DAY SEVEN: Tipperary to Cahir via Loch Gur

Leaving Cashel Town B&B, John Street, Cashel.

Past the Rock of Cashel again... I just can't get over that sight.

Hore Abbey is located on the R505 within viewing distance of the Rock.

Hore Abbey (also Hoare Abbey, sometimes known as St.Mary's) is a ruined Cistercian monastery. 

'Hore' is thought to derive from 'iubhair' – yew tree. The former Benedictine abbey at Hore was given to the Cistercians by Archbishop David MacCearbhaill (in 1270), who later entered the monastery.

The story, beloved of tour-guides, that he evicted the Benedictines after a dream that they were about to kill him, is unlikely to be true and probably arises from the Archbishop's 'interference' with the commerce of the city of Cashel. His disfavour of the established orders in Cashel certainly caused local resentment. He was resented by some of the towns-people, being considered too much in favour of the Irish by the more Anglicised. This is evident in the objection by the thirty-eight local brewers to the levy of two flagons out of every brewing and in the murder of two monks who were visiting the town.

The last view of the Rock and Hore Abbey.

The Athassel Priory of St. Edmund the King was a foundation of the Augustinian Canons Regular under the patronage of Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster who was buried there in 1271. The most notable of these in modern Ireland is Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. The abbey was the burial place of Richard Og de Burgh, second Earl of Ulster in 1326.

Cows are grazing inside the abbey walls!

Blackthorn Grove, Tipperary.

Coming into Tipperary on Father Matthew Street.

How much is that doggy in the window?

Bank Place, Tipperary heading towards the centre of town.

Still on Bank Place, Tipperary.

Main Street of Tipperary.

Main Street.

Still on Main Street.

On to Loch Gur and hunting for some Neolithic and Bronze Age sites.

Lough Gur (Irish: Loch Gair) is a lake in County Limerick, Ireland between the towns of Herbertstown and Bruff. The lake forms a horseshoe shape at the base of Knockadoon Hill and some rugged elevated countryside. It is one of Ireland's most important archaeological sites. Humans have lived near Lough Gur since about 3000 BC. 

The lake forms a horseshoe shape at the base of Knockadoon Hill and some rugged elevated countryside. It is one of Ireland's most important archaeological sites. Humans have lived near Lough Gur since about 3000 BC and there are numerous megalithic remains there.

Small stone circles on Loch Gur Road.

This is someone's backyard!

Sidhe mound.

Closer up to the Sidhe mound.

Megalith formation on Loch Gur Road.

Amazing.

Carrig Aille Hill, Loch Gur.

With stone fort on top.

The a glimpse of Grange Stone Circle at Loch Gur.

Grange stone circle (Lios na Grainsi or Stones of the Sun)[1] 300m west of Lough Gur in County Limerick, Ireland, is situated beside the Limerick-Kilmallock road, 4 km north of Bruff.

Heading back east towards Galtee Moutains and the Glen of Ahelow.

Ascending Slievenamuck.

Walkers?  There's barely enough room for cars!

First glimpse of Binnia.

I decided to slip down a side street in search of views.

The Galtee Mountains or Galty Mountains (Irish: Na Gaibhlte or Sléibhte na gCoillte) are a mountain range in Munster, located in Ireland's Golden Vale across parts of counties Limerick, South Tipperary and Cork. 

The name "Galtee" is thought to be a corruption of the Irish "Sléibhte na gCoillte" - "Mountains of the Forests" in English, however this Irish name has fallen out of use. The Galtees are Ireland's highest inland mountain range, taking the form of a high ridge which rises up almost sheer from the surrounding plain.

Back on the R664.

My first roadside shrine!

Deja vu.

WTF?  Looking for Labbamolga, Main Street, Ballylanders.

Labbamolga barely visible.

Through Ballylanders.

My first Celtic crosses!

Carrigeen Castle, Cahir.

Castle Street, Cahir.

Appraoching Cahir Castle, Cahir.

Cahir Castle (Irish: Caisleán na Cathrach), one of the largest castles in Ireland, is sited on an island in the river Suir. It was built in 1142 by Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond. 

Photo taken on exactly the same spot as previous photo.  It's been a big day, time to find a hotel.