What To See Along M8 In Ireland

M8 is a part of the major motorway running from Cork to Dublin. It runs mainly through Cork Co and Tipperary Co but touches a part of Limerick Co and joins M7 in Laois Co. The drive on M8 was effortless. A lovely landscape of yellow-flowered Furze bushes on either side of the motorway with a green backdrop made the drive pleasant. We were able to cover these places in a day along M8.

• Rock of Cashel, Tipperary Co.
• Cahir Castle, Tipperary Co.
• Swiss Cottage, Tipperary Co.
• Mitchelstown Caves, Tipperary Co.
• Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork Co.

Rock of Cashel: In the 5th century, Rock of Cashel was a seat for High Kings of Munster. Later, it was donated to Church. All the current building ruins are from the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. Adjacent to the church ruins in a graveyard. Rock of Cashel has a prominent place in history and it is quite interesting how this place held up over centuries of invasions, abuse, harsh weather, and black death. Take a guided tour of the remains.

Cahir Castle: On the banks of river Suir, stands one of the best-preserved castles of Ireland, Castle Cahir. Even though it was built in the 12th century, the castle was well maintained, restored, and still holds its original defensive structure. Guided tours of the castle are available daily. Take time to climb all the stairs and visit a vast variety of rooms in the castle.

Swiss Cottage: Around 2 km walk from Cahir Castle, is a charming 19th-century ornamental cottage surrounded by lush fields and flowing river. Away from the hustle-bustle of the town, this cottage is a place for nature lovers. The cottage is a small house with a tea room and a family room on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor. The architecture is impressive but most of the cottage had been restored. The original cottage took a lot of beating over time and was vandalized.  Guided tours are the only way to see the cottage and no photography is allowed as most of the furniture is on loan from the national museum.

Mitchelstown cave: Like many others, these caves were discovered by accident. If this is your first time visiting a cave, you will definitely enjoy watching the formations. Having visited many of the best caves and caverns previously, it was a pretty quick stop for us. Good spot to get off the road and stretch your legs for a bit.

Blackrock Castle

Blackrock Castle Observatory: Visiting Blackrock Observatory is a great way to end your day. This is an old castle turned into an observatory with a functioning telescope. There is a separate castle tour and an observatory tour. The castle tour is very short and takes visitors to the top of the castle. You can get a look at the functioning telescope at the top and fantastic views of the River Lee. However, this telescope can be used only by Cork University students. The observatory is mostly self-guided and has a short guided tour in an inflated planetarium. 

Beautiful View of River Lee