Things to do in Co. Tipperary
14 places
1.St. Patrick's Well
spring water said to cure headaches and sore eyes
A tranquil holy well in a sheltered valley near Clonmel, where crystal-clear spring water has drawn pilgrims for over a thousand years — now a beautifully landscaped blend of ancient stone ruins, early medieval cross, and peaceful reflection.
- Highlights
- One of Ireland's largest holy wells, revered for over 1,000 years
- 8th-century stone cross at the centre of a tranquil pond
- Crystal-clear spring water said to cure headaches and sore eyes
2.Glengarra Wood Forest Recreational Area
Giant sequoias steps from the car park
A former demesne woodland on the southern slopes of the Galtee Mountains, where giant sequoias and exotic rhododendrons line the paths and the Burncourt River carves through the forest — an easy escape just off the M8 motorway.
- Highlights
- Giant sequoias and exotic specimen trees steps from the car park
- Rhododendron canopy flowering over the access road in early summer
- Mountain Lodge — 19th-century hunting lodge under restoration
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
3.Mount St Joseph Abbey
Rare Harry Clarke stained glass windows from 1931
A working Trappist monastery where silence, chant, and 39 stained glass windows — including rare Harry Clarke Studio works — meet 200 acres of woodland walks just outside Roscrea.
- Highlights
- 39 stained glass windows, including Harry Clarke Studio works (1931 & 1942)
- 200 acres of woodland with signposted walking trails
- Seven daily rounds of sung Divine Office open to all
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
4.The Vee Pass
a lone pyramid tomb on the ridge
A dramatic V-shaped hairpin on the R668 climbing through the Knockmealdown Mountains between Clogheen and Lismore, offering sweeping views across the Golden Vale to the Galtees, Comeraghs and the Rock of Cashel.
- Highlights
- Panoramic views over five counties from 610 m
- Bay Lough — a glacial corrie lake steeped in folklore
- Grubb's Monument — a lone pyramid tomb on the ridge
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
5.Hore Abbey Entrance
a free, always-open 13th-century abbey ruin
Hore Abbey is a free, always-open ruined Cistercian monastery standing alone in a grazing pasture at the foot of the Rock of Cashel — no ticket booth, no crowds, just a walk through farmland to 13th-century limestone ruins.
- Highlights
- Free entry, no staff, no queues
- Ireland's last medieval Cistercian monastery (1272)
- 13th-century limestone church, cloister and 15th-century tower
- Facilities
- Good for kids
6.Mitchelstown Cave
Discovered by accident in 1833
One of Europe's major show caves, discovered by accident in 1833 — a raw, family-run underground world of colossal caverns and ancient calcite formations beneath the Galtee Mountains.
- Highlights
- Tower of Babel — 9m calcite column, one of Europe's finest
- Three vast caverns including the enormous Tír na Nóg
- Family-run since 1833 — authentic and uncommercialised
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
7.Ormond Castle
Built for Queen Elizabeth I in 1565
Ireland's finest Elizabethan manor house, built in 1565 by Thomas Butler for his cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Its long gallery holds some of the country's most exquisite Tudor stucco plasterwork.
- Highlights
- Finest Elizabethan manor house in Ireland
- Outstanding Tudor stucco plasterwork with royal portraits
- Dramatic long gallery spanning the building
8.Cahir Castle
Cannonballs from 1599 still embedded in walls
One of Ireland's largest and best-preserved medieval castles, Cahir Castle rises from a rocky island in the River Suir — its walls still carrying cannonballs fired during the 1599 siege that finally cracked its defences.
- Highlights
- Original portcullis gear mechanism still intact
- Cannonballs embedded in the walls since 1599
- Award-winning AV show in the Great Hall
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
9.Nenagh Castle
101 spiral steps to panoramic views
A 13th-century Norman keep with Ireland's finest cylindrical tower — climb 101 spiral stone steps to a rooftop with sweeping views over Nenagh and the Silvermines.
- Highlights
- Finest cylindrical keep in Ireland
- 101-step spiral stone staircase
- 360° rooftop views over town and countryside
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
10.Rock of Cashel
Site of Brian Boru's 978 coronation
A breathtaking cluster of medieval monuments perched on a limestone hilltop — Ireland's most spectacular collection of church architecture, once the seat of Munster's kings.
- Highlights
- Ireland's only surviving Romanesque frescoes (Cormac's Chapel)
- 12th-century St Patrick's Cross
- Complete 28m round tower (c.1101)
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
11.Graves of the Leinstermen
linked to Brian Boru and the King of Leinster
An evocative and enigmatic megalithic monument on the slopes of Tountinna in the Arra Mountains, with sweeping views over Lough Derg — far more impressive for its setting and folklore than the modest stones themselves.
- Highlights
- Spectacular views over Lough Derg and the Clare hills
- Part of the Heritage Council's Adopt a Monument Scheme
- Linked to Brian Boru and the King of Leinster legend
12.Keeper Hill Trail - Doonane Forest Carpark
Highest point in the Shannon region
The highest peak in the Silvermine Mountains and the Shannon region, Keeper Hill (694m) rewards walkers with sweeping 360° views across Tipperary, Limerick, and on a clear day as far as the Macgillycuddy Reeks.
- Highlights
- 694 m summit — highest point in the Shannon region
- 360° views: Galtee Mountains, Slieve Blooms, and even Kerry's Macgillycuddy Reeks on a clear day
- Stone sweat house near Boolatin
13.Roscrea Leisure Centre
Fully enclosed waterslide for kids 1.1m+
A community leisure hub with a 25 m pool, waterslide, gym and spa — the go-to spot for swimming, fitness and family fun in Roscrea.
- Highlights
- 25 m deck-level pool with five lanes
- Fully enclosed waterslide (min 1.1 m height)
- Separate kiddies' and learners' pools
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
14.Hot Shots Bowling
10-lane cosmic bowling from €15 per child
Family-friendly bowling and entertainment centre in Clonmel with tenpin lanes, a kids' soft-play area, arcade games, and a café — open seven days a week.
- Highlights
- 10 Brunswick synthetic bowling lanes
- Kids soft-play zone
- Cosmic bowling atmosphere
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access