Heritage Ireland South East
The Main Guard
The Main Guard
Sarsfield Street
Clonmel
Co. Tipperary
Telephone No: +353 52 612 7484
Fax No: +353 52 6127517
E-mail:mainguard@op w.ie
Opening Hours
Please note this site may close at short notice. Visitors are advised to check ahead before visiting.
1st April – 30th Sept: Daily 09.30 – 18.00 (Including weekends)
01 October – 6th October: Daily 09.30 – 17.30
Last admission 45 mins. before closing.
Restricted hours during closed season.
Average Length of Visit: 40 mins.
Admission Fees: Free
Facilities
Exhibitions, toilets, toilet for visitors with disabilities.
Car parking close to the site.
James Butler, Duke of Ormond, built the Main Guard in 1675 as the courthouse for the Palatinate of administrative area of County Tipperary. In 1715, the Palatinate jurisdiction was extinguished. In about 1810, the ground floor, a loggia of open arches, was converted into shops, a basement excavated and additional floors inserted. It has been recently restored to its original form and the open arcade of sandstone columns is once again a feature of the streetscape.
Location: Forms one end of the main street – Sarsfield Street in Clonmel town.
Bus Route(s): Contact Busaras, Travel Centre (01) 8366111
Guided Tours: Regular tours available.
Photography / Video allowed: Yes. Commercial photography requires permission.
Additional Information: During the closed season contact the Rock of Cashel Tel: +353 62 61437 Fax: +353 62 62988
During the closed season, please contact The Rock of Cashel, Tel. +353 62 61437, Fax +353 62 62988 , or e-mail rockofcashel@opw.ie rockofcashel@opw.ie
Rock of Cashel
Contact Details rockofcashel@opw.ie
Website: None
Address: St. Patrick’s Rock of Cashel, Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Telephone No: +353 62 61437
Fax No: +353 62 62988
E-mail:Opening Hours
Mid September – Mid October, Daily, 9.00 – 17.30
Mid October – Mid March, Daily, 9.00 – 16.30
Mid March – Early June, Daily, 9.00 – 17.30
Early June – Mid September, Daily, 9.00 – 19.00
PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO RESTORATION WORK, ACCESS TO CORMAC’S CHAPEL WILL BE BY GUIDED TOUR ONLY FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER EACH YEAR, UNTIL THE WORKS ARE COMPLETE.
Closed 24th to 26th December inclusive.
Last admission 45 mins. before closing.
Please note that all groups must be pre-booked.
Average Length of Visit: 1 – 1.5 hours.Admission Fees
Adult: €6.00
Sen/Group: €4.00
Child/Student: €2.00
Family: €14.00
Facilities :Public toilets and car/coach park close to site.
A spectacular group of Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral. Attractions include an audio-visual show and exhibitions. Access for visitors with disabilities by prior arrangement.
Location: 500m from the centre of Cashel town off the Dublin Road.
Bus Route(s): Contact Busaras, Travel Centre (01) 8366111
Guided Tours: Available (Please check with site before visit as times may vary)
Duration: 45 mins
Max No: 50
Leaflet/Guide book: Please click on the following linkGuide book: English, Irish
Leaflet: French, and English
Photography/Video allowed: Yes. Commercial photography requires permission.
Additional Information: Please note this is a very busy site and visitors may experience a delay during the summer months
Cahir Castle
Address: Castle St., Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
Telephone No: +353 52 7441011
Fax No: +353 52 7442324
Email:cahircastle@opw.ie
Website: None
Opening Hours
Mid March – Mid June: Daily 09.30 – 17.30
Mid June – August; Daily 09.00 – 18.30
Sept – Mid Oct: Daily 09.30 – 17.30
Mid Oct – Mid March: Daily 09.30 – 16.30
Average Length of Visit: 1 – 1.5 hoursAdmission Fees
Adult: €3.00 Sen/Group: €2.00 Child/Student: €1.00 Family: €8.00Facilities
Exhibitions, Toilets, Public Car/Coach park close to site.
Restaurants/Tearooms: None
Once the stronghold of the powerful Butler family, the castle retains its impressive keep, tower and much of its original defensive structure. It is one of Ireland’s largest and best preserved castles. It is situated on a rocky island on the River Suir. The castle’s attractions include an excellent audio-visual show which informs visitors about the castle.
Location: Centre of Cahir Town (Heritage Town).
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111.
Guided Tours:
Maximum number: 40 – 50
Duration: 30 – 40 minutes
Please note that all groups must be pre-booked.
Leaflet/Guide book: English. Irish, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above
Photography / Video allowed: Yes, but permission required for commercial purposes
Additional Information: AV presentation entitled “Cahir Castle and the Story of Irish Castles”. Duration 15 mins and available in English, Irish, French, German, Italian
Limited access for visitors with disabilities by prior arrangement
Swiss Cottage
Address: Kilcommon
Cahir, Co. Tipperary
Telephone No: +353 52 74 41144
Email:swisscottage@opw.ie
Toilets (including toilet for people with disabilities) close to site. Public car/coach park also close to site.
Restaurant/Tearooms: None
A delightful “cottage orné” built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Glengall to a design by the famous Regency architect John Nash. Its interior contains a graceful spiral staircase and some elegantly decorated rooms. The wallpaper in the Salon manufactured by the Dufour factory is one of the first commercially produced Parisian wallpapers. Situated on an elevated site with access by stone steps.
Location: 2km south of Cahir Town off R670 – road to Ardfinnan (Cahir is a Heritage Town)
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111
Guided Tours:
Max No: 12
Duration: 30 – 40 mins.
Leaflet/Guide book: English, Irish, French, German, Italian.
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above.
Photography / Video allowed: Not allowed inside building or on guided tour.
Additional Information:
Please note that this is a very busy site and visitors may experience a delay during the Summer months.
No bus tours on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
All Groups of 10 or more must be pre-booked.
Maximum group booking: 48 persons.
Dungarvan Castle
Address: Castle Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Telephone No: +353 58 48144
Email:charlesfort@opw.ie Fax No: None Website: None
Opening Hours
27th May – 29th September: Daily 10.00 – 18.00
Last admission 45 minutes before closing.
Average Length of Visit: 45 minutesAdmission Fees
Free Facilities Audio-visual exhibition, toilets and toilet for visitor with disabilities.
Restaurant/Tearooms: None
The castle consists of a polygonal shell keep with an enclosing curtain wall, a corner tower and a gate tower. The shell keep is the earliest structure, dating from the 12th century. Shell keeps are common in England, but rare in Ireland. Inside the curtain wall is a two storey military barracks, which dates from the first half of the 18th century. The barracks is now restored and houses an informative exhibition on the history of the castle.
Location: At eastern end of Davitt’s Quay/Castle Street
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111
Guided Tours: Access to the castle is by guided tour only.
Leaflet/Guide book: English
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above
Photography / Video allowed: Yes, but permit required for commercial purposes
Additional Information: Access to the castle is restricted due to ongoing conservation works. Exhibition centre is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities
Ormond Castle
Address: Castle Park, off Castle Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary
Telephone No: +353 51 640787
Fax No: +353 51 640787
Email: ormondcastle@opw.ie
Opening Hours 1st April – 6th October: Daily 10.00 – 18.00
Average Length of Visit: 1 hour
Admission Fees: Free
Facilities
Toilets, Public car /coach parking close to the site.
Restaurant/Tearooms: None
Ormond Castle is the best example of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland. It was built by Thomas, the 10th Earl of Ormond in the 1560s. Closely integrated into the manor house are two 15th century towers. It is the country’s only major unfortified dwelling from that turbulent period. The state rooms contain some of the finest decorative plasterwork in the country, including plasterwork portraits.
Location: Situated in the town on Carrick-on-Suir
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111
Guided Tours: Access by guided tour only
Maximum No: 20 – 25
Duration: 45 minutes
Leaflet/Guide book: English, Irish, French, German, Italian, Spanish.
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above
Photography / Video allowed: No
Additional Information: Please note access for visitors with disabilities is restricted
Kilkenny Castle
Address: The Parade, Kilkenny City
Telephone No.: +353 56 770 4100
Email:anne.teehan@opw.ie izabel.pennec@opw.ie
Website: www.kilkennycastle.ie john.burke@opw.ie Group Bookings:
Telephone No.: +353 56 770 4106
Fax No.: +353 56 770 4116
Opening Hours.
Oct. – Feb: Daily 09.30 – 16.30
March: Daily 09.30 – 17.00
April – May: Daily 09.30 – 17.30
June – Aug. Daily 09.00 – 17.30
Sept. Daily 09.30 – 17.30
Closed on Good Friday. Check with site for opening arrangements over Christmas and New Year
Last admission 30 minutes before closing Average Length of Visit: 1 hour
Admission Fees Adult: €6.00
Senior / Group (20+): €4.00
Student / Child (over 6): €2.50
Family: €14.00
Facilities
Exhibitions, toilets, playground in the Park, Gardens, Conference Centre, public car park and toilet for visitors with disabilities close to site
Restaurants/Tearooms: N/A
A 12th century castle remodelled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands which was the principal seat of the Butler family, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde. Due to major restoration works, the central block now includes a library, drawing room, and bedrooms decorated in 1830’s splendour, as well as the beautiful Long Gallery. A suite of former servant’s rooms is the Butler Art Gallery, which mounts frequently changing exhibitions of contemporary art. The Parade Tower is the Castle’s conference venue.
Location: Kilkenny City
Bus Route(s): N/A
Duration of visit: approximately 45 minutes
Groups of ten or more people must be pre-booked. Contact John Burke, Tel. +353 5677704106. Email john.burke@opw.ie
Tours of the park available by prior booking. Contact: Colm Mangan, Tel. +353 876349153. Email: colm.mangan@opw.ie
Leaflet/Guide Book: English
Seasonal Events: Check with site for details
Photography/Video: Not permitted on tour
Additional Information:
Unscheduled closure may occur over the winter months for essential maintenance; please check with site for details
Access for visitors with disabilities to ground floor and the gardens only
Please note that this is a very busy site and visitors may experience a delay during the summer months
The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle
The Parade Tower is the dedicated events section of Kilkenny Castle incorperating its entire west wing. And amazing restoration, where old and new have been cleverly integrated. This state of the art conference centre is truly unique as it is situated in one of the castle’s twelfth century towers. A very fine location for conferences, receptions, launches, gala dinners as well as cultural and artistic events.
For futher information, please contact:
Tel. +353 567 704100
Fax: +353 567 752117
Email:
Anne Teehan
Conference and Events Officer
Office of Public Works
The Parade Tower
Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny
izabel.pennec@opw.ie
Website: www.kilkennycastle.ie john.burke@opw.ie
Jerpoint Abbey
Address: Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
Telephone No: +353 56 772 4623
Fax No: +353 56 775 4003
Email:jerpointabbey@opw.ie
Opening Hours
Early March – 31 May: Daily 10.00 – 17.00
June – Mid Sept: Daily 10.00 – 18.00
Mid Sept – 31 Oct: Daily 10.00 – 17.00
Nov – Start Dec: Daily 10.00 – 16.00
Dec – Mar: Pre-booked tours only.
Closed for the Christmas period.
Average Length of Visit: 1 hour
Admission Fees Adult: €3.00 Sen/Group: €2.00 Child/Student: €1.00 Family: €8.00
Facilities
Exhibition, toilets, including disabled toilets, car / coach park
Restaurants/Tearooms: None
An outstanding Cistercian abbey founded in the second half of the 12th century. The church with its Romanesque details dates from this period. In the transept chapels the visitor can see 13th to 16th century tomb sculpture. The tower and cloister date from the 15th century. The chief delight of the Abbey is the sculptured cloister arcade with unique carvings. The Visitor Centre houses an interesting exhibition. Access for visitors with disabilities. Guided tours available.
Location: 2.5km south west from Thomastown on the N9
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111
Guided Tours:
Maximum number: 50 – 55
Duration: 45 minutes
Leaflet/Guide book: English, Irish, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above
Photography / Video allowed: Yes
Tintern Abbey
Address: Saltmills, New Ross, Co. Wexford
Telephone No: +353 51 562650
Winter Telephone No: +353 56 772 4623
Fax No: +353 51 562034
Email:tinternabbey@opw.ie
Opening Hours
20th May – 29th September: Daily 10.00 – 18.00
Average Length of Visit: 1 hour
Admission Fees
E Adult: €3.00 Sen/Group: €2.00 Child/Student: €1.00 Family: €8.00
Facilities
Exhibition, toilets, toilets for visitors with disabilities, car park.
Restaurant/Tearooms: Yes. Seating for 28 people.
A Cistercian abbey, founded c. 1200 by William, the Earl Marshall, and named after Tintern in Wales. The remains consist of nave, chancel, tower, chapel and cloister. It was partly converted into living quarters after 1541, and further adapted over the centuries. The Abbey was occupied by the Colclough family from the 16th century until 1960s.
Location: 16km south of New Ross off the R734 road or 29km from Wexford off the Wexford to Ballyhack road R733
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111
Guided Tours:
Max No: 40 – 45
Duration: 45 minutes
Leaflet/Guide book: English
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above
Photography / Video allowed: Yes
The John F Kennedy Arboretum
Telephone No: +353 (0)51 388171
Email:jfkarboretum@opw.ie
Opening Hours
October-March: Daily 10.00-17.00
May-August: Daily 10.00-20.00
September: Daily 10.00-18.30
Last admission 45 mins. before closing.
Average Length of Visit: 1.5 hours
Admission Fees
Adult: €3.00 Sen/Group: €2.00 Child/Student: €1.00 Family: €8.00
Facilities
Exhibitions, toilets, toilet for disabled (at tearoom), car parks, coach park, picnic site, play area (7 – 14 years), maze, miniature railway (afternoons in summer), nature trail and signposted walks.
Tea room – May-September
Tel. 051 388195
Seating Capacity: 50
Dedicated to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States from 1960 to 1963, the Arboretum is a plant collection of international standing. It covers 252 hectares (623 acres) on the southern slopes and summit of Slievecoiltia. It contains 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world, planted in botanical sequence. There are 200 forest plots grouped by continent. Special features include an Ericaceous Garden, (with 500 different rhododendrons, and many varieties of azaleas and heathers), dwarf conifers, hedges, ground covers and climbing plants. The lake is the most popular part of the Arboretum, and is a haven for waterfowl. A road provides access to the summit at 271m from which there are panoramic views. A Visitor Centre houses exhibitions and audio visual show. Access for people with disabilities.
Location: 12 km south of New Ross (off R733)
Guided Tours: Group tours (April-September). It is advisable to pre-book.
Max No: 30-40
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Leaflet/Guide book: English
Seasonal Events:
National Tree Week – Spring
National Heritage Week – Autumn
Tree Day – Autumn
Photography/Video allowed: Yes
Additional Information: Dogs are allowed, on leash.
The Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
Address: North Slob, Wexford
Telephone No: +353 53 91 23406
Fax No: +353 53 91 24785
Email dominic.berridge@environ.ie
Website: None
Opening Hours Open all year: Daily 09.00 – 17.00
School groups by arrangement.
Other hours by arrangement with the warden.
Closed for Christmas day.
Reserve may be closed temporarily for management operation. In these circumstances a notice will be placed at the gate.
Average Length of Visit: 1-2 hours
Admission Fees Free
Facilities Toilets, including disabled toilets, car/coach park, picnic area, warden, bird watching, lectures, conference/exhibition room. Restaurant/Tearooms: None (Partly owned by IWC Bird Watch Ireland)The Wexford Slobs are internationally famous for wild geese which spend the winter months here. The first geese came to the Slobs in 1898. These were Greylags from Iceland the common winter goose in Ireland at that time. However, White-fronted Geese from Greenland, first appearing on the Slobs about 1910 building up to several thousand in the mid-1930s, replaced the Greylags. Currently about 10,000 Greenland White-fronted Geese, one-third of the world population, spend the winter on the Wexford Slobs. The Visitor Centre has many interesting exhibitions and an audio-visual show.
Location: 5km north-east from Wexford (Heritage Town). (Signposted from Castlebridge Road)
Bus Route(s): Contact Bus Eireann, Travel Centre +353 1 8366111
Guided Tours:
Maximum number: 50
Duration: 1 hour
Leaflet/Guide book: English
Seasonal Events: Please check in advance using contact details listed above.
Photography / Video allowed: Yes
Additional Information: Restricted access for people with disabilities.
Famine Warhouse
Address: Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary
Telephone No: +353 87 908 9972
Email:info@heritageireland.ie
Oct – Mar: Sat & Sun only 14.00 – 16.00 By appointment contact +353 87 908 9972 Average Length of Visit: 40 minutes Admission Fees Free Facilities Exhibition, toilets, toilet for visitors with disabilities. Car/coach park Restaurant/Tearooms: None
During the Great Famine the Warhouse was the scene of the 1848 Rebellion. The house exhibits the history of the Famine and mass emigration, the rebellion, high treason trials and penal exile of the Young Ireland leaders in Australia and their escapes to the U.S.A.
Here rebels under the leadership of the Protestant aristocrat, William Smith O’Brien, M.P., besieged 47 police who had barricaded themselves into the McCormack farmhouse taking five children hostage. The exhibition places the Famine Rebellion in the context of 1848 as Europe’s Year of Revolutions in France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Hungary. Access to the ground floor for visitors with disabilities.
Location: 23 miles (37 km) from Kilkenny along N76 and R691 to Ballingarry. North of Ballingarry towards Commons. Follow signposts.
Guided Tours: Available