Tipperary
Photos: Rock of Cashel (in center) surrounded by (top) Holycross Abbey, Holycross, near Cashel, and (bottom) Irish traditional music at Bru Boru, Cashel
Once you arrive in Ireland at Shannon Airport, it is not such "a long way to Tipperary." In fact, it's less than 30 miles. And if you are coming from Dublin or Cork, or other parts of Ireland, Tipperary always seems to be on the route.
A rich and fertile area, Tipperary is great horse, farm and dairy country. It is also a very historic landscape, associated with Ireland's great kings and rulers as well as Ireland's patron saint, Patrick.
Here are a few of the top attractions:
Rock of Cashel, Cashel (tel. 062-61437), is one of Ireland's greatest national monuments. Perched over 200 feet above the surrounding countryside, Cashel dates back to 380 AD and was for many centuries the seat of Irish kings and then the hub of ecclesiastical power. The remains include city walls, a cruciform cathedral, a 92-foot tall round tower, intricately carved medieval monuments, and much more. Take a guided tour and learn a special chapter in the history of Ireland. Open daily, year-round. Web site:www.heritageireland.ie
Holycross Abbey, Holycross (tel. 0504-43241), is one of Ireland's greatest 15th century churches. Declared a national monument in 1880 and restored in 1971-5, it is a key place of pilgrimage because it houses a relic of the "True Cross," passed down from the cross of Christ. It contains excellent examples of Irish Gothic craftsmanship, a medieval sedilia, and murals believed to have originated in the 14th century. Open daily, year-round. Web site: www.holycrossabbey.ie
Cahir Castle, Cahir (tel. 052-41011), is one of Ireland's largest medieval fortresses, dating from the 13th and 15th centuries, with a massive keep, high walls, spacious courtyards, and a great hall. If it looks familiar, that's because it has been featured in a number of movies including "Barry Lyndon" and "Excalibur." Open daily, year-round. Web site: www.heritageireland.ie
"The Sounds of History" at Bru Boru, Cashel (tel. 062-61122), is a museum that imparts the story of Ireland through music. Built in an underground layout, it consists of seven subterranean chambers - each illustrating a segment of Ireland's history from a musical perspective. The seven focal points are: civilization of the Irish race; Christian devotion; monastic heritage; struggle for survival; pursuit of the arts; quest for independence; and cultural renaissance. The walk-around self-guided tour culminates with a 15-minute audio-visual featuring the annual Fleadh Cheoil - with samples of Irish singing, dancing, and traditional Irish musical instruments. For evening visitors, there are live performances of Irish traditional music in the summer months. The museum is open daily. Evening show from mid-June to mid-Sept. on Tues.-Sat. at 9 pm. For more information about show performances, e-mail: bruboru@comhaltas.com; or web site www.comhaltas.com.
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