2. CAHIR CASTLE
Once the stronghold of the powerful Butler family, the castle
retains its impressive keep, tower and much of its original
defensive structure. It is one of Ireland's largest and best
preserved castles. It is situated on a rocky island on the River
Suir.
5. CAHIR CASTLE
In 1375, the castle was granted to James Butler,
newly created Earl of Ormond, for his loyalty to
Edward III. His son James,the second Earl passed
the lands around the barony of Iffa and Offa West to
his children, though they were not themselves
noble.This changed by 1542 when the first of the
Barons Cahir was created. In 1599 the castle was
captured after a three-day siege by the army of the
Earl of Essex and was for a year put under the
charge of Sir Charles Blount. Lord Cahir joined with
the Earl of Tyrone in 1601 and was attainted for
treason, but later obtained a full pardon. In 1627 the
Castle was the scene of a celebrated killing when
Cahir's son-in-law, Lord Dunboyne, murdered a
distant cousin James Prendergast, in a dispute over
an inheritance.
During the Irish Confederate Wars the castle was
besieged twice.
6. CAHIR CASTLE
In 1961 the last Lord Cahir died and the
castle reverted to the Irish state.
8. BURREN PLATEAU
The Burren Plateau is an example of
karst terrain. Karst terrain is generally
formed when sedimentary rocks are
dissolved by groundwater.
9. BURREN PLATEAU
Most karst occurs in limestones or
dolostones, rocks made primarily from
the minerals calcite or dolomite.
Groundwater and surface water moves
through fractures in the rock, dissolving
it over time, forming voids and
channels.
11. BURREN PLATEAU
A very thin cloud cover is visible over
Gleninagh Mountain. Despite the barren
appearance of this portion of the Burren
Plateau, thin soils are present and the
area is used for grazing cattle during
the winter.
