey was dissolved and fell into ruin.
- Cahir Park stretches along the west river bank, south from town centre.
- 4 Carrigeen Castle, to use its Sunday name, is really Cahir Bridewell or "Nick" - temporary cells for miscreants awaiting transfer to higher courts or to a definitive jail. It was built 1813-16 over an earlier fort, and embellished with mock-castellations and turrets just to show who was in charge. It closed in 1878 and became a residence; in 1976 it was converted into a B&B. The interior is private and modern so just admire it from the street.
- 5 Swiss Cottage, Grange More, Cahir E21 DX07, ☏ +353 52 744 1144. Mid-Mar - Oct daily 10AM-5PM. Ornamental or make-believe cottage built in 1810 to a design by Nash, the inspiration being the Petit hameau at Versailles, where the nobility could cosplay in rustic garb. "Why can't those useless real peasants spruce up their hovels like this? - Footman, more chocolate." Adult €5, child €3, conc €4.
- 6 Knockgraffon north of town has a 13th century ruined church, a 16th century ruined tower house and a 12th century Motte. This is a hummock of ground usually fortified with a bailey, initially of wooden palisades then later stone walls. At Knockgraffon the bailey wasn't converted to stone, and the timber hasn't survived, so it's a Motte-with-no-Bailey.
- 7 Mitchelstown Cave, Killavenoge E21 H920 (12 km SW of Cahir), ☏ +353 52 746 7246. Feb-Nov daily 10AM-4PM, Dec Jan Sa Su 10AM-4PM. The one you see by guided tour is the New Cave, discovered in 1833. It opened as a show cave in 1972 when 88 steps were cut to replace the rope ladder access. Its chambers have been used for concerts. Old Cave isn't open to the public. Adult €11, child €5.
- 8 Galtymore is the highest of the Galtee mountains, and you might be content to view it from a distance. A Munro of 918 m (3011 ft), it doesn't demand technical skills, but the ascent is one long slog, often steep and muddy. The usual approach is from the south by the Black Road Route, which starts from Skeheenarinky on R639. The trail leads through Glengarra Wood, where it's not worth seeking out the fragmentary remains of Galtee Castle.
Do
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- 1 Cahir Park Golf Club, Grange Beg, Kilcommon E21 AE29 (on R668). 18-hole course by the river, blue tees 6461 yards, par 71.
- The Vee Drive is a scenic tour over the hills into County Waterford. It's usually done as a circuit from Lismore, see that page for description, but you could start from Cahir.
Buy
[edit]- Aldi supermarket is on Abbey St, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
- Farmers Market is every Saturday 9AM-1PM in the car park beside the Granary Craft Centre.
Eat
[edit]- Church St east of the river has most eating places, with The Heritage / Lazy Bean Cafe, Roma Cafe, Dream Garden and Galileo.
- River House Cafe, 1 Castle St E21 TK83, ☏ +353 52 744 1951. Daily 8:30AM-5PM. Popular lunch spot, but overpriced and indifferent food.
- Lava Rock, 26 Castle St E21 E004, ☏ +353 52 744 5359. W-Su 9AM-4:30PM. This earns consistently good reports for European cuisine.
Drink
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Around The Square are Punter's Rest, Galtee Inn, Shamrock Lounge and Morissey Bar. Abbey Tavern is west of the river.
Sleep
[edit]- Cahir House Hotel, The Square E21 H244, ☏ +353 52 744 3000. Reliable welcoming hotel in town centre, names in the guest book include de Valera, Mae West and Walt Disney. B&B double €150.
- Deerbrook House is a B&B at Kilcoran near M8 junction 11, four km southwest of town.
- Kilcoran Lodge is also there.
Connect
[edit]As of April 2025, Cahir and its approach highways have 5G from all Irish carriers.
Go next
[edit]- Cashel to the north is a must-see for the Rock and nearby religious sites.
- Waterford is a port with a great Viking, medieval and Georgian heritage.
- Lismore south across the hills has several fine mansions and gardens.
- Tipperary is a pleasant market town with a famous name but that's about all. Keep heading west towards Limerick, a lively miniature Dublin.