County Tipperary
Encyclopedia
County Tipperary is a county
of Ireland
. It is located in the province
of Munster
and is named after the town of Tipperary
. The area of the county does not have a single local authority
; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary
, part of the Mid-West Region
, local government is in the care of North Tipperary County Council
. In South Tipperary
, part of the South-East Region
, local government is in the care of South Tipperary County Council
. The population of the county is 158,652 according to the 2011 census.
The region is part of the central plain of Ireland, but the diversified terrain contains several mountain ranges: the Knockmealdown
, the Galtee
, the Arra Hills and the Silvermine
. The southern portion of the county is drained by the River Suir
; the northern by tributaries of the Shannon which widens into Lough Derg. No part of the county touches the coast. The centre is known as 'the Golden Vale
', a rich pastoral stretch of land in the Suir basin which extends into counties Limerick
and Cork
.
in North Tipperary: Eliogarty
, Ikerrin, Ormond Upper
, Ormond Lower
, Owney and Arra
and Kilnamanagh Upper
, with a further six lying in South Tipperary: Clanwilliam
, Kilnamanagh Lower
, Iffa and Offa East
, Iffa and Offa West
, Middle Third
, and Slievardagh
.
as an intermediate subdivision, with multiple townland
s per parish and multiple parishes per barony. The civil parish
es had some use in local taxation and were included on the nineteenth century maps of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland. For poor law
purposes, District Electoral Divisions replaced the civil parishes in the mid-nineteenth century. There are 199 civil parishes in the county. Townlands are the smallest officially defined geographical divisions in Ireland; there are 3159 townlands in the county.
. For local government purposes the county is divided into the counties of North Tipperary (county town
: Nenagh
) and South Tipperary (county town
: Clonmel
). This division dates back to the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
, with the county's two "ridings" having had separate assize courts
for much longer. The use of riding for the divisions was an historical misnomer, since the word derives from the dividing of an area into three parts. The expression "riding" has been discontinued for official purposes since 2002 (Local Government Act, 2001 section 10 and schedule 5).
and South Tipperary County Council
. They rank equally as first level Local administrative unit
s (LAU) of the NUTS 3 Mid-West Region
for Eurostat
purposes. There are 34 LAU 1 entities in the Republic of Ireland. Both local authorities
are responsible for certain local services
such as sanitation
, planning
and development
, libraries
, the collection of motor
tax
ation, local road
s and social housing. On 26 July 2011, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan
announced the proposed merger of North Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary County Council
. The county is part of the South constituency for the purposes of European elections. For elections to Dáil Éireann
, the county is divided into two constituencies: Tipperary North and Tipperary South
. Together they return 6 deputies (TDs
) to the Dáil.
of The Nation
newspaper
in the 1840s as a tribute to the nationalistic feeling in Tipperary and said that "where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows".
Tipperary was the subject of the famous song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary
" written by Jack Judge
, whose grandparents came from the county. It was popular with regiments of the British army
during World War I
.
The song "Slievenamon", which is traditionally associated with the county, was written by Charles Kickham
from Mullinahone
, and is commonly sung at sporting fixtures involving the county.
(pharmaceuticals). There is much fertile land, especially in the region known as the Golden Vale
, one of the richest agricultural areas in Ireland
. Dairy farming and cattle
raising are the principal occupations. Other industries are slate
quarrying and the manufacture of meal
and flour
.
Tipperary is famous for its horse breeding
industry and is the home of Coolmore Stud
, the largest thoroughbred
breeding operation in the world.
Tourism plays a significant role in County Tipperary - Lough Derg, Thurles
, Rock of Cashel
, Ormonde Castle
, Ahenny High Crosses, Cahir Castle
, Bru Boru Heritage Centre and Tipperary Crystal
are some of the primary tourist destinations in the county.
and Nenagh
and the M8 motorway
bisects the county from north of Two-Mile Borris
to the County Limerick
border. Both routes are amongst some of the busiest roads on the island. The Limerick to Waterford N24 crosses the southern half of Tipperary, travelling through Tipperary Town, Bansha
, north of Cahir
and around Clonmel
and Carrick-on-Suir
. Tipperary also has a number or railway stations situated on the Dublin to Cork, Dublin to Limerick and Limerick to Waterford rail lines
.
, Gaelic football
, Camogie
and Handball
. It nurtures the ancient game of hurling
and since the 19th century its teams have regularly been champions of Ireland. Horse racing
takes place at Tipperary Racecourse
and Clonmel Racecourse.
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is located in the province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
and is named after the town of Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
. The area of the county does not have a single local authority
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary
North Tipperary
North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
, part of the Mid-West Region
Mid-West Region, Ireland
The Mid-West Region is a NUTS Level III region of the Republic of Ireland and is governed by the Mid-West Regional Authority. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, along with Limerick City Council. The Mid-West region...
, local government is in the care of North Tipperary County Council
North Tipperary County Council
North Tipperary County Council is the local authority which is responsible for the county of North Tipperary in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The county seat is in Nenagh...
. In South Tipperary
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
, part of the South-East Region
South-East Region, Ireland
The South-East Region is a NUTS Level III region of Ireland and is governed by the South-East Regional Authority. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Wexford, and Waterford along with Waterford City Council. The...
, local government is in the care of South Tipperary County Council
South Tipperary County Council
South Tipperary County Council is the local authority which is responsible for the county of South Tipperary in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment...
. The population of the county is 158,652 according to the 2011 census.
Geography and political subdivisions
Tipperary is the sixth largest of the 32 counties by area and the 11th largest by population. It is the third largest of Munster’s 6 counties by size and the third largest by population.The region is part of the central plain of Ireland, but the diversified terrain contains several mountain ranges: the Knockmealdown
Knockmealdown Mountains
The Knockmealdown Mountains are a mountain range located on the border of counties South Tipperary and Waterford in Ireland, running east and west between the two counties. The highest peak of the range is Knockmealdown, situated in County Waterford...
, the Galtee
Galtee Mountains
The Galtee Mountains or Galty Mountains are a mountain range in Munster, located in Ireland's Golden Vale across parts of counties Limerick, South Tipperary and Cork. The name "Galtee" is thought to be a corruption of the Irish "Sléibhte na gCoillte" - "Mountains of the Forests" in English,...
, the Arra Hills and the Silvermine
Silvermine
-Ireland:*a mountain range in County Tipperary, a town in that mountain range, and a defunct mining site in the area-South Africa:*Silvermine Nature Reserve, part of the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town-United States:...
. The southern portion of the county is drained by the River Suir
River Suir
The River Suir is a river in Ireland that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Waterford after a distance of .Popular with anglers, it holds plentiful reserves of brown trout...
; the northern by tributaries of the Shannon which widens into Lough Derg. No part of the county touches the coast. The centre is known as 'the Golden Vale
Golden Vale
The Golden Vale is an area of rolling pastureland in the civil province of Munster, southwestern Ireland. Covering parts of three counties, Limerick, Tipperary and Cork, it is the best land in Ireland for dairy farming....
', a rich pastoral stretch of land in the Suir basin which extends into counties Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
and Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Baronies
There are six historic baroniesBarony (Ireland)
In Ireland, a barony is a historical subdivision of a county. They were created, like the counties, in the centuries after the Norman invasion, and were analogous to the hundreds into which the counties of England were divided. In early use they were also called cantreds...
in North Tipperary: Eliogarty
Eliogarty
Eliogarty is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Thurles. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Ikerrin to the north , Kilnamanagh Upper to the west and Middle Third to the south .The...
, Ikerrin, Ormond Upper
Ormond Upper
Ormond Upper is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Toomevara...
, Ormond Lower
Ormond Lower
Ormond Lower is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. It is one of 14 baronies in the traditional county of Tipperary between the baronies of Ormond Upper to the south-east and Owney and Arra to the south-west...
, Owney and Arra
Owney and Arra
Owney and Arra is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Newport...
and Kilnamanagh Upper
Kilnamanagh Upper
Kilnamanagh Upper is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Borrisoleigh...
, with a further six lying in South Tipperary: Clanwilliam
Clanwilliam (County Tipperary)
Clanwilliam is one of the baronies of Ireland, a historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Tipperary. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Kilnamanagh Lower to the north , Iffa and Offa West to the south and Middle Third to the east .It is...
, Kilnamanagh Lower
Kilnamanagh Lower
Kilnamanagh Lower is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Dundrum...
, Iffa and Offa East
Iffa and Offa East
Iffa and Offa East is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Clonmel...
, Iffa and Offa West
Iffa and Offa West
Iffa and Offa West is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Cahir...
, Middle Third
Middle Third (South Tipperary)
Middle Third is one of the baronies of Ireland, a historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Cashel. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Eliogarty to the north , Iffa and Offa East to the south , Clanwilliam to the west and...
, and Slievardagh
Slievardagh
Slievardagh is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Mullinahone...
.
Civil parishes and townlands
Parishes were delineated after the Down SurveyDown Survey
The Down Survey, also known as the Civil Survey, refers to the mapping of Ireland carried out by William Petty, English scientist in 1655 and 1656....
as an intermediate subdivision, with multiple townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
s per parish and multiple parishes per barony. The civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
es had some use in local taxation and were included on the nineteenth century maps of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland. For poor law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
purposes, District Electoral Divisions replaced the civil parishes in the mid-nineteenth century. There are 199 civil parishes in the county. Townlands are the smallest officially defined geographical divisions in Ireland; there are 3159 townlands in the county.
Towns and villages
- BallinaBallina, County TipperaryBallina is a village that lies on the River Shannon in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a scenic area on the eastern shore of Lough Derg.It is a 'twin-town' of Killaloe, in County Clare, on the west bank of the lake...
- - BanshaBanshaBansha is a village in the barony of Clanwilliam, South Tipperary in Ireland. The village is part of the parish of "Bansha and Kilmoyler" in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Bansha is co-extensive with the pre-Reformation parish of Templeneiry of which the townland name of...
- - BorrisokaneBorrisokaneBorrisokane is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of approximately 1,145. It is situated on the N52/N65 National secondary road between Nenagh and Portumna and the N52 between Nenagh and Birr. It is close to Lough Derg which is only 12 km to the west. It is a...
- - BorrisoleighBorrisoleighBorrisoleigh is a small town in North Tipperary in Ireland. According to the 2006 census, the town has a population of 1,178. The parish, which encompasses , has a population of just 2,000--down from a high count of 7,000 taken in 1842, before the Potato Famine. It is in the barony of Kilnamanagh...
- - CahirCahirCahir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. The town is best known for its castle and the Swiss Cottage. It is in the barony of Iffa and Offa West.-Location and access:...
- - Carrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir. The of the town gives the population as 5,906 and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002...
- - CashelCashel, County TipperaryCashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
- - CastleineyCastleineyCastleiney, officially Castleleiny and historically "Castlelyny" , is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is one half of the Roman Catholic parish of Loughmore-Castleiney. It is in the barony of Eliogarty....
- - ClonmelClonmelClonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
- - ClonmoreClonmore, County TipperaryClonmore is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It lies on the R433 road 6 km from Templemore and 7 km from Errill in County Laois. It is part of the parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea. The Gaelic Athletic Association club is JK Brackens GAA....
- - ClonoultyClonoultyClonoulty or Clonulty is a small village in the barony of Kilnamanagh Lower, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is also half of the Clonoulty-Rossmore parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.-Location and facilities:...
- - CloughjordanCloughjordanCloughjordan, officially Cloghjordan , is a town in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the barony of Ormond Lower, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
- - DromDrom, County TipperaryDrom is a village in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is located just off the main Borrisoleigh to Templemore road. Its population was 129 at the 2006 census....
- - DundrumDundrum, County TipperaryDundrum , is a village in the barony of Kilnamanagh Lower, South Tipperary, Ireland ....
- - EmlyEmlyEmly or Emlybeg is a village in South Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Clanwilliam. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly....
- - FethardFethard, County TipperaryFethard is a village in South Tipperary in Ireland. It is located east of Cashel on the Clashawley River where the R692, R689 and R706 regional roads intersect. It is in the barony of Middle Third, and is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
- - GoldenGolden, County TipperaryGolden is a village in South Tipperary in Ireland. The village is situated on the River Suir. It is located between the towns of Cashel and Tipperary on the N74 road. In older times the village was known as Goldenbridge...
- - Hollyford -
- HolycrossHolycrossHolycross is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is in the barony of Eliogarty. Unusually, the civil parish straddles two counties and the baronies of Eliogarty and of Middle Third . It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.The village developed around the...
- - Horse and JockeyHorse and JockeyHorse and Jockey is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It lies on the R639 road, where it meets the N62 road to Thurles. It lies just off junction 6 of the M8 motorway, which by-passed the village in December 2008...
- - KillenauleKillenauleKillenaule is a town and a civil parish in the barony of Slievardagh, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is also one half of the ecclesiastical parish of Killenaule and Moyglass in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. It is located east of Cashel on the R689 and R691 regional roads...
- - Kilmoyler
- LorrhaLorrhaLorrha is a small village at the northern tip of North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located on a local minor road between the R489 Birr to Portumna road and the N65 Nenagh to Portumna road about five kilometres east of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. It is a townland and a civil...
- - Knockgraffon
- LisronaghLisronaghLisronagh is a village in the barony of Iffa and Offa East, South Tipperary, in Ireland.-Location:It is one half of the Roman Catholic parish of Powerstown and Lisronagh in the diocese of Waterford and Lismore. It is located on the R689 regional road 7km north of Clonmel, and 6km south of Fethard...
- - LittletonLittleton, County TipperaryLittleton is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is within the townlands of Ballybeg and Ballydavid, about northeast of Cashel and to the southeast of Thurles. By-passed by the M8 in December 2008, Littleton lies at a crossroads on the R639 road. Its population was 463 at the 2006 census...
- - LoughmoreLoughmoreLoughmore, officially Loughmoe , is a village in North Tipperary in the province of Munster, Ireland. The village is best known for its castle, seat of the Barons of Loughmoe....
- - MilestoneMilestone, County TipperaryMilestone is a small village in the townland of Graniara in North Tipperary, Ireland. It lies on the R503 Thurles to Limerick Regional Road where it is joined by the R497 Nenagh - Tipperary Town road.It is located in the Slieve Felim Mountains.-See also:...
- - NenaghNenaghNenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
- - New Inn -
- NewportNewport, County TipperaryNewport is a town in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is part of the parish of Newport, Bridhill and Toor which is in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. It is in the barony of Owney and Arra.-Location:...
- - NinemilehouseNinemilehouseNinemilehouse , historically called Killcullen is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. It lies on the N76 national secondary road at its junction with the R690 regional road. It is on the border with County Kilkenny, on a pass through the eastern foothills of Slievenamon.-See also:*List of...
- - RearcrossRearcrossRearcross is a village in the townland of Reardnogy in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located on the R503 Thurles to Limerick Regional Road, in the Slieve Felim Mountains...
- RoscreaRoscreaRoscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
- - RosegreenRosegreenRosegreen is a village in the barony of Middle Third, South Tipperary, Ireland. It is about 6.4 miles south of Cashel on the Cashel to Clonmel road....
- - RossmoreRossmore, County TipperaryRossmore is a small village and townland in the civil parish of Clonoulty, barony of Kilnamanagh Lower, South Tipperary in Ireland.It is located in the District Electoral Division of Clonoulty West...
- - TemplemoreTemplemoreTemplemore is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea....
- - ThurlesThurlesThurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
- - Tipperary TownTipperaryTipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
- - ToomevaraToomevaraToomevara, officially Toomyvara , is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is at the junction on the R445 where it meets the R499 regional road. The village was bypassed in December 2010 by the M7 Dublin - Limerick motorway. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of...
- - Two-Mile BorrisTwo-Mile BorrisTwo-Mile Borris or Twomileborris is a small village in the townland of Borris in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is located on the L4202 road at the junction with the Ballyduff Road, close to the N75 and from Thurles town centre. It is also situated 1.5 km from junction 5 of the M8...
- - UpperchurchUpperchurchUpperchurch is a small village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It lies in the Slievefelin Hills, just off the R503 regional road between Thurles and Limerick. Its Irish name was historically anglicised as Templeoughteragh, Templeoughtragh and Templeoughtera...
- '
History
Tipperary was one of the first parts of Ireland to be shired during the 13th century following the Norman invasion of IrelandNorman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
. For local government purposes the county is divided into the counties of North Tipperary (county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
: Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
) and South Tipperary (county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
: Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
). This division dates back to the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898
The Local Government Act 1898 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that established a system of local government in Ireland similar to that already created for England, Wales and Scotland by legislation in 1888 and 1889...
, with the county's two "ridings" having had separate assize courts
Assizes (England and Wales)
The Courts of Assize, or Assizes, were periodic criminal courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the Quarter Sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court...
for much longer. The use of riding for the divisions was an historical misnomer, since the word derives from the dividing of an area into three parts. The expression "riding" has been discontinued for official purposes since 2002 (Local Government Act, 2001 section 10 and schedule 5).
Local government and politics
The area of the county is now covered by two local administrative authorities: North Tipperary County CouncilNorth Tipperary County Council
North Tipperary County Council is the local authority which is responsible for the county of North Tipperary in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The county seat is in Nenagh...
and South Tipperary County Council
South Tipperary County Council
South Tipperary County Council is the local authority which is responsible for the county of South Tipperary in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment...
. They rank equally as first level Local administrative unit
Local administrative unit
Generally, a local administrative unit is a low level administrative division of a country, ranked below a province, region, or state. Not all countries describe their locally governed areas this way, but it can be descriptively applied anywhere to refer to counties, municipalities, etc.In the...
s (LAU) of the NUTS 3 Mid-West Region
Mid-West Region, Ireland
The Mid-West Region is a NUTS Level III region of the Republic of Ireland and is governed by the Mid-West Regional Authority. It consists of the area under the jurisdiction of the county councils of counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, along with Limerick City Council. The Mid-West region...
for Eurostat
Eurostat
Eurostat is a Directorate-General of the European Commission located in Luxembourg. Its main responsibilities are to provide the European Union with statistical information at European level and to promote the integration of statistical methods across the Member States of the European Union,...
purposes. There are 34 LAU 1 entities in the Republic of Ireland. Both local authorities
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
Local government functions in the Republic of Ireland are mostly exercised by thirty-four local authorities, termed county or city councils, which cover the entire territory of the state. The area under the jurisdiction of each of these authorities corresponds to the area of each of the 34 LAU I...
are responsible for certain local services
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
such as sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
, planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
and development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
, libraries
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, the collection of motor
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
ation, local road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s and social housing. On 26 July 2011, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan
Phil Hogan
Phil Hogan is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since 1989, and is the current Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.-Early and private life:...
announced the proposed merger of North Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary County Council
South Tipperary County Council
South Tipperary County Council is the local authority which is responsible for the county of South Tipperary in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment...
. The county is part of the South constituency for the purposes of European elections. For elections to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
, the county is divided into two constituencies: Tipperary North and Tipperary South
Tipperary South (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Tipperary South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
. Together they return 6 deputies (TDs
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
) to the Dáil.
Culture
Tipperary is sometimes referred to as the "Premier County", a description attributed to Thomas Davis, EditorEditing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of The Nation
The Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in the 1840s as a tribute to the nationalistic feeling in Tipperary and said that "where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows".
Tipperary was the subject of the famous song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary
It's a Long Way to Tipperary
It's a Long Way to Tipperary is a British music hall and marching song written by Jack Judge and co-credited to, but not co-written by, Henry James "Harry" Williams. It was allegedly written for a 5 shilling bet in Stalybridge on 30 January 1912 and performed the next night at the local music hall...
" written by Jack Judge
Jack Judge
Jack Judge was a song-writer and music-hall entertainer best remembered for writing the song It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary.- Life :...
, whose grandparents came from the county. It was popular with regiments of the British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
The song "Slievenamon", which is traditionally associated with the county, was written by Charles Kickham
Charles Kickham
Charles Joseph Kickham was an Irish revolutionary, novelist, poet, journalist and one of the most prominent members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.-Early life:...
from Mullinahone
Mullinahone
Mullinahone is a village in the barony of Slievardagh, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.The Irish Census of 2006 recorded the village as having a population of 372.-Location and access:...
, and is commonly sung at sporting fixtures involving the county.
Economy
The area around Clonmel is the economic hub of the county: to the west of the town the manufacturers Bulmers (brewers) and Merck & Co.Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...
(pharmaceuticals). There is much fertile land, especially in the region known as the Golden Vale
Golden Vale
The Golden Vale is an area of rolling pastureland in the civil province of Munster, southwestern Ireland. Covering parts of three counties, Limerick, Tipperary and Cork, it is the best land in Ireland for dairy farming....
, one of the richest agricultural areas in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Dairy farming and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
raising are the principal occupations. Other industries are slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
quarrying and the manufacture of meal
Meal
A meal is an instance of eating, specifically one that takes place at a specific time and includes specific, prepared food.Meals occur primarily at homes, restaurants, and cafeterias, but may occur anywhere. Regular meals occur on a daily basis, typically several times a day...
and flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
.
Tipperary is famous for its horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
industry and is the home of Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
, the largest thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
breeding operation in the world.
Tourism plays a significant role in County Tipperary - Lough Derg, Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, Rock of Cashel
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel , also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, South Tipperary.-History:...
, Ormonde Castle
Ormonde Castle
Ormond Castle is a castle on the River Suir on the east side of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland. The oldest part of the existing castle is a mid-15th century walled bawn, cornered on the northeast and northwest by towers....
, Ahenny High Crosses, Cahir Castle
Cahir Castle
Cahir Castle , one of the largest castles in Ireland, is sited on an island in the river Suir. It was built in 1142 by Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond...
, Bru Boru Heritage Centre and Tipperary Crystal
Tipperary Crystal
Tipperary Crystal is an Irish design company. It was founded by master craftsmen Joe Foley and John Meagher in 1988. They established a team of craft workers and designers.The company was taken over by its current Managing Director, Declan Fearon in 2005....
are some of the primary tourist destinations in the county.
Transport
Road transport dominates in County Tipperary. The M7 motorway crosses the north of the county through RoscreaRoscrea
Roscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
and Nenagh
Nenagh
Nenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
and the M8 motorway
M8 motorway (Ireland)
The M8 motorway is an inter-urban motorway in Ireland, which forms part of the road from the capital - Dublin - to Cork city. The 149 km motorway commences in the townland of Aghaboe, County Laois and runs through the counties of Kilkenny, North Tipperary, South Tipperary and Limerick,...
bisects the county from north of Two-Mile Borris
Two-Mile Borris
Two-Mile Borris or Twomileborris is a small village in the townland of Borris in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is located on the L4202 road at the junction with the Ballyduff Road, close to the N75 and from Thurles town centre. It is also situated 1.5 km from junction 5 of the M8...
to the County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
border. Both routes are amongst some of the busiest roads on the island. The Limerick to Waterford N24 crosses the southern half of Tipperary, travelling through Tipperary Town, Bansha
Bansha
Bansha is a village in the barony of Clanwilliam, South Tipperary in Ireland. The village is part of the parish of "Bansha and Kilmoyler" in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. Bansha is co-extensive with the pre-Reformation parish of Templeneiry of which the townland name of...
, north of Cahir
Cahir
Cahir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. The town is best known for its castle and the Swiss Cottage. It is in the barony of Iffa and Offa West.-Location and access:...
and around Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
and Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir
Carrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir. The of the town gives the population as 5,906 and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002...
. Tipperary also has a number or railway stations situated on the Dublin to Cork, Dublin to Limerick and Limerick to Waterford rail lines
Rail transport in Ireland
Rail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...
.
Sports
County Tipperary has a strong sporting history and is home to the Gaelic Games of HurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, Camogie
Camogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
and Handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
. It nurtures the ancient game of hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and since the 19th century its teams have regularly been champions of Ireland. Horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
takes place at Tipperary Racecourse
Tipperary Racecourse
Tipperary Racecourse is a horse racing venue in County Tipperary, Ireland which stages both National Hunt and Flat racing. The course is located adjacent to Limerick Junction railway station and approximately two miles from Tipperary town....
and Clonmel Racecourse.
Places of interest
- Ahenny High Crosses
- Kilcash CastleKilcash CastleKilcash Castle is a ruined castle off the N24 road just west of Ballydine in South Tipperary, Ireland. The castle consists of a fortified sixteenth-century tower and an adjoining hall added at a later date.-History:...
(also Ireland's oldest church in Kilcash) - Ormonde CastleOrmonde CastleOrmond Castle is a castle on the River Suir on the east side of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland. The oldest part of the existing castle is a mid-15th century walled bawn, cornered on the northeast and northwest by towers....
, Carrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-Suir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. As the name – meaning "the rock of the Suir" – suggests, the town is situated on the River Suir. The of the town gives the population as 5,906 and shows that it has grown by 5.7% since 2002... - Athassel PrioryAthassel PrioryAthassel Priory is a ruined monastic site on the western bank of the River Suir 8 km southwest of Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland. The Athassel Priory of St. Edmund the King was a foundation of the Augustinian Canons Regular under the patronage of Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster who was...
- Cahir CastleCahir CastleCahir Castle , one of the largest castles in Ireland, is sited on an island in the river Suir. It was built in 1142 by Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond...
- Coolmore StudCoolmore StudCoolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
- DromineerDromineerDromineer is a small village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is situated on the shores of Lough Derg on the River Shannon. The village is located 10 kilometres north of Nenagh...
- FethardFethard, County TipperaryFethard is a village in South Tipperary in Ireland. It is located east of Cashel on the Clashawley River where the R692, R689 and R706 regional roads intersect. It is in the barony of Middle Third, and is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
- Galtymore - a munroMunroA Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
, and the highest mountain in County Tipperary (919m). - Glen of AherlowGlen of AherlowThe Glen of Aherlow is a picturesque valley nestling between Slievenamuck and the Galtee Mountains in the western part of South Tipperary in Ireland. The principal village is Lisvarrinane or more commonly spelt Lisvernane with a hamlet at Rossadrehid where Aherlow creamery was located before its...
- Glengarra WoodGlengarra WoodGlengarra Wood is a mixed woodland in Ireland located southwest of Cahir, Co. Tipperary off the M8 motorway and R639 road. Approximately in extent, it is situated on Old Red Sandstone on the southern slopes of the Galtee Mountains. It is mainly a coniferous forest with Sitka Spruce being the main...
- Holy Cross AbbeyHoly Cross AbbeyThe Holy Cross Abbey in Tipperary is a restored Cistercian monastery in Holycross near Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, situated on the River Suir. It takes its name from a relic of the True Cross or Holy rood....
- Lough Derg
- Mitchelstown CaveMitchelstown CaveMitchelstown Cave is a limestone cave near Burncourt South Tipperary, Ireland. Situated from Mitchelstown, County Cork, it became the first cave in Ireland to be developed for the public in 1972....
- NenaghNenaghNenagh is the county town of North Tipperary in Ireland. It is the administrative centre of North Tipperary and in 2011 it had a recorded population of 7,995. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower...
- Redwood CastleRedwood CastleRedwood Castle is a Norman castle in Lorrha, North Tipperary, Ireland.The castle was built by the Normans around 1200 AD, and was occupied by them until c.1350, when the Mac Aodhagáin were installed on the lands.As hereditary Brehons or lawyers, the Mac Aodhagáin clan established a school of...
(Castle Egan) - Rock of CashelRock of CashelThe Rock of Cashel , also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, South Tipperary.-History:...
- SlievenamonSlievenamonSlievenamon is a mountain in County Tipperary in the province of Munster in Ireland. It stands at 721 m . It is located in the south of the county, near the town of Clonmel...
- - mountain associated with many Irish legends (721m) - ThurlesThurlesThurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
.
See also
- List of civil parishes of North Tipperary
- List of civil parishes of South Tipperary
- Vehicle registration plates of Ireland
- List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Tipperary)
- Tipperary HillTipperary HillTipperary Hill, sometimes known as Tipp Hill, is a district in the city of Syracuse, New York, largely settled by immigrants from Ireland, especially from County Tipperary. It makes up half of Syracuse's Far Westside neighborhood.-History:...
, a neighbourhoodNeighbourhoodA neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
in Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New YorkSyracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, inhabited by many descendantsKinshipKinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
of County Tipperary. - Lord Lieutenant of TipperaryLord Lieutenant of TipperaryThis is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of County Tipperary between 1831 and 1922. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* John Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore 17 October 1831 – 29 June 1832...
- High Sheriff of TipperaryHigh Sheriff of TipperaryThe High Sheriff of Tipperary was the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Tipperary. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258. Besides his judicial importance, he had ceremonial and...
External links
- Tipperary Institute
- County Tipperary Historical Society
- A website dedicated to the genealogical records of the county. It offers fragments of the 1766 census, the complete Down Survey, as well as a ream of other useful information
- Score for 'Quality of Life' in County Tipperary