Christ the King Statue - Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary, Ireland

Overview

Erected in 1950 to mark the Roman Catholic Church's Jubilee Year, the Christ the King statue stands on the road between Tipperary Town and the Glen of Aherlow, facing the Galtee Mountains with one hand raised to signify a blessing over those passing by. Placed on the side of Slievenamuck Hill, the statue commands the finest view of the area, looking out across a lush U-shaped valley bordered on one side by Ireland's highest inland mountain range and on the other by the wooded ridge of Slievenamuck. The original statue was irreparably damaged in 1975 and a new, identical sculpture was commissioned to replace it shortly after.

What You'll See

The car park at Christ the King offers magnificent panoramas of the Galtee Mountains and the full sweep of the Glen of Aherlow below. The 16-foot statue itself is the focal point, set within a green area with picnic facilities. The entrance to the Glen of Aherlow Nature Park is directly adjacent to the car park. Close to the entrance is a map board displaying the routes of the Woodland, Bianconi and Ballinacourty Loop walking trails. The Nature Park features the ruins of Lenihan's Cottage, a famine-era dwelling, and a restored stone bridge on the old Bianconi coach road. Fairy doors are installed at the base of many trees along the nature trail, making it popular with families.

Visitor Essentials

The site is free to visit and open at all times. Five looped walking trails start and finish at the Christ the King car park: the Woodland Loop (2 km, 1 hour, easy), the Bianconi Loop (4 km, 1 hour 15 minutes, easy), the Rock an Thorabh Loop (6 km, 2 hours 30 minutes, moderate), the Millennium Stone Loop (9 km, 3 hours, moderate), and the Ballinacourty Loop (10 km, 3 hours, moderate). There are no facilities on site beyond the car park and picnic area - the nearest food and accommodation is at the nearby Aherlow House Hotel in the valley.

Tips

The statue is 1.6 km north uphill on the R664 from the hamlet of Newtown in the valley - approach from the glen side for a more dramatic arrival as the view opens up on the descent. Trail conditions on the longer loops can become muddy after rain, so appropriate footwear matters on anything beyond the short Woodland Loop. The Glen of Aherlow is only a 20-minute drive from both Tipperary Town and Cahir, making it an easy and rewarding addition to a broader South Tipperary day. Cahir Castle and the Swiss Cottage are roughly 20 km south, and the Rock of Cashel about 32 km northeast.

Official Resource: https://www.aherlow.com