Editing Cahir

{{short description |Town in County Tipperary, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| settlement_type                 = Town
| name                            = Cahir
| native_name                     = {{pad top italic|An Chathair/Cathair Dún Iascaigh}}
| native_name_lang                = ga
| image_skyline                   = Castle Street, Cahir 069.jpg
| image_caption                   = Castle Street
| pushpin_map                     = Ireland
| pushpin_label_position          = right
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Ireland
| coordinates                     = {{coord|52.375|-7.925|dim:1000_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| blank_name_sec1                 = Irish Grid Reference
| blank_info_sec1                 = {{iem4ibx|S051252}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Munster]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[County Tipperary|Tipperary]]
| subdivision_type3               = Dáil Éireann
| subdivision_name3               = [[Tipperary (Dáil constituency)|Tipperary]]
| unit_pref                       = Metric
| area_code_type                  = Dialing code
| area_code                       = 052 744, +000 353 (0)52 744
| elevation_m                     = 50
| population_as_of                = [[2016 census of Ireland|2016]]
| population_footnotes            = <ref name=cso2016>{{cite web | url = http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=25485A7B-4DAF-4C04-8E5F-2DEEFFB42718 | title = Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Cahir | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]] | access-date = 22 April 2019 | archive-date = 24 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210924172021/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=25485A7B-4DAF-4C04-8E5F-2DEEFFB42718 | url-status = live }}</ref>
| population_total                = 3593
}}
{{Historical populations
|state = collapsed
|1821|3288
|1831|3408
|1841|3668
|1851|3694
|1861|2926
|1871|2694
|1881|2469
|1891|2046
|1901|2058
|1911|1930
|1926|1709
|1936|1638
|1946|1652
|1951|1589
|1956|1731
|1961|1662
|1966|1740
|1971|1747
|1981|2120
|1986|2118
|1991|2055
|1996|2236
|2002|2794
|2006|3381
|2011|3578
|2016|3593
|footnote=<ref name=cso2016/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cso.ie/census |title=Census for post 1821 figures. |access-date=1 August 2009 |archive-date=20 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920090814/http://cso.ie/census |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org  |title=Histpop - The Online Historical Population Reports Website |date= |website=www.histpop.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |title=Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency - Census Home Page |access-date=2014-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |archive-date=17 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|last=Lee|first=J. J.| author-link =J. J. Lee (historian)|editor-last=Goldstrom|editor-first=J. M.|editor2-last=Clarkson
|editor2-first=L. A.|title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell
|year=1981|publisher=Clarendon Press|location=Oxford, England
|chapter=On the accuracy of the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Pre-famine]] Irish censuses}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal  | last1 = Mokyr  | first1 = Joel
  | author-link = Joel Mokyr  | last2 = Ó Gráda  | first2 = Cormac
  | author2-link = Cormac Ó Gráda  | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700–1850  | journal = The Economic History Review  | volume =  37  | issue =  4
  | pages = 473–488  |date=November 1984
  | url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract  | url-status = dead  | archive-date = 2012-12-04  | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x
| hdl = 10197/1406  | hdl-access = free  }}</ref>
}}

'''Cahir''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɛər}}; {{Irish place name|an Chathair / Cathair Dún Iascaigh}})<ref name="Cahir">{{cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/2252|title=An Chathair/Caher|publisher=[[Placenames Database of Ireland]]|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063800/https://www.logainm.ie/en/2252|url-status=live}}</ref> is a town in [[County Tipperary]] in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is also a civil parish in the [[Barony (Ireland)|barony]] of [[Iffa and Offa West]].

==Location and access==
For much of the twentieth century, Cahir stood at an intersection of two busy national roadways: the [[Dublin]] to [[Cork (city)|Cork]] [[N8 road (Ireland)|N8]], and the [[Limerick]] to [[Waterford]] [[N24 road (Ireland)|N24]]. The N8 was realigned in 1991 to run west of the town, while the old road through it was renumbered the [[R670 road|R670]]. Traffic from the N24 still left the town badly congested, however, until October 2007 when this road was also realigned to bypass Cahir to the north and east. The same road improvement scheme saw major changes to the N8 corridor: a new motorway, the [[M8 motorway (Ireland)|M8]], was constructed west of the town between 2006 and 2008. Access to Cahir from this motorway is gained at Junctions 10 and 11.

Cahir is on the [[Limerick–Waterford railway line]]. The town's [[Cahir railway station|railway station]] opened on 1 May 1852.<ref>{{cite web | title=Cahir station | work=Railscot&nbsp;— Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-09-07 | archive-date=2 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> There are two trains a day to [[Tipperary (town)|Tipperary]] and [[Limerick Junction]] and two to [[Clonmel]], [[Carrick on Suir]] and [[Waterford]]. There is no Sunday service.

[[Bus Éireann]] runs regular services to Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford through the town.

==History==
{{Further|Siege of Cahir Castle}} 
The name ''Cathair'' or ''an Chathair'' translates as "stone [[ringfort]]", while the name ''Cathair Dún Iascaigh'' means "town of the [[dún|fort]] of the [[fishery]]".<ref name="Cahir"/> In older accounts, it was often spelled "[[Caher (disambiguation)|Caher]]". [[Cahir Abbey]] was established in the late 12th century.

For much of its history, the town has been influenced by the [[Butler dynasty|Butler family]]. It was from this family that the first [[Baron Cahir|Barons of Cahir]] were created. It was known for much of its history as being a defence town.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/cahir-tipperary-medieval-castle-2208974-Jul2015/|title=One of Ireland's best medieval castles was the scene of a bitter showdown between two brothers|work=[[TheJournal.ie]]|first=Neil|last=Jackman|date=10 July 2015|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=5 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233649/http://www.thejournal.ie/cahir-tipperary-medieval-castle-2208974-Jul2015/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cahir, together with Clonmel, were the centres in South Tipperary of the Quaker population, who constructed a meeting house in Abbey Street in 1833. The principal Quaker family names, largely engaged in milling, were Grubb, Going and Walpole.<ref>South Tipperary 1570–1842 Religion, Land and Rivalry, Four Courts Press, David J. Butler</ref> It was one of the first towns to be linked by [[stagecoach]] in the nineteenth century, when [[Charles Bianconi]] commenced services between [[Clonmel]], Cahir and [[Cashel, County Tipperary|Cashel]]. The building at The Square, where The Galtee Inn is now sited, was the stopping point in the town for Bianconi's coaches.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}

==Amenities and features==
[[Cahir Castle]], which is situated on a small island in the [[River Suir]], is one of the town's main tourist attractions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/culturenet/landscape-heritage/tipperary/cahir-castle/|title=Cahir Castle|publisher=Ask About Ireland|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=5 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233747/http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/culturenet/landscape-heritage/tipperary/cahir-castle/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cahir has a fine [[Church of Ireland]] parish church, still in use, designed by [[John Nash (architect)|John Nash]], one of only three ecclesiastical buildings he designed in Ireland. Another major attraction is the [[Swiss cottage, Cahir|Swiss Cottage]]; there are also numerous specialty heritage walks. The nearby [[Galtee Mountains]] form the largest inland range in Ireland and are home to [[Glengarra Wood]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/glengarra-wood/8519|title=Glengarra Wood|publisher=Discover Ireland|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063938/https://www.discoverireland.ie/Activities-Adventure/glengarra-wood/8519|url-status=live}}</ref> which is a popular walking area. The [[Knockmealdown Mountains]] stand south of the town, while to the southwest lie the Mitchelstown Caves. The salmon weir, on the opposite side of the bridge from the castle, is a popular fishing location.

Cahir is a small [[Cultural heritage|heritage]] town. A shopping precinct is centred on the town square adjacent to Castle Street. The town has a leisure centre (Duneske), an all-weather soccer pitch, all-weather tennis courts, a Downhill and Enduro mountain-biking track and a [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] pitch. An 18-hole golf course lies outside the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cahirgolfclub.com/|title=Cahir Park Golf Club|access-date=21 September 2020|archive-date=3 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903004314/https://cahirgolfclub.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Education==
Schools in the town include Bunscoil na Cathrach (Primary School) and Coláiste Dún Iascaigh (Secondary School).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colaisteduniascaigh.ie|title=Coláiste Dún Iascaigh|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127193745/https://www.colaisteduniascaigh.ie/|url-status=live}}</ref> Our Lady of Mercy Primary School and Cahir Boys National School merged in 2022 to form Bunscoil na Cathrach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/home/835453/historic-day-in-cahir-as-primary-schools-amalgamate.html|title=Historic day in Cahir as primary schools amalgamate|access-date=23 March 2023|archive-date=13 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613151455/https://www.tipperarylive.ie/news/home/835453/historic-day-in-cahir-as-primary-schools-amalgamate.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Sports==
Cahir has a number of teams in various sports. [[Cahir GAA]] are the local [[Gaelic football|Gaelic]] team and play on the GAA pitch located on the [[Ardfinnan]] road. They were [[Tipperary Senior Football Championship|Tipperary Senior Football Champions]] in 2003. Cahir Park AFC are the local junior soccer team. Formed in 1910, they are one of the oldest junior soccer teams in the country. Their ground is also located in Cahir Park on the Ardfinnan road.

==International relations==
Cahir has been [[town twinning|twinned]] with the town of [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]] in England since 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitcahir.ie/AboutCahir/TwinTown.html|title=Cahir, county Tipperary, for your holiday in Ireland|publisher=Visit Cahir|access-date=5 January 2018|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114162335/http://visitcahir.ie/AboutCahir/TwinTown.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{irrelevant citation|date=September 2020}}

==Notable people==
* [[Richard Butler, 2nd Earl of Glengall|Richard Butler]], 2nd Earl of Glengall
* [[John N. Dempsey|John Noel Dempsey]] (1915–89), Connecticut politician
* [[William Joshua Ffennell]] (1799–1867), Irish fishery reformer
* [[Edmund Keating Hyland]] (1780–1845), [[uilleann piper]]; his statue in Cahir main square
* [[Michael Murphy (VC)|Michael Murphy]] (1831–93), awarded [[Victoria Cross]], later forfeited 
* [[Tommy O'Donnell]], Munster and Ireland rugby player
* [[Richard Pennefather (judge)|Richard Pennefather]], Irish judge, buried Cahir
* [[Marian Tobin]] (1870–1955) ran a safe house during the Irish War of Independence

== Image gallery ==
<gallery>

File:Cahir.jpg|[[Cahir Castle]]

File:Protestant church-2.JPG|The [[Church of Ireland]] parish church in Cahir.

File:Cahir AD1599.JPG|A drawing of Cahir in 1599

File:Cahir Castle, Tipperary.JPG|[[Cahir Castle]], Tipperary, lit up at night. 
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns in Ireland]]
* [[List of market houses in the Republic of Ireland|Market Houses in Ireland]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Cahir}}
{{Wikivoyage|Cahir}}
{{EB1911 poster|Caher}}
* [http://www.cahir.ie/ Official Site]
* [http://www.visitcahir.ie/ Visit Cahir Website]
* [http://www.libraryireland.com/genealogy/bassett/tipperary/cahir.php Cahir] in the Book of County Tipperary (1889)

{{County Tipperary}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cahir| ]]
[[Category:Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore]]
[[Category:Towns and villages in County Tipperary]]
[[Category:Civil parishes of Iffa and Offa West]]