Tipperary Voyage Tips and guide

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Tipperary is a small town in County Tipperary, Ireland, with a population of 5400 in 2022. Although it gives its name to the county, it's never been the county town - since 1838 that role has been shared between Clonmel to the south and Nenagh to the north. Its Irish name Tiobraid Árann means "The Well of the Ara", the source of that river in the soggy fields west of the racecourse. The main reasons to visit are the racetrack and the Glen of Aherlow a few km south.

See County Tipperary for the story of the British music hall song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary".

By road from Dublin follow M8 to Cashel then N74. From Cork follow M8 to Cahir then N24.

52.501-8.21 Limerick Junction has hourly trains from Dublin Heuston, taking 90 min via Kildare, Portlaoise and Thurles. These continue south to Mallow and Cork, while connecting trains head west to Limerick city. The station is 3 km northeast of Tipperary town.

52.47-8.1622 Tipperary railway station is 300 m south of town centre. It has two trains a day from the Junction, heading to Cahir, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and Waterford. There are no facilities to pick up online tickets at Tipperary.

There's no direct bus from Dublin, you have to go via Waterford and change, for a journey time of five hours.

Expressway Bus 55 runs daily every couple of hours from Limerick city to Limerick Junction and Tipperary, continuing to Cahir, 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.

To the racecourse it's a five minute walk from the Junction railway station or a 40 minute walk from town.

You need wheels to explore the Glen of Aherlow.

The taxi in town is Drumm Cabs (+353 87 811 3040).

• Kickham Monument midway along Main St commemorates Charles Kickham (1828-1882), the poet, writer, orator and founder-member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was born at Mullinahone near Fethard, County Tipperary, and lived mostly in Dublin whenever he wasn't on the run or in jail.
• 52.4733-8.16371 The Maid of Erin Statue on Main St commemorates the three Manchester Martyrs, publicly hanged in Salford, England in 1867 for shooting dead a policeman while rescuing two Fenians from a police van. They had not fired the fatal shot, but they were part of an armed mob of 30-40 men that ambushed the van. Five men were sentenced to death, but one of them was a US citizen and had his sentence commuted. Another was pardoned when the witness testimony against him was shown to be blatantly false. The same testimony had convicted the others, but in a climate of anti-Irish hysteria, an example had to be made. William Philip Allen, Michael Larkin, and Michael O'Brien were those hanged, and their unfair trial and botched execution greatly swelled support for the Irish Republican cause.
• 52.4765-8.17012 St John's Famine Graveyard on Old Monastery Rd accommodates the 1200 or so who died in the town fever hospital or workhouse during the Great Famine of 1847. 60% of them were children. They were heaped in without individual grave markers. The hospital, workhouse and monastery are long gone,
• 52.418-8.1933 Aherlow is the tiny village at the heart of Glen Aherlow. This scenic valley descends 20 km from Galbally in the west to Bansha (on N24) to the east: by car or bike follow R663. Its north side is formed by the wooded ridge of Slievenamuck, with R664 climbing over from Tipperary via viewpoints and the Christ the King statue. Its south side is the Galtee Mountains, with Galtymore the highest point. Near Aherlow village is Clonbeg Church, with St Sedna's Holy Well.
• 52.41-8.0754 St Berrihert's Kyle in the glen is a stone enclosure crowded with ancient slabs, carvings and crosses, though the enclosing wall is modern. The nearby holy well was reputed to heal scalds and burns.
• 52.366-8.1795 Galtymore is one you might be content to view 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, see Cahir. Trails from the Glen of Aherlow are even longer.
• 52.403-8.2786 Moor Abbey is the ruin of a 13th century Franciscan friary. It's on the boundary with County Limerick just east of the village of Galbally, and free to visit 24 hours.
• See Cashel for Athassel Priory and the stump of Golden Castle, along N74 east of Tipperary.

• Tipperary Excel is a small theatre and cinema on Mitchell St. They also have family archives so you can research your ancestors.
• 52.5023-8.20631 Tipperary Racecourse, Limerick Junction (Next to Limerick Junction railway station), ☏ +353 62 51357, [email protected]. This course hosts both flat racing and National Hunt (jumps) April-Oct. The biggest meeting is "Super Sunday" on the first Sunday in October. Adult from €10. (updated Apr 2025)
• Ballykisteen Golf Club is 500 m northwest of the racecourse, see hotel below.
• 52.459-8.1592 Tipperary Golf Course is 1.5 km south of town.
• County Tipperary GC is 15 km northeast in Dundrum.

• Lidl is east end of Main St, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM. Aldi is a block north on Mitchell St.
• Tesco is west edge of town on N24 Limerick Rd. It's open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-8PM.

• In town centre are Jack Judge, Sargeant Peppers, Dragon Inn, Shamrog's Bistro, River View, Crystal Palace, Ziafat Tandoori and La Candela.

• Town centre pubs are Corny's Bar, Roche's, Lowry's, Denis Leahy Bar, Quinlan's Lounge, Norrie O'Brien's, Nellie O'Brien's and The Rambler.

• 52.4731-8.15491 Ach na Sheen Guest House, Clonmel Rd, Tipperary E34 YT18, ☏ +353 62 51298. Welcoming well-run B&B in town centre, open year-round. No dogs. B&B double €110. (updated Apr 2025)
• Central House is a B&B at 44 Main Street.
• 52.5024-8.21682 Great National Ballykisteen Golf Hotel, Tipperary Rd, Limerick Junction E34 VK12, ☏ +353 62 33333. Clean friendly hotel with good dining. B&B double €170. (updated Apr 2025)
• Killshane House 8 km east of town is now solely a wedding venue with rooms, and doesn't otherwise offer accommodation.
• 52.4423-8.16623 Ballyglass Country House, Clonmel Rd, Tipperary E34 YT18 (on R664), ☏ +353 62 52104. Excellent mid-range B&B. (updated Apr 2025)
• 52.45-8.074 Bansha Castle built 1760 is available for self-catering only on an exclusive basis, 7 bedrooms, sleeps 14-16.

As of April 2025, Tipperary and its approach roads have a poor scratchy signal from Eir, 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from Three.

• Cashel is a must-see for the Rock and nearby religious sites.
• Cahir has a river island castle and the playful Swiss Cottage.
• Waterford, Ireland's oldest city, has a rich Viking, medieval and Georgian heritage.
• Limerick is a lively miniature Dublin.