If castles peak your curiosity, come in our guest house. There are half a dozen day trips to a wide variety of ancient medieval fortresses.

The village Cahir grew up around this spectacular twelfth century castle strategically placed on the shore river.

The Royal Flour Mill created the source of wealth and commerce for the entire region as well as for whom ever controlled the castle at the time.

Though a formidable fortress, there was a belligerent transfer of castle occupants a half dozen times since Cahir was built.

Restoration and preservation by Dúchas; the Heritage Commission of the Irish Government has created a next opportunity to get an insight to the regions targeting about interesting history.

Blarney Castle draws well over 200,000 visitors to the small village of Blarney each year.

High up in the battlements of the castle is the famous Blarney Stone.

There are a variety of legends about the origin of the Blarney Stone and it’s special powers but to keep the Blarney of this story to a minimum, the short version says that whomever kisses the stone will then posses the gift of gab or Blarney. This particular legend came from an incident when Queen Elizabeth the first wanted Irish Chiefs to agree to occupy their own lands under title from her. Cormac MacCarthy then Lord of Blarney, apparently quite a diplomat, managed to talk as way around the issue on numerous occasions. As a result, the frustrated Queen Elizabeth proclaimed that MacCarthy was giving her a lot of blarney.

Now people travel from all over the world to kiss the famous stone hoping they too may pick up a little of Cormac MacCarthy’s gift of gab, besides it’s a great castle but excellent examples for twelfth century battlements.

The village of Kilkenny is one of the most beautiful of the region around Graiguenamanagh consistently winning the Tidy Town Award for beauty cleanliness and charm. Many credit this county wide competition as a significant contribution to the islands crisp, clean and well kept towns.

Like Cahir and other castle villages, the town grew up around the center piece of Kilkenny Castle built at the end of the twelfth century. There were number of families of owned, defended and fought for this remarkable piece of real state of the last 1800 years but managed to survive relatively intact.

In 1970, it was reopened as a museum and the community meeting hall providing a remarkable example of medieval grandeur.

Across the road and the Castle stable buildings, local artisans like these potters turn out beautiful clay earthen ware in very much the same fashion as it has been done since the house here doesn’t cook in castle.

In addition to Kilkenny Castle, this beautiful little village has more than a dozen more well preserved examples of medieval 12th century architecture in which you can transport yourself back to the history of the town.

On the east side of town, an 8th century Monastic Tower at St. Canice Anglican Cathedral provides a spectacular view of modern Kilkenny and many of its historic buildings.