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County Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a land of achingly beautiful valleys where elegant rivers weave their way through a rich countryside spiced by handsome hills. So naturally it's a place whose people care passionately about their county, and the miniature city at its heart. For Kilkenny - the Marble City - is one of Ireland's oldest cities, and proud of it. Its array of ancient buildings is unrivalled. But, by today's standards of population, this gem of a place is scarcely a city at all. Yet it's a city in every other way, with great and justified pride in its corporate status.

Civic pride is at the heart of it, and the city is benefitting from the refurbishment of its ancient quay walls along the River Nore, and the increase in pedestrian zones. Enjoying its reputation as a major centre for civilisation and culture for well over 1500 years, Kilkenny city thrives on a diverse mixture of public debates about conservation, arts festivals, and a comedy festival of international standing.

Rivers define the county. Almost the entire eastern border is marked by the Barrow, which becomes ever more spectacularly lovely as it rolls gently through the beautiful Graiguenamanagh, then thrusts towards the sea at the tiny river port of St Mullins. The southern border is marked by the broad tidal sweep of the Suir, and this fine county is divided diagonally by the meandering of the most beautiful river of all, the Nore.

Invaders inevitably progressed up its tree-lined course past what is now the lovely river village of Inistioge, towards the ancient site of Kilkenny city itself. They quickly became Kilkenny folk in the process, for this is a land to call home.



Local Attractions and Information

Callan Edmund Rice House +353 (0)56 772 5993

Gowran Gowran Park Racecourse +353 (0)56 772 6225

Inistioge Woodstock Gardens +353 (0)56 52699

Graiguenamanagh Cushendale Woollen Mills +353 (0)59 972 4118

Kilkenny Kilkenny Castle +353 (0)56 772 1450

Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Festival (May) +353 (0)56 776 3416

Kilkenny Rothe House (16c house, exhibitions) +353 (0)56 772 2893

Kilkenny City Tourist Information +353 (0)56 775 15000

Thomastown Jerpoint Abbey +353 (0)56 772 4623

Thomastown Kilfane Glen & Waterfall +353 (0)56 772 4558

Thomastown Mount Juliet Gardens +353 (0)56 777 3000

Tullaroan Kilkenny GAA Museum +353 (0)56 69202

Gardens

Mount Juliet Conrad & Garden - Thomastown County Kilkenny Ireland
Mount Juliet & Garden
Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
Lying amidst 1500 acres of unspoilt woodland, pasture and formal gardens beside the River Nore, Mount Juliet House is one of Ireland’s finest Georgian houses, and one of Europe’s greatest country estates. Even today it retains an ...

Golf

Gowran Park Golf Club - Gowran County Kilkenny Ireland
Gowran Park Golf Club
Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Course Type: Parkland
In 2001 Gowran Park, in County Kilkenny, developed this unique 18 hole golf course to compliment its renowned race meetings. Incorporating a mixture of established woodland and lakes, this Jeff Howes designed par 71, 18 hole golf course provid ...

Self Catering

Blanchville House - Self Catering - Maddoxtown County Kilkenny Ireland
The Coachyard & Gardener's Cottage at Blanchville House
Maddoxtown, Co. Kilkenny
The delightful Victorian Coach House in the grounds of Blanchville House has been sensitively converted to provide three very comfortable self-catering units. Situated five miles (8km), 10 minute's drive from the Medieval City of Kilkenny and ...

What's On

There is no featured What's On in this county

Tourist Attractions

Rothe House & Garden - Kilkenny County Kilkenny Ireland
Rothe House & Garden
Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Built between 1594 and 1610, Rothe House & Garden is steeped in rich local and national history and is an important element of Kilkenny’s & indeed Ireland's heritage as it is the only example of an early 17th century merchant’ ...

Wedding Venues

Mount Juliet Hotel - Wedding Venue Thomastown County Kilkenny Ireland
Mount Juliet
Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
Lying amongst 1500 acres of unspoilt woodland, pasture and formal gardens in a walled estate beside the River Nore, this Georgian Manor is an 18th century gem - a charming and graceful house, very traditional in style with beautifully restored or ...
  • TRANQUIL VALENTINE'S ESCAPE

    Avalon House Hotel, Castlecomer Recently renovated to create an elegant and chic hotel with classic Georgian features retained alongside its modern amenities, this elegant privately owned four-star is the perfect destination for a romantic escape...

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