There have always been reasons to travel to County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland. There haven’t always been reasons to stay overnight. Traditionally, travellers from Dublin take the two hour drive here for a look at the historic cluster of medieval buildings called the Rock of Cashel, before continuing west for the scenery of Kerry and Cork. Cashel Palace, opened in 2022 and just awarded Two Michelin Keys, is changing that – and giving travellers a reason to consider Tipperary as an essential part of their Irish itinerary.
The appeal of Tipperary is twofold: medieval history and sprawling nature. We'll start with the former. There could be no better embodiment than this hotel, whose Palladian structure was built in 1732 for the Church of Ireland archbishops who preached and prayed at the famous Rock of Cashel. Today’s guests can walk in their shoes on a 10-minute stroll to the famous Rock, where St. Patrick is said to have personally travelled to convert the king to Christianity, and which today hosts a 13th-century Gothic cathedral, a 12th-century chapel and the last Romanesque frescoes in Ireland.
On the topic of the natural, it just so happens that the owners of the new Cashel Palace are also the owners of Coolmore Stud, perhaps the world's preeminent breeding operation for thoroughbred horses, based too in Tipperary. So guests can trek through the mountains on horseback or take up an even more fascinating excursion. This is, to our knowledge, the only hotel in the world with its own 'Equine Concierge', a service that provides those interested in racing, jumping or even breeding with hands-on assistance in organising the equestrian trip of their dreams. And that includes a guided trip to Coolmore, which is typically closed to the public.
“We’re trying to highlight the benefits of what we have in this area,” says Adriaan Bartels, General Manager of Cashel Palace, who has been involved in the project since the beginning. The hotel is set just off the main street of Cashel, where guests can amble out of the hotel and into today’s thriving coffee shops, antiques stores and other boutiques. But it also offers opportunities for cycling, hiking, kayaking and any number of active pursuits amidst the pristine, often undiscovered natural landscapes of Tipperary.
On site, there’s a spa and swimming pool, and rooms are split between the main house and two separate wings decorated in a blend of charming details evocative of the palace's heyday and more modern sensibilities.
Medieval scholars will find themselves at the Rock. Scholars of another sort may have a greater appreciation for the old well once used to brew ale for the original estate. That brewer was a man by the name of Richard Guinness. His son, Arthur Guinness, would receive 100 pounds in the archbishop’s will and use it to start his own draught in Dublin.
The estate’s garden thus grows its own hops as an homage, and the growing is no challenge. This part of the country is called the Golden Vale for the fertility of its land, known especially for its dairy. The hotel’s own restaurants benefit (including The Bishops Buttery, which holds One Michelin Star), but the hotel also organises tours of famous cheese-making and other farming estates.
Bartels tells the anecdote of one family who arrived at the luxury hotel and left gushing over the joy of milking their first cow. An instructive detail, we think, on the thorough mix of cultural experiences to be found at Cashel Palace.
"It's a long way to Tipperary", the old song goes, but travellers have always made the journey. The hope is that these days, when they come for the Rock, they’ll stay for the Palace.
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Need to Know
A bite-sized breakdown of your most frequently asked questions about Cashel PalaceWho comes here?
International and local travellers, often en route from Dublin. Traditionally, guests might stop at the Rock of Cashel and continue west. Cashel Palace gives a compelling reason to stop over and stay the night – or several.
When’s the best time to visit?
The hotel’s open year-round, and while the warmer months lend themselves to some of the more outdoorsy pursuits of County Tipperary, the Rock of Cashel is open all year, too, and the hotel becomes particularly cosy with decorations and festive tea events during Christmas.
What else is there to do in the area?
Besides the Rock of Cashel medieval complex, there’s myriad sightseeing in Tipperary, all easily facilitated by the hotel. Cahir Castle, Ormonde Castle and Holycross Abbey are other historic sites to consider, while the hotel itself offers a pottery masterclass, private fishing grounds along two rivers and eBike tours of the countryside.
What's the best room for a solo traveller? A couple? A family?
Rooms are spread between the Main House and two wings: the Garden wing and the Carriage House – the latter an eight-room structure that once comprised the stables. Throughout all, most room categories sleep two guests – but several offer connections to adjacent rooms, likely the best option for families or larger parties.
What’s a design feature I would miss if you didn’t tell me about it?
We mentioned above the old well once used by Arthur Guinness’s father to brew beer for the Archbishop. During the most recent renovation, builders found that well. It can be found at their sister restaurant next door, Mikey Ryan’s Bar & Kitchen.
What’s there to eat?
The Bishops Buttery is the One Star restaurant on the premises, serving Irish cuisine under a vaulted ceiling amidst sumptuous, colourful furnishings. The Queen Anne room serves lunch and afternoon tea; Mikey Ryan’s is the informal option next door; and Sadler’s Restaurant, also associated with the hotel, sits 20 minutes away, offering Irish cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients.
What about sustainability?
Cashel Palace takes sustainability seriously, with all its new spaces designed to NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) specifications, much of its water sourced from a well on site, a compost programme and a commitment to locally sourced ingredients, including from its own kitchen gardens and greenhouse. Recently, the hotel introduced some beehives nearby, under the supervision of its Head Gardener.
What’s the final word?
Travellers haven't always had a reason to stay overnight on a visit to the Rock of Cashel – but now they do, and Cashel Palace gives a million other reasons to visit Tipperary as well.
Book Cashel Palace with The MICHELIN Guide →
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