Fethard

Fethard (Fiodh Ard, meaning "high wood") is a small town in County Tipperary, with a population in 2022 of 1700. It was settled by the Normans from 1201, and ringed by defensive walls from the 13th century. The town's medieval buildings are the main reason to visit.

Get in


Kavanagh's Bus 393 / 396 runs thrice M-Sa from Clonmel to Fethard, 20 min. It continues north for another 75 min through the back lanes to Thurles, which is on the Dublin-Cork main railway line.

And that's all; there's no bus from nearby Cashel or Cahir. You need your own wheels.

Get around
Walk, the town is compact.

See

 * Town walls were built in the 13th century. Those northside are mostly lost, although the north gate survives on Rocklow St. The best preserved stretch is south side, facing R706 An Gleann ("The Valley"). By Watergate is a huddle of ruined 17th-century tower houses, and a Sheila-na-gig set into the wall.
 * is just one sorry stump, 1 km east of town.
 * is the shell of a 16th-century tower house along the road from Clonmel.
 * is the 721-m mountain to the east. There are four prehistoric cairns around its summit, and many legends of the Otherworld beings that issue from those portals.
 * is just one sorry stump, 1 km east of town.
 * is the shell of a 16th-century tower house along the road from Clonmel.
 * is the 721-m mountain to the east. There are four prehistoric cairns around its summit, and many legends of the Otherworld beings that issue from those portals.

Do

 * Abymill Theatre is in a restored mill next to the abbey. No performances are scheduled in 2020.
 * See Cashel for Tipperary Raceway, midway between the towns.
 * Slievenamon Golf Club is 5 km south of town at Lisronagh. White tees 4717 m (5082 yards), par 70.

Buy

 * Centra convenience store is northeast end of Main St, open daily 7AM-9PM.
 * The car boot sale and collector's market is held on Sunday 10:45AM-3:30PM, 500 m northwest of town along R692 the Cashel Road. It's on the site of the former Fethard Folk Museum, which has closed.

Drink

 * Bridge Bar, Butler's, Village Inn and Lonergans are the other pubs along Main St. Castle Inn on Watergate has closed down.
 * Bridge Bar, Butler's, Village Inn and Lonergans are the other pubs along Main St. Castle Inn on Watergate has closed down.

Connect
As of Dec 2020, in town there is 4G coverage by Eir, 5G by Three, and nothing by Vodafone. Along the roads around town it's mostly dead.

Go next

 * Cashel to the north is a must-see for the Rock and nearby religious sites.
 * Waterford is an interesting port with a Viking, Norman and Georgian heritage.
 * Tipperary is a pleasant market town with a famous name but that's about all. Keep heading west towards Limerick, a lively miniature Dublin.