Nenagh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nenagh
An tAonach / Aonach Urmhumhan
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Town
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Nenagh town centre
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 Nenagh
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | Tipperary |
| Municipal District | Nenagh |
| Elevation | 72 m (236 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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| • Total | 9,895 |
| Eircode |
E45
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| Telephone area code | 067 |
| Irish Grid Reference | R865787 |
Nenagh is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish words "Aonach Urmhumhan," meaning "the Fair of Ormond." It was once a busy market town.
Nenagh is the main town of County Tipperary. In 2022, nearly 10,000 people lived there.
Contents
Exploring Nenagh's Geography
Nenagh is the biggest town in northern County Tipperary. It sits west of the Nenagh River. This river flows into Lough Derg, a large lake. Lough Derg is a popular spot for sailing and other water sports.
South of Nenagh are the Silvermine Mountains. The tallest peak is Keeper Hill, which is 694 meters high. People have mined silver and other metals in these mountains for over 700 years. You can still see signs of old mines from the 1800s.
The weather in Nenagh is usually mild. In July, the average high temperature is about 19°C. In January, the average low is around 3°C.
Nenagh's Rich History
Nenagh is located in an area called Ormond Lower. This land belonged to the O'Kennedy family long ago. Later, King John of England gave this land to Theobald Walter. His family became known as the Butler family.
Building Nenagh Castle
Nenagh Castle was built around 1216 by Theobald Walter. His son finished it about four years later. This castle was the main home for the Butler family for a while. They later moved to Kilkenny Castle.
The town of Nenagh grew up around the castle. It was an important local market. A large Franciscan friary was also built in Nenagh in 1252. This friary was one of the richest religious houses in Ireland. It was used for 600 years.
Important Events in Nenagh
Nenagh and its castle saw many battles over the centuries. It was captured and recaptured during different wars. In 1688, the town was burned during the Williamite Wars.
Most of Nenagh's buildings today were built after the mid-1700s. The town grew a lot when it became the main administrative center for North Tipperary in 1838. In the 1800s, Nenagh was a market town. It helped farmers in the area. Industries like brewing and corn processing were important. Many people also worked in small home-based businesses.
The Great Famine in the mid-1800s greatly affected Nenagh. Later, in 1914, the Nenagh Co-operative Creamery opened. This brought jobs in milk processing and butter-making.
Discovering Nenagh's Built Heritage
Nenagh has many interesting old buildings. These include Nenagh Castle, the Heritage Centre, and the old Franciscan abbey.
Nenagh Castle: A Norman Keep
The main part of Nenagh Castle is a tall, round tower called a Norman keep. It was built around 1200. This keep is over thirty meters high. It is considered one of the best keeps in Ireland.
In 1861, a crown of crenellations (the notched top of a castle wall) and windows were added. The castle was updated between 2009 and 2013. Now, it is open for visitors to explore. The castle's image is even used on logos for local clubs and businesses.
Other Historic Buildings to See
The old jail in Nenagh is now a historic site. Part of it, the Governor's Residence, is home to the Nenagh & District Heritage Centre.
Nenagh Courthouse was built in 1843. Its design is similar to other courthouses from that time. Outside the courthouse, there are bronze statues. These statues honor three Olympic gold medalists with ties to Nenagh: Matt McGrath, Bob Tisdall, and Johnny Hayes.
The Nenagh Arts Centre is a unique building from 1895. It used to be the Town Hall. Today, it has a theater and space for art shows.
St Mary's of the Rosary Catholic Church is a beautiful church built in 1895. It has a neo-gothic style. The nearby St Mary's Church of Ireland Church was built in 1862. It has a special stained glass window by Harry Clarke.
The town also has the ruins of a Franciscan Friary. The important "Annals of Nenagh" were written here long ago. There are also ruins of the medieval Priory of St John at Tyone.
Modern Buildings in Nenagh
The new Civic Offices are on the Limerick Road. These modern buildings house the Tipperary County Council offices. They have won awards for their design.
Nenagh Hospital, also called St. Joseph's Hospital, was built around 1940. It is the only general hospital in north Tipperary.
Getting Around Nenagh: Transport
Nenagh is connected to other towns by roads and public transport. The M7 motorway bypasses the town. This road makes it easy to travel to Limerick and Dublin. The N52 road also bypasses Nenagh.
Bus Services
Buses connect Nenagh to many towns and cities. Companies like JJ Kavanagh and Sons and Bus Éireann offer services. Some buses run 24 hours a day to Dublin and Limerick. There are also direct buses to Dublin and Shannon airports. The main bus stops are in Banba Square.
A local bus service, Local Link Tipperary, runs between Nenagh and Roscrea. It stops in several villages along the way. This service runs every day.
Train Travel
Nenagh railway station is on the Limerick to Ballybrophy line. From Ballybrophy, passengers can catch trains to Dublin, Cork, or Tralee. The train station opened in 1863.
Nenagh is only 37 kilometers from Thurles. Thurles is on the main Dublin/Cork train line. Many trains run from Thurles each day.
Sports and Activities in Nenagh
Nenagh is a great place for sports. Many local clubs offer different activities.
Gaelic Games
Nenagh Éire Óg is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club. They play both Gaelic football and hurling. The club won the County Senior Hurling Championship in 1995. Many players from Nenagh Éire Óg have also played for the Tipperary county team. Some have even won All-Ireland championships!
Rugby Union
Rugby Union is also popular in Nenagh. The Nenagh Ormond RFC club was the first in County Tipperary to reach senior status in the All-Ireland League. Three players from this club have played for the Irish national team: Tony Courtney, Trevor Hogan, and Donnacha Ryan.
Association Football
Nenagh has two main football clubs: Nenagh A.F.C. and Nenagh Celtic F.C. Both clubs have their own home grounds. Nenagh Celtic F.C. has won several titles.
Athletics
The local athletics club is called Nenagh Olympic. It is named after the three Olympic gold medalists with Nenagh connections. A statue of these three athletes stands in Banba Square. The club has produced athletes like Gary Ryan, who competed in the Olympics. Nenagh also has Ireland's first indoor athletics track. Many championships are held there.
Golf
Nenagh Golf Club is located at Beechwood. It opened in 1929. The original 9-hole course was designed by Alister McKenzie. He also helped design the famous Augusta National course in the USA. The Nenagh course was expanded to 18 holes in 1973.
Other Sports to Enjoy
Nenagh is a hub for cycling. Several signposted cycling routes start and end in the town. The Nenagh Triathlon Club organizes an annual triathlon event.
The World Taekwondo Association Ireland has its headquarters in Nenagh. Other sports groups include the Nenagh And District Darts League and Nenagh Cricket Club.
Nenagh's Twin Town
Nenagh has a special connection with another town. It is twinned with:
Tonnerre in France.
Famous People from Nenagh
Many notable people have come from Nenagh. Here are a few:
- J.D. Bernal (1901–1971) – a famous scientist.
- Michael Cleary – a well-known hurling player.
- Patrick Collison – co-founder of the company Stripe, Inc..
- Johnny Hayes (1886–1965) – an Olympic marathon gold medalist.
- Matt McGrath (1875–1941) – an Olympic hammer-throwing gold medalist.
- Shane Macgowan (1957-2023) — a famous singer and songwriter, lead singer of The Pogues.
- Donnacha Ryan – an Irish rugby international player.
- Bob Tisdall (1907–2004) – an Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist.
