The Town of Buttevant, where the famous 'CAHIRMEE' Horse Fair is held annually, is a town of approximately 1,200 inhabitants.

When the Norman Barry's came they built a great castle beside the river. It was a border fortification, a 'Buttevant' or 'thrusting out' fortress. From this description of their chief stronghold the family war-cry 'BOUTEZ EN AVANT' is derived.

The first of the religious orders to take up residence in Buttevant was the Augustinians. To accommodate this order, Ballybeg Priory, was built nearly 1km from the modern-day town and was erected by William de Barry, and dedicated to St. Thomas in AD 1229.

The second and perhaps more prophetic order to come to Buttevant was the Franciscans. Buttevant Friary was built in the town in 1251 by David 'g de Barry for this order.

Park on the main street opposite the post office and walk up the town (south) past Buttevant Friary, the church and school.

Turn into a laneway leading to an old mill. After 100m, turn right and walk around the wall of Buttevant Castle, which unfortunately is in a sad state of disrepair.

The castle viewed from the south, (the front) has a magnificent portico, which unfortunately is in total disrepair.

Buttevant Castle was built by the Barry's around 1200 AD and was the chief residence of the clan Donegan, who rejected every Norman surrender move, until it was ultimately surprised and captured by a David de Barry, son of Philip. In 1206, Philip's eldest son William, was confirmed by King John and by Charter became Lord of Castlelyons, Buttevant and Barry's Court, where he soon afterwards built a castle.

Follow the track along the bank of the Awbeg river for 1km, through a beautiful natural wood of beech, oak and ash.

Cross the Castle Bridge, and detour right for 500m, past a disused bridge until you come to the remains of an old friars bridge called a Clapper Bridge.

Long ago where streamlets were not deep a number of stepping stones or 'clocher' were used in getting from one side to the other. On large rivers a 'tochar' or causeway was made of large boulders heaved one after the other into the water till eventually they came above the surface.

About the year 750 AD, wooden bridges came into use but it was not until the coming of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century that stone bridges became general.

The first attempts were primitive and were known as 'Clapper' bridges which were of Cyclopean mould and composed of enormous stones.

The Buttevant Clapper Bridge was erected in the early part of the 13th century by the Augustinian Friars of Ballybeg for convenience in crossing the Awbeg to their mill and lands beyond.

A few Clapper or Cyclopean bridges also exist in Devonshire, but they are now very rare and this one is the finest in Ireland and well worth a visit.

Return to the disused bridge and make your way across and up a lane to a 'T' junction. Turn right and visit the Columbarium at Ballybeg Priory. The term 'Columbarium' is derived from the Latin word 'Columb' which means a dove or pigeon cote. With the passing of time, the name was applied to burial buildings containing small niches in the walls for urns containing ashes of the dead. The burial places got the name 'Columbarium' because of the similarity in their style of building to the dove cotes. The walls which are about 8 metres high are perfectly perpendicular. This circular tower, with an external diameter of 4.5m and an external circumference of 22m has walls 1m in thickness and should be visited.

Return to Buttevant by turning left after visiting the Priory and Columbarium.