Did You Know?
To prove how much we know our food in these parts, Tipperary was the only county to scoop three awards at the prestigious Good Food Ireland Awards 2010.
Our tip is simple - sample the winners fare at The Old Convent, Clogheen; Larkin’s Bar and Restaurant, Garrykennedy; James Whelan Butchers, Clonmel and Cashel Blue, Fethard.
Roscrea Church, High Cross and Round Tower
Address: Tourist Information Office, Limerick, Co. Limerick
Today, the main road cuts the early monastery of St Cronan in two, isolating the Round Tower from the cathedral church and the site of the High Cross. These stone buildings are relics of the 12th century efforts by Roscrea to retain its independent bishopric, the Diocese of Ros Cré.
The Romanesque gable is all that remains of the twelfth century Cathedral church. The once beautiful sandstone gable is now very badly weathered from pollution and age. Its main composition of tangent gable, blind arcades, ecclesiastical figure over the three-ordered doorway, and the rosettes all echo the Romanesque work at Cormac's Chapel in Cashel. The remainder of the Roscrea church was demolished in 1812 to make way and allow the stone to be re-utilised in the building of the 'new' St Cronan's Church of Ireland parish church in 1812. Because of its great beauty the gable was allow to remain standing.
The twelfth century High Cross with its 'clothed' Christ and shaft figures is distinctive and memorable.
The earliest mention of the round tower was when it was struck by lightning in 1131. Most likely the Round Tower also dates to this early twelfth century period.