Castlecomer Discovery Park

A wonderful place to escape and reconnect with nature, to discover more about local coal mining heritage and contemporary craft, and to explore an abundance of things to do in magical woodland surroundings.

This wonderful 80 acre discovery park & visitor centre, located at Castlecomer Demesne and Estate Yard is a place to escape and reconnect with nature, to discover more about local coal mining heritage and contemporary craft, and to explore an abundance of things to do in magical woodland surroundings.

The ‘Footprints in Coal’ Experience and coal mining museum comprises a 45 minute tour through Castlecomer’s past. One of Ireland’s and more specifically Kilkenny’s most intriguing exhibitions, it is an interactive multi-media display that takes the visitor on a journey through time.

There are 6km of themed woodland forest walks centered on two rainbow trout angling lakes. Picnic tables are located in the parkland by the river’s edge close to the car park and children’s playground and there are also a number of more secluded picnic spots located along the woodland walks.

Open all year. April: 10am-5.30pm; May-Aug: 9.30am-5.30pm; Sept-Oct: 10am-5pm; Nov-Dec: 10.30am-4.30pm

Adult €7; Student/OAP €6; Children €5; Family €20.00 (2A+2C) (Exhibition Only). Additional charges for educational programmes. Park itself is free to visit.

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• Listowel Castle
• Dun Aonghasa
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• St Marys Abbey
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Government Buildings
• Eagles Flying
• Ormond Castle
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• Adare Heritage Centre
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Charles Fort
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Ross Castle
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Clare Museum
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Belfast Zoo
• Caherconnell Fort
• The Ark
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• Skellig Michael
• Famine Warhouse
• Coole Park
• National Concert Hall
• Armagh County Museum
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Florence Court
• Desmond Hall
• Battle of the Boyne
• Glendalough
• Glasnevin Museum
• Aughnanure Castle
• Sligo Abbey
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Burren National Park
• Dublinia
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Scattery Island Centre
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Swiss Cottage
• Dunmore Cave
• Aras an Uachtarain
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• Armagh Planetarium
• Natural History Museum
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Rock of Cashel
• Hill of Tara
• National Transport Museum
• King Johns Castle
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Dromore Wood
• King House
• Thomond Park Stadium
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Fort Lucan
• Tower Museum
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Ennis Friary
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Crag Cave
• Malahide Castle
• Titanic Belfast
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• National Gallery of Ireland
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• Skerries Mills
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Donegal Castle
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• Dungarvan Castle
• Bushmills Distillery
• Museum at the Mill
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Aviva Stadium
• Queens University
• Tintern Abbey
• Rothe House & Garden
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• Killarney National Park
• Desmond Castle
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Castletown House
• Blarney Castle
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Ballyhack Castle
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Galway City Museum
• Glenveagh National Park
• The Hunt Museum
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• St Marys Church
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Trim Castle
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Athenry Castle
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• The Main Guard
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Dublin Zoo
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• National Sea Life Centre
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• Giants Causeway
• Guinness Storehouse
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• Adare Castle
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• National Photographic Archive
• Emo Court
• Ceide Fields
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Boyle Abbey
• Clonmacnoise
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Funtasia Waterpark
• Casino Marino
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• Barryscourt Castle
• Ferns Castle
• Cahir Castle
• Tayto Park
• Derrynane House
• Connemara National Park
• Reginalds Tower
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Kilkenny Castle
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Aillwee Cave
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Ulster Museum
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• Iveagh Gardens
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Donegal County Museum
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• Russborough House
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Viking Splash Tours
• Garylough Mill
• The Science Gallery
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• St Stephens Green
• Phoenix Park
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Parkes Castle
• Maynooth Castle
• Ballycroy National Park
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Kerry County Museum
• Carrickfergus Museum
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• National Leprechaun Museum
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• Leopardstown Racecourse

Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Wandesforde House
  (0.1km)SE
• The Lime Tree
  (0.4km)SW
• Avalon House Hotel
  (0.5km)SW
• Bowes Foodhall & Cafe
  (13.6km)NW
• Dunmore Country School
  (14.0km)NW
• Castle Durrow
  (14.0km)NW
• Bramley Abbeyleix
  (15.3km)NW
• Morrissey's Abbeyleix
  (15.4km)NW
• G's Gourmet Jams
  (15.5km)NW
• Newpark Hotel
  (16.2km)SW
• Sandymount House
  (16.4km)NW
• Rachels Garden Café
  (16.9km)SE
• Arán Artisan Bakery, Deli & Bistro
  (17.0km)SW
• Kilkenny Inn
  (17.1km)SW
• Campagne
  (17.1km)SW
• Lord Bagenal Hotel, The
  (17.1km)SE
• CakeFace
  (17.2km)SW
• Foodworks Café
  (17.3km)SW
• Langton House Hotel
  (17.4km)SW
• La Rivista
  (17.4km)SW

Self Catering

• The Coachyard & Gardener's Cottage at Blanchville House
  (20.5km)SE
• Roundwood House - The Forge & The Cottage
  (32.6km)NW
• Avon Ri Blessington Resort
  (58.8km)NE

Farmers Markets

• Kilkenny - Every Thursday
  (17.7km)SW
• Carlow - Carlow - Saturdays
  (18.7km)NE
• Athy - County Kildare - Sundays
  (25.2km)NE
• Portlaoise - Co Laois - Fridays
  (26.1km)NW
• Templemore Famers - Co Tipperary - Wednesdays
  (42.4km)SW
• Thurles - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (43.9km)SW
• New Ross - County Wexford - Saturdays
  (49.1km)SE
• Enniscorthy - County Wexford - Saturdays
  (55.0km)SE
• Naas - County Kildare
  (58.5km)NE

Tourist Attractions

• Castlecomer Discovery Park
  (0.0km)SW
• Dunmore Cave
  (8.7km)SW
• Rothe House & Garden
  (17.3km)SW
• Kilkenny Castle
  (17.8km)SW
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
  (18.8km)SW
• St Marys Church
  (21.8km)SW
• Famine Warhouse
  (33.0km)SW
• Jerpoint Abbey
  (33.1km)SW
• Emo Court
  (33.4km)SW
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
  (43.1km)SW
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
  (43.3km)SW
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
  (46.3km)SW
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
  (49.0km)SW
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
  (49.2km)SW
• Rock of Cashel
  (56.3km)SW
• Russborough House
  (56.6km)SW

Golf Courses

• Castlecomer Golf Club
  (1.3km) SW
• Kilkenny Golf Club
  (15.4km) SW
• Carlow Golf Club
  (21.7km) NE
• Gowran Park Golf Club
  (22.8km) SE
• Kilkea Castle Golf Resort
  (26.1km) NE
• Mount Juliet Golf Club
  (30.9km) SE
• Mount Wolseley Golf Club
  (31.7km) SE
• Heritage Golf Club, The
  (36.6km) NE
• Rathsallagh Golf Club
  (40.2km) NE
• Curragh Golf Club
  (45.8km) NE
• Tullamore Golf Club
  (53.0km) NW
• Tulfarris Golf Resort
  (55.9km) NE
• Naas Golf Club
  (61.8km) NE
• Palmerstown House Golf Club
  (63.4km) NE

Gardens

• Heywood Gardens
  (10.7km)NW
• Delta Sensory Garden
  (19.2km)NE
• Duckett's Grove Walled Garden and Pleasure Grounds
  (26.9km)NE
• Gash Gardens
  (27.1km)NW
• Kilfane Glen & Waterfall
  (29.2km)SE
• Hardymount
  (29.6km)SE
• Burtown House Gardens
  (29.7km)NE
• Mount Juliet & Garden
  (30.9km)SE
• Ballon Garden
  (31.6km)SE
• Altamont
  (33.4km)SE
• Woodstock Gardens
  (37.1km)SE
• Newtownbarry House Gardens
  (40.7km)SE
• Killurney Garden
  (51.3km)SW
• Coolaught Gardens
  (51.4km)SE
• June Blakes Garden & Nursery
  (63.8km)NE

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Castlecomer
  (0.6km) NW
• Durrow
  (14.0km) NW
• Ballickmoyler
  (15.0km) NE
• Abbeyleix
  (15.2km) NW
• Freshford
  (15.4km) SW
• Leighlinbridge
  (16.9km) SE
• Kilkenny
  (17.9km) SW
• Carlow
  (18.5km) NE
• Maddoxtown
  (20.5km) SE
• Gowran
  (21.8km) SE