Cahir Castle

Cahir, County Tipperary · Ireland · Tier C

Cahir Castle, a C-tier castle in Ireland

Cahir Castle stands on an island in the River Suir in County Tipperary, Ireland, and is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in the country. The site was fortified from 1142 under Conchobar Ua Briain, with the core stone structure dating to the 13th century; the Butler family, who received it in 1375, expanded it through the 17th century. It withstood a three-day siege by the Earl of Essex in 1599 but surrendered to Oliver Cromwell without resistance in 1650.

On the death of the last Lord Cahir in 1961 it passed to the Irish state, managed by the Office of Public Works. Open to the public with guided tours and audiovisual presentations, its remarkable condition has made it a prized film location — Excalibur (1981), The Tudors, and The Last Duel (2020) were all shot here.

Official site · Wikipedia

Visitor information

Location
Cahir, County Tipperary
Country
Ireland
Tier
C (Worth a visit if you're already in the area)
Coordinates
52.3745, -7.9272
Official site
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/cahircastle/

Frequently asked questions

Where is Cahir Castle?
Cahir Castle is in Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland (approximately 52.3745, -7.9272).
Can you visit Cahir Castle?
Yes — Cahir Castle is open to visitors; see the official site at http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/south-east/cahircastle/ for hours and tickets.
What tier is Cahir Castle on the Castle Atlas?
Cahir Castle is rated C tier on the Castle Atlas — Worth a visit if you're already in the area.
What can you see at Cahir Castle?
Cahir Castle stands on an island in the River Suir in County Tipperary, Ireland, and is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in the country. The site was fortified from 1142 under Conchobar Ua Briain, with the core stone structure dating to the 13th century; the Butler family, who received it in 1375, expanded it through the 17th century. It withstood a three-day siege by the Earl of Essex in 1599 but surrendered to Oliver Cromwell without resistance in 1650.

All castles in Ireland · Explore the full Castle Atlas →

The Castle Atlas
100Castles
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Methodology

A castle here means anything Wikipedia lists as a castle — which often includes fortresses, palaces, monasteries, and châteaux. The list also includes historicist creations like Neuschwanstein, but only when their main construction was completed before the 20th century.

All castles are sorted into tiers based on nothing but the author’s vibe and whim. Feel free to rearrange them however you personally see fit. Ultimately, the criteria were not historical significance or defensive capability, but how exciting a visit there would likely be.