Discover Lismore

Lismore brings together historical discoveries, gardens, contemporary art and routes through woodland and river landscapes. You can get to know the town from different perspectives: on a walk through the town centre, through the history of St Carthage’s Cathedral or outdoors on one of the described walking routes. Which of these aspects shapes your stay may also influence your choice of holiday rental.

Discovering Lismore’s history on foot

The Lismore Heritage Centre is housed in the old courthouse in the heart of the town. It opened in 1992 to provide insights into Lismore’s history and heritage. You can take the Lismore Historic Town Walk as a guided tour starting at the Heritage Centre or explore it independently: signs and information panels mark the route through the town centre. This lets you choose between a guided tour and a walk at your own pace.

Another glimpse into the past comes on the Motte-and-Bailey Walk, which leads to an old ford site. The Normans built a motte-and-bailey fortification there, and its outline is still visible today. The ford and the recognisable shape of the fortification provide a tangible link to the town’s history. If you want to explore different historical themes on foot, the Historic Town Walk and this walk offer different ways to do so.

St Carthage’s Cathedral and its history

St Carthage’s Cathedral stands on a sacred site whose history dates back to the 7th century. At that time, St Carthage founded a monastery there. The cathedral houses the McGrath tomb, dated 1557, medieval memorial plaques and stained-glass windows, including works by Edward Burne-Jones. The Cotton Library is also among the notable features inside. Together, these provide different insights: the tomb bears a specific date, while the plaques and windows reveal further layers of history and design.

Gardens, art and a kitchen garden

The gardens at Lismore Castle are divided into Reilig Garden, the Upper Garden and the Lower Garden. Together, they cover 10 acres and are considered the oldest cultivated gardens in the country. The Upper Garden combines gardens with art: it is home to Lismore Castle Arts, a contemporary art gallery. The gallery presents exhibitions of international significance, projects and events, and offers a comprehensive learning programme. For a stay that combines an interest in landscaped gardens and art, these two distinct aspects can be found at the same named location.

The Upper Garden also includes a working kitchen garden. It supplies the castle kitchens with vegetables, fruit and herbs. This adds a practical dimension to the gardens: alongside the three garden areas and the gallery, growing food is another of the described features of the castle gardens.

Walking routes with different characters

The Round Hill Loop Walk is a 5 km circular route. Lady Louisa’s Walk, by contrast, is defined primarily by its landscape: most of the route passes through woodland and along the riverbank. If you enjoy shaping your days around walks, you can take these different features into account when planning.

When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to consider what you are most looking forward to in Lismore: historic walks and the cathedral, the combination of gardens and art, or walking routes through woodland and river landscapes. The experiences described give you various reasons to consider Lismore as a destination. Shape your search around which of these aspects matters most for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Waterford, Aird Mhór, Tramore, Bunmahon, Ballymacarbry, Ringville, Woodstown, Dungarvan.

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