Cahir Castle Highlights (8)
Guided Tours
Bring Cahir Castle to life by taking a tour with one of our knowledgeable, enthusiastic and entertaining guides. The legacy of the powerful Butler family lives on in the tales of love, betrayal, murder and warfare our guides will tell you. Enjoy learning about the family who owned this doughty stronghold for over six centuries, about the lives of the other people who lived and worked in the castle and about many other aspects of its colourful past besides. Our tours are highly rated by visitors. Cahir Castle will give you everything you could possibly want from a visit to a proper medieval castle.
Authentic Interiors
This castle’s various tall towers, narrow corridors and winding staircases await your exploration. Stroll around at your leisure and soak up the authentic atmosphere while surveying the castle’s authentic medieval interiors. The centrepiece is the great hall, where the antlers of a giant Irish deer adorn the walls and period furniture adds to the medieval ambience. Enjoy views of the surroundings from the tower windows and the magnificent scenery along the river, which can be seen from the top of the well tower.
Cunning Defences
The castle was cleverly designed to withstand attack from the enemy and to act as a safe place of residence for the family. Castle builders added many defensive features to make it a truly formidable fortress. Searching for these intriguing architectural features makes for an unforgettable experience.
You can look forward to:
passing beneath the spikes of a raised portcullis gate, one of the few working portcullises in Ireland;
spotting the machicolations, which were a deadly addition to the defences of the castle and a fascinating feature of its design;
noticing the various styles of arrow loops set into towers and exterior walls around the castle – these allowed archers to fire at attackers from a position of relative safety.
The Cannonball and 1599 Exhibition
Spot the cannonball – or, more specifically, culverin ball – embedded high in the wall of the garderobe turret in the middle courtyard. This was fired during the 1599 siege, when Robert Devereux, second earl of Essex, led Queen Elizabeth’s army against the castle. Don’t miss the siege exhibition, which features a superbly detailed model of the castle under attack.
A Fairytale Visit for Kids
Take the kids on a fun-filled historic adventure. You can find a range of items in our gift shop – including wooden swords, Norman helmets, flower headpieces, tunics, books and much more – that would make lovely treats for your little ones. Why not spark their imagination and get them into the medieval spirit by allowing them to dress up as mighty knights, brave princesses or skilled soldiers? The choice is endless – and will make for many memorable pictures of your family day out.
Children’s curiosity is boundless and they always have lots of questions. They are welcome to quiz our guides, who will be only too glad to help them understand this magical place.
The Silver Screen
Cahir Castle has been used for filming many times. See if you can spot locations and backdrops from your favourite shows and movies, from Excalibur to The Tudors.
An Audiovisual Treat
Cahir Castle sits in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, where tales of castles and conquests are many. In the castle cottage, our 15-minute audiovisual presentation, Cahir Castle and the Story of Irish Castles, brings you the enthralling story of the development of Irish castles. The commentary is available in Irish, English, French, German and Italian.
Explore Cahir
When you leave us, why not visit the Inch Field public park located just outside the castle walls with its wonderful wooden sculptures. Maybe even see King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, there or a fairy or two on the nearby Fairy Trail. If you fancy seeing a little bit more of our wonderful local scenery, why not take a leisurely stroll along the picturesque public riverside walk which leads to Swiss Cottage, just 2km away.
