The River Suir rises on the slopes of the Devil's Bit Mountain, just north of Templemore, beside the Bed of Diarmuid and Grainne, journeying through Tipperary and Waterford before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. Also known as “Abhainn na Siuire”, the Suir is Ireland’s third longest river at 184km long and, together with the River Nore and the River Barrow, makes up the triumvirate of rivers known as The Three Sisters.

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These rivers were Ireland’s first great highway and the route where ancient peoples journeyed in settlement, were sustained by their bounty and gave thanks with stories of myths and legends. The River Suir's beauty has been extolled over centuries, even making an appearance in Edmund Spenser's poem “The Fairie Queene” (1590).

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Some outstanding bridges span the river on its journey to the Atlantic. The oldest is the Old Bridge in Carrick on Suir, built between 1445 — 1450. There are three fine limestone bridges in Clonmel which span two branches and one former branch of the Suir, connecting Suir Island, Stretches Island and Oldbridge. These include a two-arch limestone, built c.1775, a three-arch bridge, built c.1700. and a five-arch bridge, built c.1650 and widened and renovated c.1750.