Caher

Town in County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, 18 km/11 mi west of Clonmel; population (2002) 2,040. It is situated on the River Suir, at the foot of the Galtee Mountains. Caher's main industries are tourism and engineering.

Caher Castle was first built in 1142 but the existing structure is mainly 15th-century, restored in 1840. It is the largest of its period in Ireland, and stands on a rocky island in the river. The town derived much of its initial wealth from flour mills.

Swiss Cottage (1812), designed as a fishing and hunting lodge by the English Regency architect John Nash is southeast of Caher. It has been restored and is, like Caher Castle, open to the public. The fortified mound, Knockgraffon Motte, 6 km/4 mi north of Caher, is reputed to have been the coronation site for Munster kings before this was transferred to Cashel. Adjacent to the motte are the ruins of Butler Castle, built in the 16th century. The Glen of Aherlow in the Galtee Mountains near Caher was the site of many ancient battles. There is now a fish farm, open to the public, here. At the head of the glen are the ruins of Moor Abbey, near the village of Galbally; this Franciscan monastery was used as a fortress in the 16th century during the Elizabethan wars.