Fethard Town Walls

Fethard was walled in the fourteenth century and, unusually, was never prosperous enough afterwards to demolish its walls for building stone or road widening - which is why roughly ninety percent of the circuit survives, more than at Athenry, Youghal or anywhere else in Ireland. The walls run about a kilometre with mural towers, a sallyport, and sections of wall walk that have been conserved and opened. Within them are the Augustinian friary of around 1306, still in use as a church, Holy Trinity parish church incorporating a fortified tower, four tower houses along the main street, and the Tholsel. A medieval trail with panels links them and can be walked in a couple of hours. The village also has a horse country museum in the old market house. It is small, quiet and almost entirely free to walk, with no ticketed attraction at its centre.

What you actually see

• The wall circuit - around ninety percent surviving, the most complete in Ireland.
• The Augustinian friary - founded around 1306 and still a working church.
• The tower houses - four of them along the main street.
• The wall walk - conserved sections open to walk along.

When to go

April to October for the walk. The trail is self-guided and free at any hour, though the friary and churches keep their own hours. Two hours covers the circuit.

Honest expectations

A small village with limited facilities - a few pubs and a museum. Buildings inside the walls have irregular opening. Parts of the wall walk close for conservation. Nothing here is a major staffed attraction.

Nearby

The Rock of Cashel is north-west; Clonmel and the Comeraghs are south.