Tourist Information
There are many activities in the locality of Tallow to keep the tourist happy. From visiting the beautiful heritage town of Lismore with its castle to the Jameson whiskey centre in Midleton where guided tours and whiskey tasting take place daily. These attractions are only a twenty minute drive from Tallow through picturesque countryside. River trips on the Blackwater River and on the Suir in Carrick on Suir can be facilitated by Blackwater Boating. Collection can be arranged from your hotel or guesthouse. For the swimming enthusiasts, there are many wonderful beaches within a half hour drive of the town and two swimming pools, one in Fermoy a 10 minute drive and the Aura leisure Centre in Youghal, just a 15 minute drive. Local cuisine must be sampled on a visit to Tallow, with local Knockanore Cheese, Deise Honey, Barron's famous bread and O 'Flynn's sausages - just some of the tasty local delights on offer.
Tallow Horse Fair
Tallow Horse Fair, founded in 1910 is the most noted annual event in the town. This event takes place on the 3rd of September every year, should this date fall on a weekend day then the horse fair will then take place that Monday. It attracts sellers and buyers from far and wide and for this one day a year, the town is transformed into an encampment with numerous caravans and stalls. Local people welcome the fair and it is classed as an unofficial holiday by all, with the streets being closed to traffic and a festival atmosphere emanating throughout the town.
Historical Graveyard Records
Tallow Enterprise is home to a collection of records from the various cemetery’s in the surrounding parishes. These records were compiled in 1988 by local Fás participants, and have seen many tourists come to check them over the years, with great success. It is always nice to be able to reunite families with the graves of their loved ones. The records are available for viewing in The Enterprise Centre, where staff will be happy to copy any relevant pages for the public, at no cost.
Church of the Immaculate Conception
Tallow This beautiful Catholic Church was built in 1826 and is a focal point in the street scape of Chapel Street. The altar is constructed of white Carrara marble from Italy, green Tinos or Imathia marble from Greece and Cork marble from local quarries. There are 23 distinctive windows in the church each with their own message and story, (well worth a visit) as are the beautiful altars and statues which adorn this beautiful building. The Church organ built by London Organ Company Robson & Son in 1834, is still in use today by the parish choir.
Carmelite Convent
Saint Joseph's Carmelite convent is another beautiful historic building well worth a visit. Built in 1836 as a school for girls, it is now home to the Carmelite nuns who spend their days in meditation and prayer for the community and also run a successful printing works, printing Mass cards, memorial cards and booklets. The old convent was demolished in 1996 and the newly build monastery was re-opened in March 1997. Daily Mass is said at 9.00am each weekday morning in the convent chapel, and is open to all. Check out their website www.carmelitetallow.org
Tallow Library
Built in 1910, and situated in Convent Street, The Carnegie Library is one of a group of five in County Waterford and one of over 2,500 worldwide. These were donated by Scottish business man Andrew Carnegie at the turn of the twentieth century. The library is currently being run by Tallow Enterprise Centre under Waterford County Council and is open two days a week - Thursday and Friday from 10am -5pm.
Ramp Boreen Walk
The official opening of the Ramp Boreen Walk took place in 2010. It was built with support from the Tallow Town and Waterford County Councils. The walkway brings you from one end of the town right through to the other. The walkway consists of a nice gravel path through some beautiful countryside. The ramp boreen walk is a wonderful amenity that is regularly used by locals and has also been used as a route for many 5K fundraising walks and runs.
