Yes that's right, it's only €2.90 to have the complete run of your own castle. Well as it was a cold and wet February afternoon, we were pretty much the only visitors to Cahir Castle at the time.

Built in 1152, it is one of the largest castles in Ireland, and certainly has all the necessary castle like features you would wish for. A great hall (to shelter from the rain), battlements that you can actually climb on (though don’t fall off as it really would hurt) and a river that surrounds you on all sides (to protect you from your enemies) because, low and behold, you are on your own island too (you can't get much cooler than that) and last but not least........

....it has an audio visual presentation!
I just love those things. Surely the mark of any great ancient building. A slightly blurry slideshow with jesters playing lyres and lutes and a voice over by an actor that you can’t quite picture, but yet has a reassuringly authoritative tone. To be followed by sound effects of fire and cannons and people storming the battlements….

Seriously, Cahir Castle is well worth a visit. It really does give you a glimpse of what it was really like. You don't have to put up with a dull and patronising tour, (the AV show IS worth watching) and you really can just help yourself to the castle. It is now run by the Irish state having been in the ownership of the Butler family from 1375 to 1961! when the last Lord Cahir died.

It is also reasonably near to the "Rock of Cashel" being 35 miles away or so, you could see both in one day. You can check it out on Here or There here: http://www.hereorthere.com/members/...perience/490

One bit of advice....unlike miles in the UK Irish miles can be deceptive. Not only do the signs seem to fluctuate from miles to kilometers and then back to miles, but they are often longer or shorter than your usual miles. The roads in the countryside are much twistier also. Nowhere is really very far away, it just takes a bit longer than you think.