Top Things to do in Lismore
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7 Things to Do in Lismore That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Lismore, Ireland including Lismore Castle Gardens, The Towers, Saint Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore Heritage Centre, St Carthage's Catholic Church, Fortwilliam Fishery, The Classroom Bar.
Restaurants in Lismore
Overall Ratings
4 based on 222 reviews
Owner description: Lismore Castle Gardens and Gallery are situated on the edge of the heritage town of Lismore, the proud winner of numerous Tidiest Town awards. Visitors are invited to wander in the historic Gardens, arranged over seven acres within the 17th century outer defensive walls of Lismore Castle. The Gardens are said to be the oldest continually cultivated Gardens in Ireland and they offer spectacular views of both Lismore castle and the surrounding countryside of the Blackwater valley. Featuring a wide variety of beautifully maintained plants and trees, as well as a permanent sculpture collection, Lismore Castle Gardens is one of the highlights of The Waterford Garden Trail, which includes fifteen Gardens around Co. Waterford. Please note the castle itself is a private residence and is therefore not open to visitors. Entry to the garden includes access to the contemporary art gallery, Lismore Castle Arts, which hosts Exhibitions of Irish and international artists. There is also a small refreshment counter and a Reading room, plus art materials available for children. Visitors might also enjoy other attractions located within walking distance of the Gardens. These include Lismore Cathedral, the Heritage Centre and Lady Louisa's walk, as well as a number of bars, cafes, restaurants and shops. Please note due to the historic nature of the Gardens and the naturally steep terrain of the ground, there are some unavoidable limitations on access for visitors who use a wheelchair or are less mobile. The gallery, Lismore Castle Arts, is occasionally closed for installation of temporary Exhibitions, please contact us for full details.
Reviewed By Amanda C
We didn't pay to go inside the Gardens, instead we just wandered around on Lady Louisa's walk. Great views of the river, and took some excellent pictures of the castle from the bridge.
2. The Towers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By Dáithí Ó
Ballysaggart Towers are said to have come about as a man tried to keep his wife happy and her jealousy of her sister-in-law who lived in a bigger home than her. The towers are situated between Lismore and Ballyduff upper and consist of a huge gated entrances flanked by lodges and a second bridge crossing a tiny stream again flanked by gate lodges. Apart from unnecessary they are designed beautifully and part of a lovely short walk, simply known as the towers.
The walk takes about 20 minutes and has a picnic area for people wishing to stay longer. It does not take a lot of effort and as well as the towers the plant a trees growing here in summer when blooming are simply stunning.
The towers in recent times has a mobile cafe and it's possible a weekends to grab a drink after your walk, but in addition this mobile cafe also adds a safety element as it means someone is in the car park watching the vehicles. one tip is leave nothing valuable in sight in your car as you leave it to go off walking.
3. Saint Carthage's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By Leza H - London, United Kingdom
Lovely place with some stunning stained glass and a beautiful brass eagle book stand. Interesting place, very atmospheric and sits in a very beautiful graveyard full of bluebells when I visited.
4. Lismore Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Heritage Centre Lismore Heritage Centre was opened in its current form in 1992. The Centre includes The Boyle Room, The Museum, The Courthouse Cafe, The Lismore Retail Experience & The Lismore Experience - AV on the history of Lismore. We offer Town Tours, bike rentals, Family Fun Packs, Orienteering and combination ticket.
Reviewed By Jilldutoit - Port Elizabeth, South Africa
This little town has a lot of interest to the visitor and I am pleased to see that the Heritage and Info centre is playing an important role in promoting the attractions of Lismore. I arrived in the town, sans map and it was a bit of a Mission to locate this centre, as quite a few of the locals didn't know where the centre was! Very pleased I followed my instincts and found it on my own, and even better when I was given a map which is always helpful! I was also offered an opportunity to join a guided tour of the St Carthage's church, which I declined, as I had time constraints. I must say that I enjoyed browsing through the gift shop in the centre - good to see local crafts on display and not the normal tourist tat. The staff were most helpful and this was one of the better run centres I have visited on this trip to Ireland.
5. St Carthage's Catholic Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Jilldutoit - Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The exterior of this church makes a LARGE statment! Normally when I visit an historic building, I take it its site and its setting, what surrounds it, its approach etc, but this time round I noticed none of these aspects as my eye was drawn to the builing itself! Once I had overcome my initial surprise at the obvious Italian influence, ( Lombado-Romanesque, I believe) I was just so intrigued by its presence in a small Irish town, rather than on the plains of Tuscany.
The brickwork is remakable and highly ornate, with red sandstone and white limestone used to good effect. Its asymmetrically placed belltower, cheekily positioned alongside the main entrance, is another characteristic that sets this church apart from others in the local landscape. The main door is painted a bright red and has an eye-catching semi-circular mosaic above it, but once you enter the church,the traditional takes over and it is simply stunning. The space is infused with a delicate light - fed in naturally from the rows of clerestory windows on either side of the nave. What an amazing space!!
6. Fort William Fishery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Fortwilliam is located 2 miles from the heritage town of Lismore in the beautiful Blackwater Valley. The reknowned Fort William Fishery offers 3.5miles of double bank Salmon and Trout Fishing on the Munster River Blackwater and includes the infamous Lismore Castle Beat and Fort William Beats known as The Ellis, Golf Course, The Glenmore and Bishops Beats. The Fishery enjoys the private and tranquil surroundings of Fort William Estate this provides a beautiful environment for the enjoyment of those wishing to fish. Fort William also offers 3 charming holiday cottages where guests have access to the walled garden and woodland areas along with the riverbank to enjoy during their stay.
Reviewed By Daisymiller677
My husband & I have just spent 3 glorious days at Fort William with Alfie the cocker spaniel. The cottages are about 2 miles from Lismore and are surrounded by fields and woodland which are stunning and unspoilt. The river walk & Gardens are a must see. We will definitely be back next time to try our hand at fishing. The free Wi-Fi was a bonus.
7. The Classroom Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
