Summary
The capital of Ireland for a brief period during the 17th century, Kilkenny is a city rich in history. St Mary’s Cathedral, located in Kilkenny, serves as the seat of the Diocese of Ossory, existing within the same pre-Norman borders as the ancient Kingdom of Ossory, which dates back approximately 2,000 years.
Founded by the Normans in the 12th century, Kilkenny Castle has evolved from a wooden fort into a noble estate; both the residence and its tranquil gardens are worth visiting.
Visitors can explore Kilkenny’s medieval heritage at St Canice’s Cathedral, which is accompanied by a 9th-century Celtic tower, and the Dominican Black Abbey, a remarkable survivor from the Reformation.
During summer evenings, the city center brims with vitality, while during the day, you can meander along the Georgian High Street and navigate the adjacent narrow lanes known as the “Slips”.
Let us examine the top attractions in Kilkenny:
1. Kilkenny Castle
Situated on a rise by the River Nore, Kilkenny Castle originated as a Norman wooden fort in the 1170s and gradually transformed into a palatial residence for the noble Butler family.
In the early 19th century, the Butlers opted to revert the palace to a medieval aesthetic, creating the Gothic Revival style that can still be appreciated today.
Make sure to visit the gardens, where you can stroll through pristine lawns, a rose garden, and an ornamental lake.
Two wings of the castle have recently been restored, allowing visitors to see the Drawing Room, Library, and the acclaimed Long Gallery, which features historical portraits and Chinese-style tapestries.
The castle’s basement houses an exhibition on Irish art dating back to the 1700s, showcasing works by Jack Butler Yeats and Louis de Brocquy.
2. St Canice’s Cathedral
Built on a historic site where there has been a church since the 500s, St Canice’s Cathedral is an Early Gothic structure from the 13th century.
At 68 meters, it ranks as the second longest cathedral in Ireland, captivating visitors with its architecture and features for a good hour or more.
Outside, the faux battlements lend the cathedral a fortified appearance.
Adjacent to the southern transept is a well-preserved Celtic Christian round tower, dating back to the 9th century, one of only three in the country that can still be ascended.
Among the noteworthy features are the black marble columns dividing the nave and aisles, the intricate groin vaults in the choir, the ancient enthronement stone for bishops in the north transept, and the medieval baptismal font.
3. Black Abbey
Established in 1225, this Dominican monastery was constructed outside Kilkenny’s city walls in order to maintain independence from the historic Irish and English quarters.
Located near a tributary of the River Nore, the abbey has endured numerous floods over its 800-year history.
Like other abbeys across Ireland and Britain, the Black Abbey was closed during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, yet it was preserved as a courthouse.
The abbey was reconsecrated in 1864, and its rib vaults contain historic ledger stones and medieval carvings, including the last remaining statue of St Dominic in Ireland.
In the southern transept, one can admire the stained glass Rosary Window, crafted in a Munich workshop in 1892, depicting the 15 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
4. Medieval Mile Museum
A modern historical museum, the Medieval Mile Museum was inaugurated in 2017 at a redesigned St Mary’s Church and graveyard.
The site dates back to the 13th century and is ideal for learning about the merchants who shaped Kilkenny’s economic and political landscape during the Middle Ages.
The museum houses two notable Ossory High Crosses from the Early Middle Ages, in addition to a collection of fascinating artefacts discovered during the church’s restoration.
Highlights include Kilkenny’s ceremonial sword and mace, as well as two significant volumes: the Liber Primus Kilkenniensis from 1231 and the Charter of James I from 1609. These historical items are complemented by innovative displays such as a large touch-screen timeline of Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile.
5. Rothe House and Garden
Located on Parliament Street, this elegant Tudor townhouse has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
Constructed for the influential merchant John Rothe at the turn of the 17th century, Rothe House is notable for its well-preserved original architecture.
The building comprises three interconnected houses, established in 1596, 1604, and 1610, each featuring its own courtyard and sharing a garden.
This property is particularly significant, as it is constructed on a narrow Medieval burgage plot, one of the few remaining in Ireland.
The interior includes a small archaeological museum, showcasing artefacts gathered from the Kilkenny area, while the formal garden has been restored to its 17th-century design, complete with an orchard, potager, herb garden, and topiaries.
6. St Mary’s Cathedral
When Puritan Oliver Cromwell arrived in Kilkenny in 1650, St Canice’s Cathedral was repurposed as a Protestant place of worship, leaving the Catholic congregation without a cathedral.
This predicament was rectified in the mid-19th century with the construction of the Gothic Revival St Mary’s Cathedral on the highest elevation of the city.
The structure is partially inspired by Gloucester Cathedral in England and is constructed from local limestone.
One of the cathedral’s most notable works of liturgical art is the depiction of Mary by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Maria Benzoni.
7. Smithwick’s Experience
Situated along the Medieval Mile, the historic Smithwick’s brewery has been transformed into an ale-oriented attraction featuring interactive exhibits, tastings, and a gift shop.
Brewing at this site dates back to the time of the Franciscan monastery that once stood here during medieval times.
Although the brewery closed during the Reformation in 1537, its sacristy was rediscovered during renovations in the 19th century and was incorporated into the brewery as a chapel.
The present building, which dates back to 1700, operated as a brewery until 2014 and has since reopened as an ale-themed experience.
Visitors can enjoy a multisensory environment that includes the sounds of monks’ chants, the warmth of freshly roasted barley, the fragrance of hops, and a tasting opportunity of Smithwick’s ale at the conclusion of the tour.
8. Jerpoint Park
Approximately 15 minutes south of Kilkenny lies the remains of the lost medieval town of Newtown Jerpoint.
Founded in the 12th century, Jerpoint once boasted 27 homes, 14 taverns, and a courthouse.
Amidst a landscape of chestnut, beech, lime, and oak trees, one can now observe the ruins of a domestic tower and the Church of St Nicholas, which features a 14th-century tomb effigy.
The town was ultimately abandoned following the collapse of its toll bridge over the River Nore.
Jerpoint Park offers heritage tours of the ruins, demonstrations with sheepdogs, and fishing on the riverbank.
Adjacent to this location are the extensive remains of the Cistercian Jerpoint Abbey, established concurrently with the town.
9. Tholsel
Prominently located on High Street, this monument features a striking high arcade.
The Tholsel, constructed in 1761, now serves as Kilkenny’s Town Hall.
Historically, it functioned as a customs house, courthouse, and guildhall.
Protruding from the roof is a small octagonal turret clad in copper and clock, complete with a viewing platform below.
The Tholsel serves as a natural gathering place, where various activities take place under its façade, including Christmas carolers and street musicians throughout the year.
During the holiday season, visitors can see Kilkenny’s Crib, and a temporary gallery is featured during Kilkenny’s Arts Week in August.
10. Dunmore Cave
Although relatively compact at 46 meters deep and 400 meters long, Dunmore Cave is noteworthy for its limestone formations and historical significance.
The Annals of the Four Masters, compiled in the 1600s, report a Viking massacre occurring at Dunmore Cave in 928. A significant quantity of human remains was discovered in 1869, and in 1999, a silver hoard dating to 970 was found within a crevice in the rock.
Visitors will learn more about these remarkable findings and marvel at some of the most impressive calcite formations in Ireland.
These formations have developed over 11 million years, and within these structures, fossilized bat skeletons can be observed.
11. Woodstock Estate
Near the village of Inistioge, southeast of Kilkenny, lie the remnants of an 18th-century stately home that was destroyed by fire during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
The house remains in ruins, yet the gardens offer an attractive reason to visit.
Stretching across the picturesque River Nore Valley, the gardens were designed between 1840 and 1900 by landowner William Tighe and his wife, Lady Louisa Lennox.
This couple introduced an array of exotic species, including a coast redwood, noble fir, and monkey puzzle tree.
Visitors can wander the grounds, appreciating the arboretum, walled garden, restored fountain, rose garden, and “yew walk,” before concluding their visit at the tea rooms.
12. Kells Priory
Located south of Kilkenny, the ruins of the Augustine Kells Priory are found outside the namesake village, adjacent to the River Kings.
This site is designated as an Irish National Monument, with its most striking feature being an outer wall punctuated by square guard towers, most of which remain in good condition.
Kells Priory was founded at the end of the 12th century by Geoffrey Fitzrobert, brother-in-law of the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, known as “Strongbow.” Within its first century, the priory was raided and set ablaze three times, highlighting the necessity for such formidable defenses.
Most of the remaining structures can be dated to the 1300s and 1400s, including a chapel, church, sacristy, and various monastic buildings in the northern portion of the ruins.
13. Castlecomer Discovery Park
Located minutes north of Kilkenny, this family-friendly adventure park spans over 30 hectares of woodland.
Opened in 2007, Castlecomer Discovery Park revitalizes rural tourism in a former colliery that ceased operations in 1969. The park features the longest over-water zip-line in Ireland, measuring over 300 meters, and a 140-meter treetop adventure walk high within the forest canopy.
For those seeking a challenge, the park offers a high ropes course called the Octagon.
A new climbing course for young children and an elf and fairy village add to the attraction.
The indoor exhibition “Footprints in Coal” provides insight into the area’s mining history and geology, while the quaint old stables host arts and crafts workshops.
14. Kilfane Glen and Waterfall
Located not far southeast of Kilkenny, this six-hectare Romantic garden was established at the end of the 18th century.
Kilfane Glen has drawn comparisons to Marie Antoinette’s envisioned Hameau de la Reine, with its flowerbeds preserving their original layout from over 200 years ago.
The garden features a thatched cottage orné and a bubbling stream crossed by charming ornamental bridges.
Among the flora, you will find flowerbeds adorned with foxgloves and ferns, all overshadowed by magnificent centuries-old trees.
A particularly enchanting sight is the 10-meter man-made waterfall, supplied by a custom-designed canal, complemented by a sculpture trail that meanders through the woodlands.
15. Maudlin Castle
Situated along the north bank of the River Nore, a 16th-century tower remains from a Medieval hospital established around the 13th century.
This heavily fortified hospital was located outside the Kilkenny center and primarily treated lepers.
The term “Maudlin” is derived from Mary Magdalene, as leprosy was often associated with prostitution during medieval times.
The tower stands at 25 meters tall and consists of four stories, constructed just prior to the dissolution of the hospital during the Reformation.
Be sure to examine the walls, which are punctuated by arrow loops, and if you look closely, you may discover an ancient garderobe (toilet opening).
