Terryglass - County Tipperary, Ireland

Overview

Terryglass, meaning "land of the two streams" in Irish, is a village on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg in County Tipperary, near where the River Shannon enters the lake. Its roots run deep - a monastery was founded here by St. Columba in 549 AD, which became a major centre of learning and produced the Book of Leinster around 1160, now housed in Trinity College Dublin. The village has twice won Ireland's Tidy Towns Competition and carries a reputation as one of the most rewarding stops on the Lough Derg circuit.

What You'll See

A remaining wall from the ancient abbey can still be seen at the back of Paddy's pub in the village. Down at the harbour, a short walk from the village centre, you'll find BBQ and picnic facilities, a playground, a slipway, and toilets and showers. The slipway allows visitors to launch canoes, kayaks, and boats onto the lake. The village also has two historic holy wells - St. Augh's Eye Well at the quay and St. Columba's Headache Well in the village, both said to have curative properties.

Visitor Essentials

Terryglass is a small village with no admission charges for walking the harbour, abbey wall, or holy wells. The village is well served by two award-winning pubs and restaurants - Paddy's Bar and The Derg Inn - both offering food throughout the day and traditional Irish music sessions regularly. There is free parking at the harbour. No public transport serves the village directly, so a car is required to get here. Nenagh, the nearest large town, is about 15 minutes by road.

Tips

Arriving in time for sunset at the harbour is well worth planning around - the view west across Lough Derg at that hour is one of the standout moments of the Lough Derg circuit. Traditional music sessions run regularly at both pubs, with a lively summer atmosphere as visiting boats arrive into the marina. Terryglass sits at the northern end of Lough Derg, making it a natural base for exploring the broader lake, with Portumna Forest Park and Portumna Castle about 10 minutes north, and Garrykennedy and Dromineer within 20-25 minutes south along the shore. Derg Lake Tours also departs from Terryglass Harbour for boat tours on the lake.

Discover Lough Derg Resource: https://discoverloughderg.ie