Ireland Guide
Tipperary and Waterford
You're unlikely to be immediately enticed by a first sight of counties Tipperary and Waterford, much of whose countryside could well vie for the title of Ireland's dullest. However, if you're travelling west to Clare, Cork or Kerry you'll probably pass through one or other county, and there are still sufficient points of interest to merit a stop.
Most of Tipperary's attractions lie in its southern reaches, notably the historic town of Cahir. The county's most outstanding site, the Rock of Cashel, is further north – a magnificent isolated outcrop rising from the plain and crowned by impressive Christian buildings spanning various periods. In the county's southwest lie the verdant wonders of the Glen of Aherlow.
To Tipperary's south, County Waterford features a fine and varied coastline with plenty of broad bays and sheltered beaches, as well as its own array of historic and ecclesiastical sites. Waterford city is a dynamic place, renowned for its high-class crystal, and possessing a superlative museum in the form of Waterford Treasures.
Highlights
1 The Rock of Cashel Stunning medieval religious site, set high above the surrounding countryside.
2 Cahir Castle One of the country's best-preserved Anglo-Norman strongholds.
3 The Glen of Aherlow River valley in a beautiful setting, dwarfed by the adjacent Galty Mountains.
4 Waterford Treasures A city's history brought evocatively to life by a magnificent collection of locally found discoveries from Viking and later times.
5 Dungarvan Clustered around its broad bay, this attractive town has plenty to enthral, including some fine traditional music.
6 Ardmore A delightful village with potent reminders of Ireland's monastic past, as well as a grand beach and exhilarating cliff-top walks.