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The Office of Public Works (OPW) are pleased to announce that as and from today (6/4/2016), or on the first Wednesday of every month, during 2016, all their managed Heritage Sites in Tipperary and throughout Ireland will offer FREE ADMISSION to individuals wishing to visit their sites, for the duration of their tourism opening season.
 Swiss Cottage, Cahir, Co. Tipperary.
The list of participating sites in Co. Tipperary include:- Cahir Castle,* Rock of Cashel,* Roscrea Heritage (Castle and Damer House) and the Blackmills, and the Swiss Cottage.
* Note: Where an asterisk is shown above; same venues are open all year-round while others may have more limited seasonal periods of operation.
Details on the above venues and other national Irish tourist attractions can be found by simply clicking HERE
That means sites like Kilkenny Castle and Clonmacnoise, which usually charge €17 for a family visit, the recently-restored Kilmainham Gaol (€16) and Ross Castle in Killarney (€10), won’t cost a cent to visit, except perhaps for parking in some instances.
Tickets will be allocated on a ‘first come / first served’ basis with normal conditions of admission applying at all sites. Visitors may experience delays at some of the busier sites and are therefore advised to arrive early.
If allocated a time, visitors are asked to arrive promptly for the start of their tour. There is no guarantee that visitors who miss their allocated tour-slot can be accommodated at a later time. Children must be supervised at all times and access to some sites will be by guided tour only. Visitors are also warned that opening times can change at short notice.
So please, old age pensioners & those enjoying free travel, do take advantage and use this opportunity “To see old Ireland free.”
  
National Pilgrim Paths Week in Tipperary – March 22nd to March 29th, 2016
Over the coming Easter 2016 period, thousands of Irish residents and foreign visitors are expected to retrace ancestral heritage as they take to Ireland’s ancient pilgrim paths to celebrate the inaugural National Pilgrim Paths Week. This Easter Festival will see a nationwide series of pilgrim walks taking place on Ireland’s medieval penitential trails. Knowledgeable local guides will lead each event, outline the story of the route and explain how medieval penitents coped with their arduous and often dangerous journeys.
 Pictured above, taken at the launch of Pilgrim Paths Week, shows (L – R): John G O’Dwyer (Thurles), Chairman of Pilgrim Paths Ireland; Diarmaid Conden, Knockmealdown Active; Isabel Cambie, Manager South Tipperary Development Company; Mark Rylands, Knockmealdown Active; Beatrice Kelly, Heritage Council and John Egan ( Drom & Inch), Secretary of Pilgrim Paths Ireland. Speaking at the launch of the new festival, Chairman of Pilgrim Paths Ireland, Mr John G O’Dwyer stated; “National Pilgrim Paths Week was created to raise awareness and use of Ireland’s historic pilgrim routes. The event is targeted, not only at those who enjoy exploring Ireland’s ancient tracks, but also the growing number of people seeking to escape from the daily grind of life and take some time out to reflect and enjoy the outdoors.
The medieval pilgrimage was originally a journey combining prayer and sacrifice – with an element of physical discomfort – by which the pilgrim could become closer to God. In recent times, there has been a renewed interest in following the footsteps of pilgrims past and over the last number of years we in Pilgrim Paths Ireland have worked to develop these routes for the enjoyment of walkers and pilgrims alike.”
Upcoming Events In Tipperary
St. Declan’s Way: In Co Tipperary two pilgrim walks are planned for Holy Saturday, March 26th. Knockmealdown Active will retrace the footsteps of St. Declan over the scenic Knockmealdown Mountains on the border of Tipperary and Waterford. St. Declan’s Way is an ancient pilgrimage route linking the 5th century monastery of St. Declan in Ardmore, County Waterford with Cashel in County Tipperary. This event commences from Mount Melleray Abbey at 11:00am. For further information contact Kevin O’Donnell on Mobile (086) 354 1700.
Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop: On Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop the event will commence at 12:30 pm from Kilcommon Community Hall, with registration and a ‘Welcome Lecture’ by Fr. Dan Woods, P.P., (Kilcommon Parish), on the spiritual heritage of the walking route and the surrounding landscape. Further details available here by telephoning (062) 78103.
To find out more about these two events and the nationwide series of walks for National Pilgrim Paths Week, go to website www.pilgrimpath.ie
 Those involved in event planning in Co. Tipperary are urged to apply for Community Tourism Grants. The application process for 2016 funding remains opens for community tourism initiatives for the diaspora.
Applications for funding are being sought under the Community Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora. The initiative first launched in 2014, builds on the community involvement legacy of ‘The Gathering 2013’ and remains a joint partnership between Tipperary County Council, IPB Insurance and Fáilte Ireland.
Now in its third year, the scheme provides a national fund of €1m to support local community-based events and festivals each year. Last year, some 23 local events were supported in Tipperary, attracting up to 1120 visitors from overseas.
Administered locally by Tipperary County Council, the application process for 2016 currently remains open, but will close on the 11th of March 2016. Interested parties are therefore advised to contact M/s Áine Mc Carthy by emailing tourism@tipperarycoco.ie to apply. The application form is available to download HERE
Local authorities throughout the country are now accepting applications in order to determine those local events with the best potential to have the impact and long-term potential to make a difference. The initiative is being administered at local level with the grant applications and awards being decided in accordance with agreed national criteria.
 At the invitation of Ardmayle Heritage Society, Mr John G. O’Dwyer, Chairman of Pilgrim Paths Ireland will give a lecture and slide-show on his exploration of ancient pilgrim trails, entitled “Walking Through History.” The event will take place in Ardmayle Church, Cashel on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016, at 8:00pm sharp.
Mr O’Dwyer, the author of the first guidebook to Ireland’s Pilgrim Paths, will also talk about the more recent developments on the pilgrim paths of Ireland and the upcoming ‘Pilgrim Paths Week’, which takes place from March 22nd to March 29th. Tipperary will be offering two fully guided pilgrim walks during this week long event, same taking place on ‘St Declan’s Way’ with a crossing of the Knockmealdown Mountains and on the ‘Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop’.
His talk on March 2nd next will also cover details of Ireland’s new Pilgrim Passport, which is similar to the Spanish Camino passport; offering an opportunity for Irish people and overseas visitors to get out and explore 120 kilometres of Ireland’s most unforgettable penitential paths, while reconnecting with the pilgrims past.
Those who have all Five Panels stamped on Passports, latter certifying full completion, automatically become eligible for a Teastas Oilithreachta (Irish Pilgrim Walk Certificate) from Ballintubber Abbey.
So, if you would like to walk some of Ireland’s pilgrim paths in the future or find out more about them, this upcoming lecture is certainly the event for you.
Admission to the lecture is free and all are welcome to attend.
For more information, contact M/s Marion Ryan at Tel: 087-6110338 or visit www.pilgrimpath.ie
 It has been confirmed today that the Aherlow House Hotel, Aherlow, Co. Tipperary, which closed rather abruptly on February 9th 2016, will soon reopen to guests and their patrons on the 3rd March 2016, after the property was sold to a Dublin based hotel operator.
This news now means jobs have been secured as a result of this sale and also ensures the availability of this excellent venue to future wedding couples and other events, which had previously booked ahead into 2016, 2017 and 2018.
It is understood that up to 40 couples had secured their future wedding bookings at this venue and were being forced, following the closure, to seek alternative hotel arrangements, without any guarantee regarding large deposits previously paid in advance while securing upcoming events.
It is understood that Mr Adrian Shanagher, an experienced hotel operator, based in Dublin, has now purchased the popular venue and is anxious to honour all future weddings that were booked with the previous tenant company. He has confirmed that he will offer couples full credit against their future wedding costs in Aherlow House Hotel.
The new purchaser is also expected to begin immediately to refurbishment and upgrade this newly acquired property, with a view to reopening for business on the 3rd March 2016.
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