Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 7 hikers
The Swiss Cottage, just outside the heritage town of Cahir, is a cottage orné – a fanciful realisation of an idealised countryside cottage used for picnics, small soirees and fishing and hunting parties and was also a peaceful retreat for those who lived in the nearby big house.Built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Glengall, who, we believe, managed to persuade world-famous Regency architect John Nash to design it. Originally, simply known as “The Cottage” it appears to have acquired its present name because it was thought to resemble an Alpine cottage.Inside, there is a graceful spiral staircase and some exquisitely decorated rooms. The wallpaper is partly original and partly the fruit of a 1980s restoration project, in which the renowned fashion designer Sybil Connolly was responsible for the interiors.
heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/swiss-cottage
July 25, 2023
No matter what you want, there's always a €5 entrance fee (€4 for those over 60). A guided tour shows the rooms, some of which have original furniture and wallpaper. The house cannot be visited without a guided tour. From the outside, the country house is so secluded that you won't be able to take photos without paying the entrance fee.But I thought the small fee was worth it; it's charming and quite unusual. To me, it looked much more English than Swiss 😂
Tour buses pass by occasionally, but otherwise it's a very peaceful, quiet place.
May 8, 2025
This beautiful 19th-century cottage resembling something you would find in Switzerland is nestled next to the River Suir and open for the public to explore.
March 3, 2023
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!