Kilkenny

Heritage, environmental harmony and a spirit of excellence are recurring themes throughout both Kilkenny City and County. The creative heart of Ireland, County Kilkenny offers an abundance of fascinating historic sites, castles and abbeys, forest parks, natural wonders and scenic locations, together with a delightful and colourful concentration of quality craft studios and workshops. Good food, lively restaurants and popular bars and night-clubs are also important in a County that offers everything.

Explore

Kilkenny City
Ireland's Medieval Capital, an ancient city, with cobbled streets and narrow lanes, where the magnificent Kilkenny Castle looks proudly over a treasure trove of the past.

Ballyragget
Pleasantly situated on the river Nore, a planned town with a well laid out town square and fair green.There is also a imposing tower house on private land in this town.

Bennettsbridge
A centre for the small scale craft industries for which Kilkenny is famous, this attractive village also offers exciting vistas of the Nore River. Nearby Maiden Hall is the birthplace of the Irish Hubert Butler.

Callan
The birth place of Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Irish Christian Brothers who's home is now a much visited attraction. Callan's history is still to be seen in the fine churches and medieval monuments and the important field monuments located in the area.

Castlecomer
Centre of the Irish coal mining industry in the 18th and the 19th centuries the town retains the feel of an estate town. An active and enthusiastic community have continued to build on the rich heritage of their past to create a delightful blend of the best of that past with today's modern facilities.
Freshford
Constructed around a tree lined square the town recalls it's medieval origins each year in its heritage festival. A fine Romanesque Doorway of the ancient Church which first caused the settlement to grow in importance and stature is still a feature much admired.

Gowran
Once a seat of the Kings of Ossory, before the Anglo-Norman Invasion. Now home to a fine tradition of Horse Racing.

Graiguenamanagh
Situated in the Barrow Valley, in an area of outstanding beauty. There are many activities to enjoy, including boating, crafts and walking.

Inistioge
A charming village with a tree-lined square, lying in a picturesque part of the Nore Valley. Inistoge has been the setting for no less that four successful films in recent years- one reason why it is sometimes referred to as Ireland's answer to Hollywood. A leading example of an estate village, it stands in the shadow of the majestic Woodstock Estate.

Thomastown
An early medieval foundation with delightful streetscapes, picturesque views of the River Nore. Birthplace of the 18th century philosopher George Berkeley and today equally famous for its proximity to the famous championship golf course, Mount Juliet. It has just been announced that this course will hold the 2005 Ryder Cup.

Kells
A medieval walled town situated on the picturesque King's River, with the 12th century Augustinian Priory dominating the nearby landscape.

Attractions

Black Abbey
A 13th century church, founded by, and still in use today by the Dominican Order.

Jerpoint Abbey
Lauded as the finest Cistercian ruins in Ireland. Guided tours available from Visitor Centre

Duiske Abbey, Graiguenamanagh
A fully restored early Cistercian Church, Original medieval floor tiles still available to view.

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny City
Main seat of the Butler Family, Earls of Ormonde, from 1391 to present century. Admission by guided tour only. Charge.

Kells Augustinian Priory
An extensive Augustinian Priory founded in 1193. Adjacent is a large Mill, currently being restored, which will serve as a visitor centre & craft area

Brod Tullaroan (Inc. Lory Meagher Heritage Centre)
A 17th century two-storey thatched mansion now fully restored and incorporating additional buildings with a large GAA (Gaelic sports) museum. Seasonal Opening. Charge

Rothe House
A 16th century Tudor Townhouse of great charm. Includes a period costume exhibition and local museum

St. Canices Cathedral
Completed in 1285, it is the second longest Cathedral in Ireland. Various medieval carvings on display. Open all year - times may vary. Donations welcome

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall
A recently discovered romantic era garden featuring a waterfall and cottage ornee. Seasonal opening.

Kilkenny Design Centre
Located in the old coach houses of Kilkenny Castle, contains a comprehensive selection of the best in local and national crafts, on display and for sale.

Nore Valley Park
Includes farm trail, Crazy Golf Course, Picnic & Barbeque area. seasonal opening

Rice House, Westcourt, Callan
Birthplace of Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers. Retains many artefacts of a late 18th century Farmer's home

Walking Tours of Medieval Kilkenny
Enjoy an hour's strolling introduction to the city's many historic & architectural delights with a humourous and informative guide. Tours depart from Kilkenny Tourist Office.

Dunmore Cave
A limestone cave, consisting of a series of chambers formed over millions of years. Guide Service and Visitor Centre

Activities

CRAFTS STUDIOS & WORKSHOPS
Some of the finest craft studios in Ireland are located in County Kilkenny. A craft trail map detailing 5 of these studios is available from the tourist office.

Nicholas Mosse Pottery
Pottery workshop with display area, housed in former Mill

Jerpoint Glass Studio, Stoneyford
Hand made glass, with emphasis on glassware for the table

Rudolf Heltzel, Gold & Silversmith
Gold, Silver & precious stones worked into conmemporary jewellery

Stoneware Jackson Pottery
Pottery & Showroom in Bennettsbridge with additional retail outlet in Kilkenny City

Kilkenny Design Centre, Kilkenny City
Comprehensive display of the best in local & National Crafts

EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES

The equestrian centres around the County provide a wide range of services to the beginner, and experienced rider. All centres listed here are approved by the Association of Irish Riding Establishments, which oversees standards and all aspects of their service.....

Topflight Equestrian Centre, Kilkenny
Contact: Moloney Family. Tel: 056-22682
Mount Juliet Equestrian Centre, Thomastown
Contact: Eleanor Dwyer. Tel: 056-73000
Nuenna Farm Equestrian Centre, Freshford
Contact: Jillian Maher. Tel: 056-32193

GOLFING ACTIVITIES

Co. Kilkenny offers the golf enthusiast everything they might need with 9, 18 hole, and even a championship course, which boasts the 'Irish Open' as one of it's previous events...

Mount Juliet Championship Golf Course
18 hole Par 72, designed by Jack Nicklaus. Contact: K. MacCann 056-73000

Kilkenny Golf Club
Glendine, Kilkenny. 18 Hole (par 71). Contact: Secretary 056-65400

Mountain View Golf Club
Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny. 9 Hole (par 70). Contact: Joe Scriven 056-68122

ANGLING

The River Nore, and sections of the Barrow & Suir rivers, offer some good locations for Game & Coarse Angling

Game Angling - Trout
What is arguably the best riverine wild trout fishing in Ireland can be found where the River Nore enters the South East Region near Durrow. Excellent stocks of Trout of a good average size exist in the Nore between the Dinin river and the weir downstream of Kilkenny City. Other good trout fishing areas lie between Mount Juliet Estate and Inistioge Village

Game Angling - Salmon
Salmon fishing in the lower reaches of the River Nore can be very rewarding. The river can be fast flowing and shallow, but the construction of numerous watermills over the past centuries have left weirs which provide long deep pools, availed of by Salmon as resting places on their upstream journey. In the Barrow, best places are downstream from the weirs that divert waters to the canals

Coarse Fishing
The river Barrow at Graiguenamanagh and Goresbridge, offers the Coarse Angler a wide choice of different stocks, including Bream, Tench, Rudd, Pike & Perch

Inchbeg Fishing School, Freshford
Provides tuition in fly-fishing for Game & Coarse angling subject to seasonal variations

Brandon Lake Coarse Fishery
2.5 Acre Artifical Lake specifically designed for Coarse Fishing

WALKING
The 'South Leinster Way', is the official walking route that passes through the county from Graiguenamanagh, to Carrick-on-suir where it joins with the Munster Way

TOURS, GUIDED

Walking Tours of Medieval Kilkenny

Ancient Ireland Tours, Inistioge
Contact: Antony Lorraine M.A. 056-58435

Irish City Bus Tours , Kilkenny City
Depart from outside Castle every 30 mins, Daily, April- October

HORSE RACING
The local racing venue is at Gowran Park, which has regular meetings culminating in a three day racing festival in October

Gowran Park Race Meetings

GENERAL ACTIVITIES

Countryside Leisure Activity Centre
Bonnettsrath, Kilkenny Contact: Walsh Family 056-61791

Noreside Adventure Centre
Woollengrange, Thomastown Contact: Ger Cullen 056-27273

Clay Pigeon Shooting, Cuffesgrange
Kilcoran House. Contact: Mr. John Woodcock. Tel: 056-28253