CAHIR GEESE WELL LOOKED AFTER

Andy Moloney of Cahir Tidy Towns feeding the Cahir Castle flock of geese. The flock was introduced by the local community and has grown from 31 to over 50 over the past few years. They graze nearby fields and sleep as a large flock beneath the castle walls on the River Suir, in County Tipperary. “People are so protective of the geese. Even the security staff on the doors of local pubs look out for them,” Andy commented. The castle featured on film in ‘Excalibur’, ‘Barry Lyndon’ and ‘The Tudors’ and was the scene of many medieval battles. Cahir Castle is one of the largest castles in Ireland, and probably the best preserved. It is sited on an island in the river Suir, built in 1142 by Conor O’Brien, Prince of Thomond. The powerful Anglo-Norman family, the Butlers, came into the possession of the castle in 1375. The castle was captured three times in its history: it fell to Devereux, Earl of Essex, in 1599 after it had been battered for three days with artillery; it surrendered without a fight to Inchiquin in 1647; and again to Cromwell in 1650. Over the centuries the Butlers considerably rebuilt and extended their stronghold. However, by 1599, the castle had reached its present appearance, with the only subsequent alterations taking place in the 1840s. In 1961, the last Lord Cahir died and the castle reverted to the State. (Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision)