There has been a slight increase in visitors to the rock of Cashel in 2024 compared to 2023. Last year 365,505 paying customers visited the Rock of Cashel which represents an increase of 8,323 visitors. Plans to provide a Visitor Centre in Cashel town remains undelivered due to the failure to secure an appropriate site or building. This project is intended to help the town to benefit economically from the Rock of Cashel Visitors. The Visitor Centre project is being led by Tipperary County Council, Failte Ireland and the Office of Public Works..
The data is included in the release of visitor data to heritage sites in Ireland. A total of 13.8m visitors visited OPW managed sites in 2024.The OPW is responsible for caring, maintaining and operating 780 heritage sites with many offering free admission.
The data shows that Cahir Castle had 87,343 visitors last year, Hore Abbey 61,507, the Swiss Cottage in Cahir had 18,295 visitors last year while Roscrea Castle had 15,070. The Main Guard in Clonmel, reports 9,080 visitors, Ormond Castle, Carrick on Suir reports 7,751 while The Famine Warhouse in Ballingarry reports 1,500 visitors in 2024.
Dublin Castle received the highest volume of ticketed visitors at 727,189 visitors followed by Kilkenny Castle with 429,546 visitors and The Rock of Cashel was the third most popular site with 365, 505 paying visitors. The other locations in the top ten ticketed heritage sites are Kilmainham jail, Dun Aonghusa, Ross Castle, Newgrange, Clonmacoise, Trim Castle and Charles Fort in Cork.
The sites that usually charge admission offer free admission on the first Wednesday of the month to help promote awareness of the heritage offering.
