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Ireland
Thurles
The 'Home of Hurling' and birthplace of the GAA
Thurles, in County Tipperary, is where the Gaelic Athletic Association was founded in 1884 at Hayes' Hotel, and remains home to Semple Stadium, Ireland's second-largest GAA ground. Beyond sport, it's a compact heritage town surrounded by the Silvermine Mountains and Slieveardagh Hills.
Highlights
- Semple Stadium and the Lár na Páirce GAA museum
- The site of the GAA's founding at Hayes' Hotel
- Thurles Cathedral's Gothic architecture
- The Source Arts Centre and Cabra Wetlands boardwalk trail
Getting around
On the Dublin–Cork rail line via Iarnród Éireann, and roughly a 1.5-hour drive from Dublin via the M7/M8.
