Wednesday 3 April 2024

Cahir Abbey, the Well of Jesus, Cahir Castle and Saint Mary's Medieval Church

Cahir, Tipperary.

Most people visit Cahir in Tipperary to visit it's well known Castle.

The Castle is an OPW run site and admission is by ticket which can be purchased on site.

It is also worth considering an annual Pass which is excellent value and admits you to all the OPW administered Heritage sites throughout the country.

The Norman fortification originates in the 13th Century and the walls can be seen butressed into the surrounding rock in places. It is reputedly one of Ireland's largest Castles.

If you look closely enough you may even spot a Canon ball which is embedded in the upper reaches of one of its walls.

Despite the overwhelming majority of visitors stopping off just to visit the Castle there are several other places of interest to visit close to the town which are well worth taking the time to see.

Just off the main Square in Cahir is Saint Mary's medieval Parish Church. This Church ruin is a simple Nave and Chancel affair but is interesting for the fact that it contains an interior dividing wall which a nearby plaque described as allowing for the worship of both Catholics and protestants in the same Church.

This is something I had never heard of before and the Church was worth a few minutes time to visit if only for finding out about that particular fact.

At several places in the Church walls there are sandstone blocks embedded in a predominately limestone structure. There are also two features which are possibly Windows.

These look like they were both originally constructed of Sandstone.

Sandstone was a feature of early Hiberno-Romanesque Churches so it's possible that these features, although later additions, and also because there are several parts of the outer limestone walls which have sandstone blocks contained in them, suggest a continuation of purpose from an earlier Romanesque structure long since vanished. That's just a guess though.

Located in the Church grounds is a sunken area with sub-surface walling which appeared to my untrained eye to be the remains of a Holy well, again that's just a guess. There is also a carved stone head still visible inside the ruin.

Within walking distance is Cahir Abbey. Unfortunately it was locked up at the time of my visit on a Bank Holiday but a nearby sign indicated it was open on normal week-days Monday through to Friday.

Even if it is closed it is worth visiting to see the impressive remains of this once important ecclesiastical site. Located just outside on a plinth is a large multiple Bullaun Stone.

This medieval priory was founded in the 13th Century for the Augustinian Canons regular.

As you approach along Abbey Street you will pass a former Quaker meeting house while on the opposite side of the road is to be seen the striking and unusual railway viaduct which crosses the River Suir and has piers which almost look somewhat Castle like with their battlement style crennellations.

Further out of town and just over a Kilometre away is the Well of Jesus or Tobar Iosa. This is a beautiful little tranquil spot, perfect for taking a moment for reflection or introspection.

It has been restored in recent years by the local community. Located in a Shrine by the Well is a delightfully inscribed Christian Cross Slab.

The Cross slab was discovered in a nearby bog and it is reputed that the large rectangular stone on which both the Slab and Shrine sit was once used as a Mass Rock during the Penal laws in Ireland when open Worship by Catholics was outlawed.

To find Tobar Iosa continue along Abbey Street past the Abbey itself. Go straight on and take a left turn before the large Roundabout which leads back towards the main roads. It's about 50 metres up this small road.

In the town of Cahir itself are various Cafes where beverages and Cakes are aplenty and several Pubs and eating places dot both the Square and nearby streets.

I don't do promoting however I've stopped twice at the Galtee Inn and while not Haute cuisine the food is plentiful and extremely satisfying while the staff are both friendly and engaging.

There are many other archaeological and architectural artifacts and interesting features of note dotted about the town to see if you have time for a good wander about.

A statue of Edmund Keating Hyland, Uilleann Piper and the Prince of Pipers lies just off the Square.

Nearby is a plaque commemorating Saint Jose-mariá Escrivá the founder of Opus Dei, a Roman Catholic lay organisation.

Escrivá is sometimes thought of as a right-wing supporter of the fascist dictator Franco while Opus Dei itself has recently come in for considerable criticism over its modus operandi. I don't think I know enough to offer a qualified opinion about him.

The enchanting Swiss Cottage, another fantastic OPW site lies about 10 Kilometres away from the town.

Keep the wheels turning............