Why Tipperary is one of Ireland’s great counties

County Tipperary has a richly varied landscape in itsTipperary, although Cork is also within range.
hills and mountains, its plains and river valleys. LocatedAccommodation ranges from 4-star hotels, rural and
inland in the very centre of the south of Ireland, iturban, across the spectrum to B&B’s and
can be reached from Dublin and Cork in less thanhostels. With such a large and fertile landmass,
two hours and from Rosslare Europort in about anspectacular country house hotels are common and
hour. After that it depends on your overnightTipperary provides many boltholes to which one can
destination because “Tipp” is a very bigdisappear confident in the knowledge that they
county and provides enough of attractions for thewon’t be found too easily!
visitor to be regarded as a destination in its ownElsewhere, there are dozens of historical sites, in
right.particular the magnificent ruins on the Rock of Cashel.
Tipperary has a rich supply of mountain ranges suchTipperary is truly a magnificent pastoral county which
as the Galtee Mountains, the Knockmealdowns, thepresents the visitor in the summer with contrasting
Comeraghs and Slievenamon. In the middle of thelandscape of fields of gold producing cereal and
county is a broad plain, through which the River Suiremerald green pasture land. The world renowned
flows from north to south. This is wonderful walkingCoolmore Stud Farm of 7,000 manicured acres
trail territory and is one of the great magnets foradjoins the famous Ballydoyle Racing stables at
tourists to the county.  From this plain, the rich landFethard, just north of Clonmel.
of the Golden Vale extends westwards into CountyThe county is divided into two administrative areas,
Limerick. Tipperary is dotted with prosperous townsthe North and the South, the capitals of which are
like Nenagh, Clonmel and Cahir and beautifully locatedNenagh and Clonmel respectively. The population of
hillside villages, reminiscent at times of an Austrianthe entire county is 149,000 whilst it has a huge area
landscape. The Glen of Aherlow is rightly regarded asof 4,303 kilometres. The landscape offers an array of
one of Ireland’s great beauty spots.leisure activities like golf, fishing, hill walking, cycling
Thurles is famous as the birthplace of the GAA inand much more. The wealth of small towns and
1884, and is where Semple Stadium, the secondvillages provides great variety in dining, drinking and
largest GAA stadium after Croke Park and spiritualentertainment.
home of hurling is located. Other main towns areGetting to Tipperary is relatively easy from any
Carrick-on-Suir and Roscrea. All of them haveentry point in the country with the M8 Dublin to Cork
reasonable rather than outstanding shopping facilities,motorway bisecting the county. Access to the north
although Clonmel would be best. Waterford to theTipperary area is vis the M7 Dublin to Limerick
east and Limerick to the west are the two cities thatmotorway.
shoppers would be most drawn to if based in