The Main Guard

Originally built as a prestigious courthouse for the Palatinate of County Tipperary

The Main Guard was originally built by James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond, between 1673 and 1684, as a prestigious courthouse for the Palatinate of County Tipperary.

The Main Guard was a "Tholsel" which is an office where tolls, duties & customs were collected. It was Clonmel's Assize Court from 1716 until 1810 when it was converted into a barracks, hence the name.

Later it fell into a sad state of dereliction but it has now been restored by the Office of Public Works, and is open to the public.

Open daily, 5th April-end September, 9.30am-6pm

Free

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• National Leprechaun Museum
• Donegal County Museum
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Aviva Stadium
• Rock of Cashel
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• Garylough Mill
• Clonmacnoise
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• National Library of Ireland
• Fort Lucan
• Glasnevin Museum
• Tower Museum
• Russborough House
• Ormond Castle
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Adare Heritage Centre
• Tayto Park
• Charles Fort
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• Clare Museum
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• Desmond Castle
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• National Sea Life Centre
• Florence Court
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Natural History Museum
• St Marys Abbey
• The Hunt Museum
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• National Gallery of Ireland
• Ceide Fields
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• Ballyhack Castle
• Parkes Castle
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Aughnanure Castle
• Hill of Tara
• Belfast Zoo
• Boyle Abbey
• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• Dun Aonghasa
• Funtasia Waterpark
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Ballycroy National Park
• Ennis Friary
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Galway City Museum
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• Athenry Castle
• Burren National Park
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• St Marys Church
• Museum at the Mill
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Government Buildings
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• Viking Splash Tours
• Aillwee Cave
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Ferns Castle
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Dublin Zoo
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• Famine Warhouse
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Scattery Island Centre
• Coole Park
• Connemara National Park
• Iveagh Gardens
• Armagh County Museum
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Battle of the Boyne
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Queens University
• Killarney National Park
• Dromore Wood
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Skellig Michael
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• Kilkenny Castle
• Giants Causeway
• Crag Cave
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Blarney Castle
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• Thomond Park Stadium
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• National Transport Museum
• Maynooth Castle
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Kerry County Museum
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Swiss Cottage
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Glenveagh National Park
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Casino Marino
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• The Ark
• Desmond Hall
• Tintern Abbey
• Rothe House & Garden
• Phoenix Park
• Reginalds Tower
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Dunmore Cave
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• Chester Beatty Library
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Dungarvan Castle
• Skerries Mills
• Trim Castle
• Glendalough
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Adare Castle
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• Emo Court
• National Photographic Archive
• The Main Guard
• King Johns Castle
• Dublinia
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Donegal Castle
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Barryscourt Castle
• Eagles Flying
• King House
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• National Concert Hall
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• Cahir Castle
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Titanic Belfast
• St Stephens Green
• Dublin Castle
• Aras an Uachtarain
• The Science Gallery
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Ulster Museum
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Bushmills Distillery
• Armagh Planetarium
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Caherconnell Fort
• Sligo Abbey
• Listowel Castle
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• Guinness Storehouse
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Castletown House
• Derrynane House
• Ross Castle
• Malahide Castle
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Befani's Mediterranean & Tapas Restaurant
  (0.0km)SE
• Sean Tierney
  (0.1km)SW
• Hickeys Bakery & Cafe
  (0.4km)NE
• James Whelan Butchers
  (0.4km)NW
• Hotel Minella
  (1.1km)SE
• O'Donnell's Crisps
  (9.0km)NE
• Glasha
  (9.4km)SW
• Hanora's Cottage
  (9.6km)SE
• Apple Farm, The
  (10.0km)NW
• Omega Direct Irish Organic Beef Farming with Altitude
  (12.1km)SW
• Kilmaneen Farmhouse
  (12.4km)SW
• McCarthys Pub
  (12.6km)NE
• Ballybrado Ltd
  (13.9km)SW
• O'Briens Farm Shop
  (14.6km)NW
• River House Restaurant & Café Bar
  (15.5km)NW
• Good Herdsman Organic Meats
  (16.2km)SW
• Cashel Blue & Crozier Blue Cheese
  (17.9km)NW
• Bay Lough Cheese
  (21.5km)SW
• Old Convent Gourmet Hideaway, The
  (21.6km)SW
• Kilkieran Cottage Restaurant
  (22.0km)NE

Self Catering

• Kilmaneen Farmhouse & Cottage
  (12.4km)SW
• Salterbridge Gatelodge
  (24.7km)SW
• Waterford Castle Lodges
  (45.0km)SE
• Clomantagh Castle
  (46.9km)NE
• The Coachyard & Gardener's Cottage at Blanchville House
  (49.2km)NE
• Castlemartyr Resort - Lodges & Mews
  (54.0km)SW

Farmers Markets

• Clonmel - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (0.4km)NW
• Clonmel Premier Organic - Co Tipperary - Fridays
  (0.7km)NE
• Cahir - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (15.4km)NW
• Carrick on Suir - County Tipperary - Fridays
  (19.7km)SE
• Kilmacthomas - Co Waterford - Fridays
  (25.0km)SE
• Stradbally Community - Co Waterford - 1st Saturday Each Month
  (27.9km)SE
• Lismore - County Waterford - Sundays
  (28.6km)SW
• Dungarvan - County Waterford - Thursdays
  (29.8km)SE
• Tipperary Town - Co Tipperary - Saturdays
  (35.1km)NW
• Dunhill - County Waterford - Last Sunday each month
  (36.1km)SE
• Thurles - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (37.7km)NW
• Waterford - Co Waterford - Saturdays
  (41.3km)SE
• Ardkeen Food Producers - Waterford - Second Sunday each month
  (43.6km)SE
• Kilkenny - Every Thursday
  (45.0km)NE
• Fermoy - County Cork - Sundays
  (45.3km)SW
• Greenbarn - Co Cork - Fridays
  (48.7km)SW
• Templemore Famers - Co Tipperary - Wednesdays
  (50.2km)NW
• Midleton - County Cork - Saturdays
  (58.4km)SW

Tourist Attractions

• The Main Guard
  (0.0km)SE
• Swiss Cottage
  (15.0km)SE
• Cahir Castle
  (15.7km)SE
• Ormond Castle
  (20.0km)SE
• Rock of Cashel
  (22.5km)SE
• Dungarvan Castle
  (29.9km)SE
• Famine Warhouse
  (29.9km)SE
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
  (33.1km)SE
• Jerpoint Abbey
  (40.8km)SE
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
  (41.1km)SE
• Reginalds Tower
  (41.3km)SE
• House of Waterford Crystal
  (41.8km)SE
• Kilkenny Castle
  (45.0km)SE
• Rothe House & Garden
  (45.2km)SE
• Dunmore Cave
  (52.3km)SE
• St Marys Church
  (52.9km)SE
• Jameson Experience Midleton
  (58.0km)SE
• Barryscourt Castle
  (62.7km)SE

Golf Courses

• West Waterford Golf Club
  (29.6km) SE
• Mount Juliet Golf Club
  (40.0km) NE
• Waterford Golf Club
  (40.9km) SE
• Tramore Golf Club
  (42.2km) SE
• Waterford Castle Golf Club
  (45.0km) SE
• Kilkenny Golf Club
  (46.8km) NE
• Faithlegg Golf Club
  (47.0km) SE
• Gowran Park Golf Club
  (51.8km) NE
• Castlecomer Golf Club
  (59.5km) NE

Gardens

• Killurney Garden
  (11.6km)NE
• Cappoquin House Garden
  (25.0km)SW
• Lismore Castle Gardens
  (28.7km)SW
• Fairbrook House Gardens & Museum of Contemporary Figurative Art
  (33.8km)SE
• Mount Congreve
  (33.8km)SE
• Mount Juliet & Garden
  (40.0km)NE
• Woodstock Gardens
  (45.3km)NE
• Ballyvolane House
  (46.7km)SW
• Kilfane Glen & Waterfall
  (46.9km)NE
• Cedar Lodge
  (60.2km)SW
• Lakemount Garden.
  (67.1km)SW

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Clonmel
  (0.1km) SW
• Ballymacarbry
  (9.7km) SW
• Cahir
  (15.4km) NW
• Touraneena
  (17.2km) SW
• Fethard
  (17.9km) NW
• Carrick-on-Suir
  (19.8km) SE
• Millstreet
  (21.5km) SW
• Clogheen
  (21.6km) SW
• Cashel
  (22.5km) NW
• Kilmacthomas
  (24.7km) SE