Some of Ireland’s finest farmland is in County Tipperary and in Celtic times good farms were the source of wealth and power, so it is not surprising that the county also offers some of the richest variety of remains of ancient castles and centres of worship. For good measure there are beautiful mountains and river valleys and a generous portion of Lough Derg. As the circuit of Lough Derg is another drive on this site we head away from it and towards the east. This is a circular tour, setting out from Limerick City.