Tipperary Raceway
Location
Rosegreen, Cashel, County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland
Current Local Time
Track Info
Tipperary Raceway - Rosegreen, Ireland
Compact tarmac short oval in County Tipperary - home to fast Hot Rod racing, packed grids and some of Ireland's most important oval-racing events
When was the track built?
Tipperary Raceway opened at Rosegreen in the early 1980s, with planning permission for the motor-racing circuit dating to 1981. Since then, the venue has developed into one of the main centres of short oval racing in the Republic of Ireland.
The circuit is very different from a traditional road course. Instead of a long lap with many separate corners, drivers repeatedly race around a compact paved oval, often surrounded by other cars for the entire race.
When was its first race?
The exact date of the first meeting is not widely documented, but racing at the Rosegreen venue dates from 1981. What began as a relatively small operation gradually developed into a busy national racing venue.
Today, Tipperary regularly hosts Irish rounds of the National Hot Rod World Series as well as major meetings that attract drivers from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
What's the circuit like?
- Very short laps: The quickest cars can lap in roughly 15 seconds, so drivers are almost constantly approaching traffic or preparing to overtake.
- High speed for its size: National Hot Rods use purpose-built chassis, powerful engines, slick tyres and aerodynamic bodywork, allowing them to carry remarkable speed around a quarter-mile oval.
- Close racing: Several cars can spend lap after lap separated by only a small distance, making accuracy and consistency just as important as outright speed.
- Traffic management: Drivers must judge when and where to pass slower cars while also defending from rivals behind them.
Racing and benchmarks
- 2023 fastest lap: Shane Murphy recorded a 15.006-second lap in a National Hot Rod.
- National Hot Rods: The headline category, featuring specialised spaceframe cars with 2-litre engines, slick tyres and aerodynamic bodywork.
- 2Ltr Hot Rods: Another fast international class using regulated rear-wheel-drive racing machinery.
- Lightning Rods: Saloon-based cars that frequently provide spectacular sideways racing and close battles.
- Junior categories: Younger drivers can begin racing in restricted cars or Ninja Karts before progressing into the faster adult classes.
Why go?
Tipperary Raceway is a good introduction to short oval racing because almost everything happens directly in front of the spectators. There are no long periods waiting for cars to return from the far side of a large circuit - another lap can take only a few seconds.
A typical meeting also contains several different classes and numerous individual races. That means visitors can see everything from young drivers learning their craft to some of Europe's quickest purpose-built Hot Rods during the same day.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Start and finish area: Best for watching the grid form, race starts and drivers fighting to complete passes before the line.
- Outside of the bends: A good place to appreciate the cornering speed of the fastest Hot Rods and watch cars run side by side.
- Covered spectator areas: Useful when the Irish weather changes, while the compact circuit still keeps the racing close and easy to follow.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to Tipperary Raceway (Rosegreen)
Plan your trip: driving is the easiest way to reach Tipperary Raceway. The circuit is in the countryside near Rosegreen and Cashel, with no railway station or regular public transport directly at the entrance.
Getting there by car
- Navigation: enter Tipperary Raceway, E91 KV26 into your sat-nav or mapping app. This is the simplest way to find the circuit.
- From Cashel: head south towards Rosegreen. The raceway is in the countryside outside the village.
- From Dublin or Cork: the M8 is the main motorway through this part of County Tipperary. Leave the motorway for the Cashel area and continue towards Rosegreen.
- Race days: allow extra time for the final part of the journey, as local roads can become busier when a large meeting is taking place.
Bus & train
- Cashel: the most useful public-transport destination for most visitors. Several regional and intercity bus services connect Cashel with other parts of Ireland.
- From Cashel to the raceway: there is no simple regular bus that takes spectators directly to the circuit, so a taxi or pre-arranged lift is usually required.
- By train: Cashel does not have an active railway station. If travelling by rail, continue your journey by bus or taxi from a nearby station.
- Local Link: rural bus services operate around County Tipperary, but routes and times should be checked carefully before relying on them for a race meeting.
For a first visit, travelling directly by car or arranging a taxi from Cashel is usually much easier than combining rural public transport services.
Parking
- On-site parking: spectator parking is provided at some major events, including large drift meetings.
- Check before travelling: parking areas, entrances and charges can differ between events.
- Assisted parking: some events provide arrangements for visitors who need easier access; contact the organiser in advance where required.
Accessibility
- Contact the organiser in advance if you need accessible or assisted parking, step-free access or help reaching spectator areas.
- Car or taxi is recommended for visitors with limited mobility because public transport does not stop directly at the venue.
- Event layouts vary: ask which entrance and parking area are closest to your viewing area before arriving.
Facilities
- Food: hot food is normally available on race days.
- Spectator areas: the venue has covered areas for spectators, useful in changeable Irish weather.
- Nearby supplies: Rosegreen has basic local facilities, while Cashel has a much wider choice of shops, restaurants, fuel stations and accommodation.
About Tipperary Raceway
Tipperary Raceway is a permanent short-oval circuit near Rosegreen in County Tipperary. It hosts several forms of motorsport, including Hot Rods, Stock Cars, Bangers and junior categories, with race meetings often featuring several different classes in one day.
The venue is also strongly associated with Irish drifting and is used for drift events, driver training and other motorsport activities.
Check the event organiser's latest race times, tickets, parking information and admission rules before travelling, as arrangements can change between meetings.
Nearby Activities
Things to do around Tipperary Raceway (County Tipperary, Ireland)
Tipperary Raceway brings fast, close short-oval racing to the countryside near Rosegreen and Cashel. Away from the track, you can explore medieval castles, learn about Ireland’s horse-racing heritage, enjoy woodland walks and visit some of County Tipperary’s best-known historic sites.
Family-friendly highlights near the raceway
- Rock of Cashel: Explore one of Ireland’s most famous medieval sites, with a round tower, cathedral ruins, chapel and wide views across the surrounding Golden Vale.
- Fethard Horse Country Experience: Interactive displays tell the story of horses in Irish life and explain why this part of Tipperary became internationally important for thoroughbred breeding and racing.
- Cahir Castle: Towers, walls, courtyards and riverside surroundings make this large medieval castle an easy attraction for families who enjoy exploring at their own pace.
Culture hits & rainy-day winners
- Cashel Folk Village Museum: A small museum packed with objects and displays covering local history, the Great Famine and everyday life in Ireland.
- Fethard Horse Country Experience: A particularly relevant stop for racing fans, with an interactive exhibition inside a historic 17th-century building.
- Swiss Cottage: Near Cahir, this decorative early-19th-century cottage provides a very different experience from the area’s medieval castles.
Eat & drink away from the circuit
- Cashel: The nearest major visitor town has cafés, pubs and restaurants, making it the simplest choice for a meal before or after racing.
- Fethard: Combine lunch or coffee with a walk through this historic town and a visit to the Horse Country Experience.
- Try Irish favourites: Look for soda bread, a warming stew or locally produced beef and dairy dishes for an easy introduction to the region’s food.
Get outdoors in Tipperary
- Glen of Aherlow: Choose from woodland paths and longer marked walks beneath the Galtee Mountains, with routes available for different fitness levels.
- Cahir riverside: Walk beside the River Suir from Cahir Castle towards Swiss Cottage for an easy combination of history and countryside.
- Fethard medieval walls: Explore sections of the historic town walls and old streets while learning about one of Ireland’s best-preserved medieval towns.
Irish weather can change quickly, so waterproof clothing and shoes suitable for wet grass or paths are useful throughout the year.
Easy trips if you have more time
- Cahir: Combine Cahir Castle and Swiss Cottage for an easy history-focused half day.
- Glen of Aherlow: Give yourself longer if you want to tackle one of the marked mountain or woodland walking routes.
- Athassel Abbey: Near Golden, these extensive medieval monastery ruins provide a quieter historic stop away from the busiest attractions.
- Rock of Cashel & Fethard: Pair Tipperary’s most famous medieval landmark with the county’s strong horse-racing heritage for a full day around the raceway.
Good to know during race weekends
- Expect plenty of races: A typical meeting can feature six or seven different classes, so there may be action throughout much of the day.
- Bring hearing protection: Short-oval cars are loud and race close to spectator areas. Ear defenders are strongly recommended for children.
- Dress for the weather: Conditions can change quickly, so bring a waterproof layer as well as practical shoes.
- Check the race schedule: Classes, championships and dates vary between meetings, and the organiser notes that scheduled dates can change.
Race dates, classes, spectator arrangements and attraction opening hours can change - check current information before travelling.