Best of Ireland Series - Kilkenny Guide 2015 by Southern

Kilkenny THE BEST OF IRELAND Series

2015

COMPLIMENTARY COPY

Craft and Majesty

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MAP

Experience the Vibrancy of the City and County!

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Editor: Rachael Finucane Writers: BrĂana Walsh, Rosaleen Regan, Adam Leahy, Rachael Finucane and Matthew Faughnan. Photographers: Many thanks to all contributors (see individual photos for information). Copyright retained by photographers/organisations etc. 2|

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Kilkenny Guide Contents THE BEST OF IRELAND Series

Contents

Welcome to Kilkenny

There is so much to see and do in captivating Kilkenny.

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Read about pursuits for all ages in the city and county.

There is plenty to explore in the neighbouring counties, from Waterford Crystal Visitors’ Centre to the Rock of Cashel.

Activities

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Learn about some of the main urban centres outside the city.

Shop ‘til you drop in Kilkenny at some of the independent retailers that make an impression.

County Towns & Villages

History & Heritage

Take a trip into the past by engaging with some of Kilkenny’s fine structures and landmarks.

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Arts & Culture

See why Kilkenny is often called the creative heart of Ireland with lots of entertainment venues, galleries and craft outlets.

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Shopping

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Food & Drink

Eat, drink and be merry while experiencing the best of Kilkenny’s restaurants, cafés and pubs.

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Accommodation

Visit, stay, or just indulge in some of the fantastic facilities offered by Kilkenny’s hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels and camping sites in the city and county.

Further Afield

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Useful Information

Useful information for services in Kilkenny.

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County Map

Map of Kilkenny County.

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City Map

Map of Kilkenny City

Festivals & Events

Make sure to try and go to a local festival on your visit.

A Tourism and Marketing Initiative from Southern Marketing Design Media For enquiries about inclusion in updated editions of this guide, please contact 061 310286 / info@southern.ie No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. © Southern Marketing Design Media 2015. Every effort has been made in the production of this magazine to ensure accuracy at the time of publication. The editors cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any alterations made after publication.

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Cover Image: La Chiva Gantiva performing at the Kilkenny Arts Festival 2014. © Ross Costigan

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Kilkenny Guide Welcome Kilkenny Arts Festival 2014

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Kilkenny extends a ‘Céad míle fáilte’ to everyone and provides an unforgettable experience

Captivating Kilkenny

ilkenny’s captivating past is written all over its vibrant present with historical landmarks scattered throughout this compact, cosmopolitan city and the wider county. Its citizens are known as ‘cats’, arising from their fabled determination in ancient, tribal times. As the famous limerick goes: There once was two cats of Kilkenny Each cat thought there was one cat too many. So they fought and they fit And they scratched and they bit ‘Til instead of two cats there weren’t any. Kilkenny - ‘Cill Chainnigh’ in Irish - is named after St. Canice. Legend has it that Cainnech moccu Dalánn (his name before sainthood) was known as one of the ‘Twelve Apostles of Ireland’ and preached all over the British Isles. He came to Kilkenny around 597 AD, allegedly leading a Christian force to get rid of the last stronghold of druidic rule.

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He founded a monastery near what is now the site of St. Canice’s Cathedral. This religious and native Irish settlement expanded with the invasion of the Normans in the 12th century. With their arrival came the building of the city walls and the fortress, Kilkenny Castle, which still stands today as well as a host of other historical buildings from around that time such as the Black Abbey. Kilkenny was an advanced city in terms of commerce and politics and continued in this vein through the centuries. William the Earl Marshall, established a Charter to attract citizens and create trade in 1208 and the first parliament was held in the late 13th century. In the late 14th century, the castle became the Irish home of the powerful Butler family when James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought the castle. By the 17th century, Kilkenny was a prosperous merchant city - granted official status in 1609 by King James I. Notable structures such as Rothe

Kilkenny Guide Welcome

House sprang up. Following the Irish rebellion, the first meeting of the Catholic Confederation Parliament was held here in 1642. Oliver Cromwell later suppressed this parliament, signaling a time of considerable upheaval in Irish life. This is just a taste of Kilkenny’s riveting past so the winding, narrow streets and lanes have many tales to tell! Kilkenny today is a thoroughly modern city and one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations. Internationally acclaimed annual events like the

Kilkenny Arts Festival and the Sky Cat Laughs Comedy Festival attract thousands. The hospitality and retail sectors are also going from strength to strength. Its main industries are, technology and food processing as well as craft & design.

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The beauty of Kilkenny makes an impression on locals and visitors alike

The foundation of the Government sponsored Kilkenny Design Workshops, in the sixties left a lasting legacy of creativity. Many craftspeople and other innovators are based around the city and county. Coincidentally, in 1967, one of the true jewels of local craftsmanship through the ages, Kilkenny Castle, was handed back to the people of the city. It is now preserved for future generations.

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The ‘cats’ of Kilkenny have flourished through the ages but their resolve has never been stronger than in the sporting arena. The Kilkenny hurlers’ prowess is legendary - having won a recordbreaking 35 All-Ireland titles to date. Kilkenny people have also excelled in the worlds of politics, religion, science and the arts. The beauty of Kilkenny makes an impression on locals and visitors alike. As native writer, Francis McManus, summed it up: “The dearest thing I know is a memory of sunny Sunday mornings in Kilkenny; the lovely line of castle, roof-top, spire and round tower against the pale blue sky, the sun revelling in the quiet colours of old stone, old walls, old tree; the tip-tap of the feet of people on the flagstones, and above all the flocking floating notes of the church bells. Sunday has a flavour of its own there, a clean, sweet, warming flavour.” Kilkenny extends a resounding ‘Céad mile fáilte’ to everyone and provides an unforgettable experience that will have visitors grinning like a Cheshire cat. |5

Kilkenny Guide County Towns & Villages Graiguenamanagh

County Towns & Villages

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The towns and villages of Kilkenny each has their own unique character

ounty Kilkenny is the 16th largest county in Ireland, spanning 2,073 km squared and it has a population of roughly 95,000. It has many vibrant towns and villages the length and breadth of the county. To the north of the city, Castlecomer is a former coal-mining town. The earliest record of a settlement here dates from around 1200 when the first Earl of Pembroke, William Marshal, established a motte and castle. The town was laid out in the 17th century by Christopher Wandesworth and has a large number of architecturally interesting buildings. Wandesworth also established Castlecomer Demesne. The estate is now home to a recreational facility, Castlecomer Discovery Park. Other prominent towns in the northern part of Kilkenny include Ballyragget, Freshford, Johnstown and Urlingford to name but a few. Gowran is located to the east of the county and this small town is home to the historic St Mary’s Collegiate Church,

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which is a national monument and the manor house, Gowran Castle. Around 1 km from the town centre is Gowran Park racecourse and golf course. In the south-east near the Carlow border, Graiguenamanagh (‘village of the monks’ in Irish) is on the River Barrow. Its most notable attraction is Duiske Abbey—the largest and finest of the 34 medieval Cistercian abbeys in the country. Also near the town is the ruined remains of the early Christian church of Ullard, which was founded by Saint Fiachra in the sixth century. Boating, watersports, walking and hiking are popular pursuits in the area. Bennettsbridge is situated on the River Nore near the centre of the county. Its name comes from Saint Bennet and it has had a strategic importance as a major crossing of the river since medieval times. Its first bridge was built in 1285. In more recent years, it has become a craft centre, with several pottery and craft producers based in the old mill beside the weir. Bennettsbridge is part of the parish of Tullaherin, which has a well-preserved 9th century round tower.

Kilkenny Guide County Towns & Villages

Thomastown

Inistioge

Callan is near the border with Tipperary. Founded in the early 13th century, it allegedly gets its name from the High King of Ireland Niall Caille who drowned in the river nearby (now dubbed ‘Kings River’). Local landmarks include the moat in the town, which is one of Ireland’s best-preserved examples of a motte and bailey, and Callan Augustinian Friary.

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The location has been used to shoot scenes for a number of films including Circle of Friends and Widow’s Peak

The largest town in Kilkenny aside from the city is Thomastown (historically known as ‘Grennan’). This lively market town located on the River Nore was founded on an important crossing point by an Anglo-Norman mercenary,

Thomas FitzAnthony. He later built fortifications and a castle here (some ruins still exist). Other nearby areas of interest include Jerpoint Abbey, Kilfane Glen & Waterfall and Mount Juliet Hotel & Golf Course. Further south-east from Thomastown is the small scenic village of Inistioge. The earliest recorded reference to it is in the Annals of the Four Masters and refers to a battle between the kingdom of Osraighi and an army of Norse in the year AD 962. The location has been used to shoot scenes for a number of films including Circle of Friends and Widow’s Peak. The beautiful Woodstock Estate is 1.6km outside the village. Other towns around the centre and east of Kilkenny include Knocktopher, Kells, Stoneyford, Ballyhale, The Rower and Windgap among others.

Bennettsbridge

and local attractions include Clonassey Castle, Inchicarron Castle, Pollanassa waterfall and Tory Hill. Right on the border is Mooncoin (‘Móin Choinn’ or ‘Coinn’s bog’)—a pretty town with consistently high Tidy Towns scores. It is famously referred to in the song, ‘The Rose of Mooncoin’, which has been adopted as the Kilkenny GAA anthem, appropriate because of its strong record in inter-county hurling. Other towns of note in south Kilkenny include Piltown, Kilmacow, Fiddown, Slieverue and Glenmore. The towns and villages of Kilkenny each has their own unique character so if you have the chance, it’s well worth exploring the county on your visit.

Further south towards Waterford lies Mullinavat, which in Irish translates as ‘The Mill of the Stick’. The town has a reputation for prowess in hurling The Best Of Ireland Series

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Kilkennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting past is very present in modern day with a wealth of medieval gems, places of worship and historical sites to explore.

History

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Don’t Miss ! * Taking a time machine back to medieval Ireland by exploring Kilkenny Castle. * Basking in the reverent atmosphere of Kilkenny’s cathedrals, abbeys and churches. * Taking in the architecture, interior and grounds of Kilkennys city’s landmark buildings. * Touring County Kilkenny’s heritage sites, including Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Priory and many others.

St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower The Close, Coach Road 056-7764971 www.stcanicescathedral.com

The grounds upon which the magnificent St. Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower now rest have been a place of worship since the 6th century. ‘Cill Channigh’, the Gaelic version of Kilkenny, literally translates as ‘the church of Canice’. The modern city grew out of the early Christian settlement here so the site is a vital part of the city’s structural and cultural heritage.

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The earliest church is presumed to have been made of wood and was replaced by a stone church before the English Gothic-style cathedral was built between 1202 and 1285. The 100ft round tower - which may have been a refuge and/or watchtower - dates back to the 9th century and is the oldest standing structure in the city. Visitors can still climb up the steps inside to get spectacular views from the top; it is one of only two towers in Ireland where you can still do this. The massive cathedral, built in local limestone, has been refurbished many times over the centuries but the majority of the original building remains. It is the The Best Of Ireland Series

second longest cathedral in Ireland. Some of the most imposing features include the marble columns, high ceilings, intricate stained glass windows, tombs of many bishops of Ossory and other prominent figures and monuments like the ancient stone chair of St. Kieran. The peaceful and reverent atmosphere is down to the fact that it is a working place of worship and many pilgrims also come here to pray. Regular Church of Ireland services take place here and all are welcome. St. Canice’s Cathedral also plays host to occasional concerts and events because of its fine acoustics.

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Kilkenny Castle & Park The Parade 056-7704100 www.kilkennycastle.ie Sitting on a height overlooking the city and the River Nore, the majestic Kilkenny Castle has witnessed over 800 years of history. The stone fortress was built on the site of an earlier defensive structure by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and was completed in 1213. The grounds include landscaped gardens and parkland, which are open to the public. It has undergone many changes in its existence and these alterations and additions map a unique journey through the styles of many eras. The castle became the Irish home of the powerful Butler family when James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, purchased it in 1391. This dynasty ruled the area for many centuries living there

until 1935. The 10th Earl of Ormonde started the changes to adapt the medieval fortress into a luxury home - roofing the tower nearest the river and adding the Great Gallery and formal gardens. The elaborate entrance was built in the 17th century and in the 19th century, more work was carried out in the fashionable Castellated Baronial style. Arthur, 6th Marquess of Ormonde, gave the castle to the people of Kilkenny for a token ÂŁ50 in 1967 and the Office of Public Works has managed the buildings since the late 60s. Extensive archaeological excavation, conservation and restoration projects have been carried out since then. Today, the tour and various multimedia exhibitions chart the history of the castle and the fortunes of its occupants. You can walk around the courtyard, manicured gardens and through the opulent bedrooms, halls The Best Of Ireland Series

and various state rooms. A section of the basement was refurbished and is now the Butler Gallery, which hosts art exhibitions and some of the National Galleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art collection is on display throughout the castle. The lavish surroundings of Kilkenny Castle was the venue for many momentous events i.e. the meeting of the parliament of the Confederate Ireland government in the 1640s. Now it still has top class conferencing and banqueting facilities in the Parade Tower Wing. If visitors want refreshments or a meal, the Victorian Castle Kitchen restaurant is on site. There is a public car park close to the castle; group tours can be booked and concessions/family tickets are available. Opening hours vary according to the season but the castle opens at 9/9.30am and closing times range from 4.305.30pm. | 11

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

The Black Abbey Abbey Street 056-7721279

The Black Abbey, one of the first houses of the Dominican Order in Ireland, was founded by William Marshall the Younger and completed in 1225. It is also known as the Convent of the One and Undivided Trinity but the ‘black’ in the name refers to the black cloaks the friars wore. It has a fascinating history. In 1349, the priory community was severely affected by the Black Death plague; eight members died in three months. The order was suppressed by the Protestant Queen Elizabeth and the abbey was converted into a courthouse until the end of the 17th century, when it was partially restored. From 1642 to 1649, the Black Abbey hosted the government called the Irish Catholic Conderation - playing a major role in trying to save Irish religion and the king, Charles I. In the early 1800s, it became a place of public worship and a parish church.

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It is also known as the Convent of the One and Undivided Trinity but the ‘black’ in the name refers to the black cloaks the friars wore

It is thought that the church has been altered architecturally over time but it has some beautiful features such as the tower, interior stonework, wooden ceiling and both clear and stained glass windows. The large stained glass window behind the altar is called the ‘Rosary Window’, made up of five vertical panels. It was created in 1892 by Mayers of Munich and is the largest stained glass window in Ireland. © littleny

timeline

Kilkenny’s History 1208 - Charter by William the Earl Marshall to attract citizens and create trade in Kilkenny 1213 - Kilkenny Castle completed 1293 - First parliament in Kilkenny during medieval times 1366 - Statutes of Kilkenny were enacted through a parliament held by the Duke of Clarence 1375 - Parliament held by King Richard II in person. 1609- Kilkenny granted its charter by King James I, constituting it as a city 1642- First meeting of the Catholic Confederation Parliament in Kilkenny 1650 - Oliver Cromwell arrives in Kilkenny in March 1687 - Charter of James II revokes the Charter of James I creating the city and county of Kilkenny 1690 - Charter of William III restoring the Charter of James I 1798 - Kilkenny under martial law in the year of the United Irishmen uprising 1839 - Election of the Board of Guardians of the Kilkenny Poor Law Union 1904 - Visit of King Edward VII to Kilkenny 1923 - Kilkenny Castle occupied by Anti-Treaty (IRA) forces 1965 - The Kilkenny Design Workshops were opened 1967 - The Marquess of Ormonde presented Kilkenny Castle to the people of Kilkenny 1985 - Kilkenny became the first city to win the Irish Tidy Towns Competition 2014 - Kilkenny senior hurling team won the All-Ireland Championship for the 35th time

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral James’s Street 056-7771253 www.stmaryscathedral.ie

Situated on the highest point in Kilkenny City, the spectacular St. Mary’s Cathedral was designed by eminent architect, William Deane Butler, and hewn from local limestone. Bishop William Kinsella raised the idea to build the Roman Catholic cathedral to replace St James’s chapel in 1842. Building work began the following year and was completed in 1857. The early English Gothic style cathedral is believed to have been heavily inspired by Gloucester Cathedral in the U.K. St Mary’s—which is also known as the church of St Kieran and the Cathedral of the Assumption—has a cruciform plan and elaborate design features, inside and out including an impressive 186ft tower, a high limestone altar and some striking stained glass windows. Relics of Saints Cosmos, Damian, Clement and Victoria are kept here.

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The spectacular St. Mary’s Cathedral was designed by eminent architect, William Deane Butler

St Mary’s also has a famous sculpture of the Madonna by the 19th century Italian neoclassical sculptor, Giovanni Maria Benzoni. There have been many renovations and additions over the years—with a large contribution made from parishioners. In fact, a significant amount of the funding for construction was collected locally. St Mary’s still has a loyal flock today. There are daily services and all are welcome. On a visit to St. Mary’s Cathedral, stop a while in the Chapter House Bookshop and Tea Rooms. The Best Of Ireland Series

Located in the grounds of the cathedral, the shop and tea rooms first opened its doors to the public in September 2012. The Chapter House itself was built in the late 19th century by then Bishop of Ossory, A. Brownrigg, and has recently been restored to its former glory.  The bookshop is on the ground floor and specialises in religious and spiritual books as well as goods including rosary beads, statues, candles, cards and other religious items. The bookshop is open from Tuesday to Friday, 9.30am–5pm and Saturday 10am–4pm. The Chapter House Tea Rooms on the lower floor are bright and airy and are enhanced by the original cut stone walls and brickwork. It serves a menu of savoury and sweet homemade fare. There is also a small courtyard where you can sip tea and enjoy the views of the cathedral itself. The tea rooms open Monday to Saturday, 9am-5.30pm and Sunday from 10.30am-4pm. For more information, call 0567703885.

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

The Tholsel High Street 056-7751500

The Tholsel has held many guises since its foundation in 1761 but it is currently used as Kilkenny Town Hall. Alderman William Colles was the man behind it and it occupies a dominant position on the city’s main thoroughfare. Its original use was a place to collect tolls, hence the name; it is derived from two old English words: ‘toll’, meaning tax and ‘sael’ or hall. It was subsequently used as a courthouse, custom house, guildhall and a meeting place for merchants. It now hosts various arts events too.

The Tholsel

It has some fine examples of stone masonry and architecture. The unique front of the Tholsel features a double

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It has some fine examples of stone masonry and architecture

five arch arcade, which was used as a covered market place and today it is a spot for buskers and the site for the traditional crib at Christmas time. There is an octagonal tower projecting from the slate roof, which has a large clock and viewing platform. On the southern façade, there is a relief sculpture of the Kilkenny’s coat of arms. The building underwent extensive renovation after a fire in the late 20th century but was restored to maintain the original character of this local landmark.

O’Loughlin Memorial Church of St. John the Evangelist The Presbytery, Dublin Road 056-7721072/7722209 www.stjohnskilkenny.com

For nearly eight centuries, people in this area have worshipped in a church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist and this particular church dates back to between 1897 and 1908. On December 27, 1220 (the feast day of Saint John), the first Mass was celebrated in the chapel of St John the Evangelist of Kilkenny. Ruins of this gothic church still exist and the bridge, street and parish have maintained the name. This church is the latest in a long line of churches here.

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This church is the latest in a long line of churches here

It was built using limestone in the Gothic Revival style and the vaulted ceiling, decorative sculpture and mosaic floor are 14 |

O’Loughlin Memorial Church of St John the Evangelist

just some of the notable interior features. There is also a flat-topped tower and the ornate door has a sculptured panel of an eagle, representing Saint John. Eminent architect, William Hague, designed the building but he passed away before it was finished and William H. Byrne took over. It was completed in 1908. The Best Of Ireland Series

The third Marquess of Ormonde presented the land to the parish and the money to construct the church was bequeathed by Kilkenny native, Martin O’Loughlin. He was a self-made man who had great business success in Australia, and expressed in his will that he wanted part of his estate to go towards building a church. His family carried out this wish.

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Rothe House & Garden

share the space with ornamental trees and flowers and even resident ducks! They are all heritage varieties and breeds that would have been used in the Rothe’s time.

Nestled in the middle of the city, Rothe House and Garden is one of Kilkenny’s hidden gems.

Visitors may wander through the rooms and courtyards where they will learn about the history of Kilkenny through a charming collection of art and artefacts gathered from the county by Kilkenny Archaeological Society. The collection includes remarkable 19th century costumes, prehistoric stone tools, medieval pottery, important art pieces and the skeleton of a long-extinct giant Irish deer, among many other treasures.

Parliament Street 056-7722893 www.rothehouse.com

Sitting on a plot of land that was granted by the medieval knight, William Marshall, the first house was built in 1594 by a wealthy merchant, John Rothe. After John married another influential Kilkenny resident, Rose Archer, their family grew and they added on to their late Tudor mansion. The residence is actually made up of three houses—one behind the other— with attractive cobbled courtyards in between. Behind all three houses is the stunning walled garden. This city-centre oasis has been faithfully reconstructed and now looks just as it would have when John and Rose strolled along the paths. Vegetables, herbs and fruit trees

times are as follows: April–September, Monday to Saturday 10.30am-5.30pm (last tour 5pm) and Sunday 2-6pm. October to March, it opens Monday to Saturday 10.30am-4.30pm (last tour 4pm).

Rothe House is also the family history centre for the county of Kilkenny, with a genealogist on hand to assist with your family history research but booking ahead is essential. Admission prices to Rothe House and Garden are: €5.50 (adult), €4.50 (concession) and €15 (family of two adults and two children). Opening The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

A Rock Solid Past

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Kilkenny has winding, narrow, cobbled streets and many little laneways dating back to medieval times

side from the best-known attractions, Kilkenny City has a few more interesting buildings which visitors can see while exploring. Read on for a description of some notable sites. Kilkenny Courthouse, also known as Grace’s Castle, on Parliament Street has a fascinating history. The earliest recorded building was built in 1210—a town house of the wealthy Grace family, who gave the building over to the British Crown in 1566. It was used as a jail from the 16th century and converted to a courthouse around 1792. Major remodelling work was done over the following centuries so it has architectural features from several eras. More recently, it underwent an extensive modern refurbishment and is used for District and Circuit Courts. The Shee Alms House has housed Kilkenny’s main tourist office since 1981 but it dates back to the 16th century and is one of the few remaining Tudor alms houses in Ireland. The Shees were a wealthy merchant family

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Butter Slip

in Kilkenny and in 1582, Sir Richard Shee (a lawyer and Deputy Treasurer of Ireland) founded the alms house “to accommodate 12 poor persons”. In the medieval era, trade was booming so diseases, such as the Black Death, flourished. There is a hospital from this era on Maudlin Street—known as Maudlin Tower or Castle. There is evidence that a hospital operated in the area from 1327 onwards but this building was constructed in the 16th century. The structure is 25 metres high and has four storeys. Kilkenny has winding, narrow, cobbled streets and many little laneways dating back to medieval times. These alleys, known as ‘slips’, offer shortcuts between streets. Horseleap Slip was probably given its name because veterinary surgeons practised and horses exercised there. The Butter Slip with its arched entry and stone steps, connects High Street with St Kieran’s Street. This dimly lit passageway dates back to 1616 and is so named because it was once lined by butter vendors on market days. Lonely

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Kyteler’s Inn

St Mary’s Church & Graveyard

Planet called it “the most picturesque of Kilkenny’s many narrow medieval corridors”. The Hole in the Wall, accessed by a lane off High Street, is a tavern in what is reputed to be Ireland’s oldest surviving townhouse—dating from the 16th century. Today, it is a venue for a range of cultural events. A rhyme by an unknown person in the 18th century references the tavern: “If you ever go to Kilkenny/Remember the Hole in the Wall/ You may there get drunk for a penny/Or tipsy for nothing at all.”

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There is evidence that a hospital operated in the area from 1327

Not many bars today can boast that the one-time owner narrowly escaped being burned at the stake but the historic Kyteler’s Inn can. Kilkenny native,

Shee Alms House

Dame Alice Kyteler, founded the bar on St Kieran’s Street in 1324. She was regarded with suspicion because of her wealth and her enemies accused her of witchcraft. With a trial potentially looming, Dame Alice disappeared without trace but her maid wasn’t so lucky and was tried, tortured and burned alive. Founded around 1205, St. Mary’s Church & Graveyard is one of the earliest religious buildings in the city. Built by the Bishop of Ossory, it was used for convening the Ecclesiastical Court. Although the church was closed in 1957, the graveyard has a rare collection of tombs and gravestones, which visitors can explore. Part of the site of MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre on the Dublin Road is made up of the former Union Workhouse, built in 1842. When the potato famine began in 1845 the Poor House quickly became the City Famine Workhouse and was, at the time, the fifth largest workhouse in Ireland. Thousands of men, women and children The Best Of Ireland Series

lived there; at one stage between 18451852, it housed 4,357 people in dire living conditions. It was taken over by the Sisters of Mercy in the 1870s and eventually became a hospital. Over 800 skeletal remains from the Great Famine of 1847 were discovered at the site during a specialist archaeological dig, prior to construction works. These remains were respectfully re-interred in the Famine Memorial Garden at Goods Shed Square on the site in 2010. The former workhouse buildings were restored and form part of the modern shopping centre. Kilkenny’s brewing tradition is celebrated in the newly opened Smithwick’s Experience (www. smithwicksexperience.com) at St. Francis Abbey Brewery on Parliament Street. The interactive experience takes visitors on a journey through the medieval origins of brewing on the site to John Smithwick’s operation in the 1700s, right up to the present day. Smithwick’s is Ireland’s oldest beer brand with a wealth of history attached to it and it is all outlined on the tour. | 17

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Walk Ireland’s Medieval Mile Kilkenny City is home to Ireland’s Medieval Mile—a planned route featuring some of the finest examples of architecture and heritage from that historical period. Once the medieval capital of Ireland, the city has a rich history, which is now being highlighted in the ‘mile’ stretching from Kilkenny Castle to St Canice’s Cathedral with numerous sights in between. The Medieval Mile—developed in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland—brand aims to help visitors navigate the main heritage sites as well as improving engagement by “unlocking the past”. Themed signage and maps are part of the initiative.

Along with the Medieval Mile, there are many other heritage and cultural offerings along and around it—during the day and into the evening. In 2014, Kilkenny held Ireland’s first Medieval Week in the spring and this event will have its second outing in 2015. It is hoped this festival will join Kilkenny’s other landmark festivals in entertaining locals and visitors alike in the vibrant city. For more information on the Medieval Mile, see www.visitkilkenny.ie.

Launching the new brand, then Mayor of Kilkenny Martin Brett said that “Ireland’s Medieval Mile will build on the tourism successes of the city further promote the development of our rich cultural and heritage”. The highlights include: Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny Design and the National Craft Gallery, St. Mary’s Church & graveyard, Graces Castle, Rothe House & Garden, The Tholsel, the Smithwick’s Experience, the Black Abbey, the Watergate Theatre, Kyteler’s Inn and St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower. 18 |

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

A County of Rich Heritage

Jerpoint Abbey

Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7724623 This spectacular Cistercian Abbey dates back to the 12th century and has rightly been designated as a National Monument of Ireland. It was constructed in 1180 by the King of Osraige, Donogh O’Donoghoe Mac Gilla Patraic and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The church with Romanesque detail is original. In the transept chapels, there are 13th to 16th century tomb sculpture while the

tower and cloister were added in the 15th century. One extraordinary feature is a sculptured cloister arcade with intricate carvings. Carvings are prominent throughout with another great example at the tomb of Felix O’Dulany, Bishop of Ossory, who was buried here in 1202.

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Constructed in 1180 by the King of Osraige

The abbey flourished until Henry VIII dissolved all the monasteries in the 16th century. It was handed over

to the 9th Earl of Ormond in 1541. It is very close to Newtown Jerpoint famous for being the reported resting place of St. Nicholas of Myra. The ruins are well preserved and there is a visitor centre with a fascinating exhibition charting its history. There are guided tours available in high season and admission for adults is €4 (concessions/family rates too). It opens from 9am-5.30pm from early March to September; in October until 5pm and November to early December from 9.30am-4pm. December to March it opens for prebooked tours only. Jerpoint Abbey

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage © Eimear and Noel Smith, Garryricken, Windgap

Memorials, Museums & Shrines With a history as rich as the enveloping countryside, County Kilkenny has more than enough to offer for even the most avid historian. Only a few miles outside Kilkenny City, the Nore View Folk and Heritage Museum in the small riverside town of Bennettsbridge has one of the largest collections of Irish historical artefacts out there. Proud proprietor, Seamus Lawlor’s, collection spans right from the Penal Times through the Great Famine, the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and beyond. Some of its 10,000 items date back to the Iron Age! Open seven days a week, Nore View Museum is a valuable reflection of Ireland in times gone by.

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Thought to be the largest Calvary Grotto in Europe, the expansive four acre Windgap Grotto is worth a visit. The brainchild of parish priest, Reverend James Brennan, Windgap Grotto was erected in 1920, using a mixture of Italian marble and locally mined quartz and red sandstone (which can be seen making up the intricate pathways of the grotto). A fine selection of Italian marble sculptures can be found at Windgap Grotto, including; Christ on the Cross, The Immaculate Conception and the Virgin Mary. The grotto’s centrepiece, Christ the King, can be found at the western quarter of the grotto, flanked by detailed mosaics which span throughout the whole site.

Callan Famine Memorial The Best Of Ireland Series

One of the most harrowing sites along Kilkenny’s historical trail is Callan’s Famine Memorial & Graveyard. Dedicated to the memory of Kilkenny’s countless and unnamed victims of the Great Famine, the site is located adjacent to the former Callan Workhouse. Many destitute occupants were interred here and researchers have never been able to determine exactly how many poor souls were buried in this area. The Callan Workhouse itself was built to house 600 people but during the Great Famine from 1845, it held much more than its capacity. The census for 1851, for example, lists 2,102 people as residing in it. Loose figures put the number of deaths at over 3,500 people in the famine period. After the famine years, it settled back to a normal level of operation and in the 1920s, it was occupied by Free State troops during the Civil War. It was later sold and used for other purposes. The memorial is a sad testament to a dark period in Irish history. An inscription on the graveyard gate reads “In memory of the uncounted victims of famine and poverty buried here, most of whom died in Callan workhouse 18411922”. These sites and more make up the fascinating historical tapestry of County Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Dunmore Cave

Castlecomer Road, Co. Kilkenny 056-7767726 Dunmore Cave is a unique wonder of history and geology, combining some of the best calcite formations found in Ireland with tales of an ancient Viking massacre.

The limestone cave - from the Irish ‘Dún Mór’ or ‘great fort’ - has various chambers formed over millions of years but is also renowned for its rich archaeological finds. The cave, which overlooks the Dinnin River valley, was first mentioned in the early historical record, Triads of Ireland. It has a quarter of a mile of passages and its deepest point is 46 metres. The most

The Buffalo at Dunmore Cave

Kilmogue Dolmen Kilmogue, near Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny

It is located around a kilometre from Harristown Crossroads. Visitors should turn left down a country lane and at the bottom of the lane there is a signpost

spectacular of the calcite formations is the Market Cross - a cross-shaped column nearly six metres high. A Viking massacre took place there in the year 928 AD - as documented in the 17th century Annals of the Four Masters and supported by evidence. In the late 19th century, excavators discovered a large amount of human remains in the cave. In 1999, over 40 silver and bronze artefacts were discovered in a rocky cleft deep in the cave. The haul, which included silver, ingots and buttons woven from silver, was dated to 970 AD. Although it was declared a national monument in 1944, it was not developed as a show cave with a visitor centre/tours until 1967. The visitor centre has a great selection of interesting exhibitions and displays. Opening hours vary according to the seasons. From March to mid-June and mid-September to the end of October, it opens seven days from 9.30am-5pm; mid-June to mid-September from 9.30am-6.30pm and November to March, Wednesdays to Sundays, 9.30am5pm. The last tour leaves an hour to two hours before closing. pointing to the dolmen. It is about 40 metres from the signpost hidden behind some bushes.

Kilmogue Dolmen, also known as Harristown Dolmen, is said to be the tallest and one of the most spectacular portal tombs in Ireland. It is a megalithic tomb, a type of aboveground burial chamber, which is built of large stone slabs (megaliths) laid on edge and covered with earth or other, smaller stones. Most dolmens originate in the early Neolithic era and most were built around 4,000 to 3,000 BC. The dolmen could be up to 6,000 years old and is likely to have been built by Neolithic farmers. A great feat of engineering, it is known locally as ‘Leac an Scail’ or stone of the warrior or hero. The unique cantilevered capstone rests on two large portal-stones and a pillow stone, resting on a back stone. The portal stones are around 3.7 metres high and the capstone reaches up over 4 metres. The entrance faces north-east.

Kilmogue Dolmen The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage Kilree Round Tower

reland is rich in early Christian and medieval history and Kilkenny is no exception. And to add to that it has a link to one of the world’s most famous buildings. Duiske Abbey in the town of Graiguenamanagh was built in the 13th century as the church of a Cistercian monastery and has seen many conversions itself through the eras. In the 1500s, the abbey was suppressed and fell into disrepair. It later served as a Protestant Church of Ireland before being returned to the Catholic community in 1812. It was fully restored in the 1980s and today this national monument serves as a Catholic parish church. The churchyard is home to the Aghakiltawn and Ballyogen Crosses, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries.

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Step back in time with a visit to one of the county’s heritage sites

Kilree Round Tower is about 14km south of Kilkenny and 4km from the village of Kells. The round tower sits behind a cemetery surrounded by trees, with the doorway facing the ruin of an early church—altogether an ethereal atmosphere. It dates from the 8-11th centuries and is a capless, battlemented tower about 27 metres high. To the west of the tower stands the 9th century 2.75 metre sandstone Kilree High Cross.

Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage James Hoban Memorial

Killamery High Cross, also known as the ‘Snake-Dragon Cross’, sits in a graveyard in the village of Killamery near the Tipperary border, on the N76 road. It is one of the Western Ossory group of crosses and measures 3.65 metres high. It is highly decorative with intertwining serpents and open-mouthed dragon as well as panels depicting Noah in the Ark and John the Baptist. A worn inscription on the base is a prayer for Maelsechnaill, the High King of Ireland from 846-862. Grannagh Castle, on the northern bank of the River Suir, was built by le Poers after the Norman invasion in 1169. King Edward III, after falling out with le Poers, granted the castle and lands to James Butler, the second Earl of Ormonde in 1375. The castle was originally a large, square, walled enclosure with cylindrical corner towers.

The estate and original fortified and moated dwelling were first occupied by the De Frene family. In the early 17th century the estate passed to the Purcell family who built the current castle. It was later seized by Oliver Cromwell’s army. Subsequent owners include Thomas Wright and the Swift family, relatives of Jonathan Swift. Foulksrath Castle was the oldest youth hostel in Ireland before it closed in 2009 and is now privately owned.

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It is highly decorative with intertwining serpents and open-mouthed dragon

Killamery High Cross

A thoroughly modern monument, The James Hoban Memorial, was constructed in 2008 at Desart, Cuffesgrange. Kilkenny-native, Hoban, was the architect who designed The White House in US capital, Washington DC—home to many an American President during their terms—and the memorial is close to his birthplace. It was built to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth and was erected by architecture students from the Catholic University of Washington DC and local craftsmen. At 30 meters long and three meters high, the structure is an impressive tribute. History buffs can discover these and more while touring around the county. Other fine examples include Callan Motte, Tinnahinch Castle, Grangefertagh Abbey, Burch Church Castle and more.

The old river facade (late 13th century) survives complete with its south-west tower, parts of the north-east tower and the connecting wall. The Butlers added a tall tower house and two-storey dining hall. Foulksrath Castle is a 15th century Anglo-Norman tower house in Jenkinstown, about 12km from Kilkenny city. It retains most of the original outer wall and main tower with the remains of a 13th century moat protecting its outer walls. Foulksrath Castle The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide History & Heritage

Kells Priory Kells, Co. Kilkenny 056-7751500

The King’s River runs alongside this striking Augustine priory beside the village of Kells. One of the most distinctive features is the cluster of medieval tower houses spaced out along and within the walls. These features make it look more like a fortress than a church and gives it the local nickname of ‘Seven Castles’. The ruins consist of a church, a chapel, a sacristy and several domestic buildings. There were over 20,000 archaeological finds at the priory including pieces of carved stone, pottery, floor and ridge tiles, metal objects and even painted window glass.

It was founded by Geoffrey FitzRobert -brother in law to Strongbow - in 1193. It was built on the site of an earlier church, which was dedicated to St. Mary, the Blessed Virgin and was the parish church of the village. During the first 150 years, the priory was attacked and burned no less than three times and it is thought the walls and fortifications date back to this era. In another exciting episode in 1324, the Bishop of Ossory, Richard de Ledrede, paid a visit to the priory. Around this time, the Bishop was pursuing a Kilkenny sect of heretics including Alice Kyteler and William Outlawe. Arnold de Paor, Lord of Kells, was a supporter of Outlawe and subsequently imprisoned the Bishop in Kilkenny Castle.

This caused a massive scandal and upon his release, the bishop tried Dame Kyteler’s maid who then burned at the stake. The dissolution of Kells Priory was in March 1540 and the entire property were given over to James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormonde. The four acre site is located about 15km south of Kilkenny City, Kells Priory is a national monument and run the Office of Public Works. It is open all year round.

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Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

Kilkenny Arts Festival 2014

From live entertainment to crafty endeavours to festival celebrations, Kilkenny has a fantastic arts and cultural offering.

Arts &Culture

ÂŠ Ross Costigan

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Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture Kilkenny Arts Festival 2014

Culture Down to a Fine Art K ilkenny is often referred to as “the creative heart of Ireland” because of the important role the city and its citizens play in the artistic and cultural life of the country.

The rich traditions of literature, theatre, music, visual art, craft and other passionate pursuits like sport have persisted through the centuries. Kilkenny has several annual festivals celebrating the arts and many individuals engaged in a creative life. Kilkenny has a long history of theatre and performance. There is an account dating back to 1366 of a Dublin theatrical troupe setting up in Kilkenny. Playwright, Henry Burkhead, wrote and printed a play called A Tragedy of Cola’s Furie, or Lirenda’s Miserie in 1645. The play was about the Irish rebellion of 1641 from an English point of view. During the late 18th century, it became popular for wealthy people to have plays performed at their houses and this led to the rise in the number of amateur acting companies. One of the leading troupes was founded by Sir Richard 26 |

Power in Kilfane in 1802, he and his brother set up a public theatre called The Athenaeum. This theatre was extremely popular, holding an annual carnival, gaining worldwide attention and attracting famous actors of the day like Miss O’Neill and Thomas Moore.

In the Illustrated Guide to the City and County of Kilkenny (1884), PM Egan wrote: “Some of the brightest scenes, the gayest assemblages, the most fashionable of audiences, the foremost galaxy of wit and taste... were experienced at Kilkenny during the halcyon period of its theatre.”

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The creative heart of Ireland

When The Athenaeum closed in 1819, the local theatre scene continued to thrive and in 1902, the Kilkenny Theatre was set up. In more recent times, the Watergate Theatre was founded in 1993 and the Set Theatre in 2009. Cleere’s Pub often hosts theatre too.All of these and other venues host a range of events The Best Of Ireland Series

in various artforms.

Today, there are vibrant theatre companies based in the city such as Barnstorm Theatre Company, The Devious Theatre Company and Kilkenny Youth Theatre. Kilkenny playwright, Thomas Kilroy, has been much lauded nationally and beyond. The internationally acclaimed actors, Ralph and Joesph Fiennes, lived in Kilkenny for a time in their youth. Theatre is also one of the pillars of the Kilkenny Arts Festival since it was set up in the 1970s. The festival—which is held annually in August—also incorporates dance, street performance, music, literary events, visual art and crafts. All types of music can be sampled every night of the week in Kilkenny. Traditional sessions and live bands are the most common form of entertainment in the many bars. Kilkenny Tradfest in March celebrates trad music in all its guises. Kilkenny has produced several well-known musicians, such as bands Kerbdog, Engine Alley and Jeremy Hickey (R.S.A.G). Kerbdog guitarist,

Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture Tomm Moore, Cartoon Saloon

Kilkenny Roots Festival

Cormac Battle, is now a DJ on national radio station, RTE 2fm. The annual Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival is dedicated to niche music genre, Americana. It has attracted some of the biggest names in that canon from all over the world.

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Kilkenny may be small, but as a fixture on Ireland’s cultural landscape, it is perfectly formed

Kilkenny has also become synonymous with stand-up comedy thanks to the annual Sky Cat Laughs Comedy Festival. This is held around the June Bank Holiday weekend and attracts the best in Irish and international comedians. Kilkenny has its own Film Club doing regular screenings. The organisation, Young Irish Film Makers, is based there, as are prestigious companies like

Cartoon Saloon and Mycrofilms. The primary venue for visual art is the Butler Gallery, based in Kilkenny Castle, which has a permanent collection as well as constantly changing visiting exhibitions. The Blackbird Gallery is another respected venue and printmaking collective, Blackstack Studio, also produces work for exhibition. Wellknown artists from Kilkenny include Christopher Hewetson, Edmund Garvey, Mildred Anne Butler, Gerard Casey and Tony O’Malley. The Kilkenny Design Workshops were set up in 1963 and opened in Castle Yard in 1965. The Craft Council of Ireland (now renamed the Design and Craft Council of Ireland) was founded in 1971 and established its base in Kilkenny, also at the Castle Yard in 1989. The major sectors within the Irish industry are pottery, glass, jewellery, textiles and furniture. The design and craft council supports native craftspeople and runs prestigious education/training programmes.

Design Centre and a number of onsite workshops for artists. There are workshops scattered around County Kilkenny with concentrations in places such as Castlecomer and Thomastown. The MADE in Kilkenny Craft Trail is a great way to discover these hidden gems and learn more about Irish craft. Kilkenny has crafted many a gifted ‘maker’ but has become the chosen base for many more. Kilkenny may be small, but as a fixture on Ireland’s cultural landscape, it is perfectly formed.

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All types of music can be sampled every night of the week in Kilkenny

The Castle Yard is also home to the National Craft Gallery, the Kilkenny The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

Don’t Miss !

* Joining the audience for a vibrant live performance in Kilkenny’s two theatres and a multitude of other venues.

* Beholding the visual art, sculpture and assorted media on display in local galleries. * Enjoying the varied entertainment at one of Kilkenny’s exciting festivals. * Viewing a cinematic masterpiece at Kilkenny Film Club. * Making the most of the crafty atmosphere by following the MADE in Kilkenny craft trail.

Kilkenny’s Craft Trail

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Whatever you are after, you will find something unique and made with great passion in any of the outlets featured on the map

ormed in 2009, ‘MADE in Kilkenny’ was set up to foster excellence in crafts in Kilkenny and has charted a dedicated craft trail made up of professional craftspeople of various disciplines around the city and county.

MADE in Kilkenny also encourages the growth of the indigenous, professional craft industry and promotes Kilkenny as a shopping destination for authentic, handmade craft in Ireland. Kilkenny has been a national hub for craft since the 1960s when the Irish Export Board made a radical move in setting up the Kilkenny Design Workshops. A state-sponsored design consultancy was an unusual concept but admired the world over. Since then, Kilkenny has built on this reputation and appeals to many artists as a base. The diverse categories in the trail include basket weaving, candlemaking, ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, leather, millinery, stone carving and textiles.

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There are many exciting artists, studios, workshops, galleries and craft shops to be discovered in Kilkenny City and County.

Whatever you are after, you will find something unique and made with great passion in any of the outlets featured on the map. In fact, you can see pieces being made in the workshops of the best known designer-makers in Ireland. Some entries in this guide are featured in the trail, which is available online and in a hard copy brochure. Those profiled within include jewellery-maker Rudolf Heltzel (pg 63), glassmakers Jerpoint Glass (pg 65), Moth to a Flame candle-makers (pg 65) and ceramicists, Rosemarie Durr and Andrew Ludick (pg 66). For more information on the MADE in Kilkenny Craft Trail, see www. madeinkilkenny.ie or pick up the purplecoloured trail brochure in the tourist office and other outlets.

Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

Watergate Theatre Parliament Street 056-7761674 www.watergatetheatre.com

This 382 seat theatre hosts a diverse, year round programme of drama, music, dance, visual art and more. The Watergate—a converted cinema—has been entertaining audiences since it was opened in 1993 by then President of Ireland, Mary Robinson. It continues a proud tradition of theatre in Kilkenny, which has been a popular draw in the city for centuries. The theatre has a versatile mix of national and international acts—split between professional/amateur dramatics, classical/contemporary music, opera and comedy. It staunchly supports local endeavours and so is a favourite venue for local drama productions and musicals, for instance. The upstairs gallery also holds regular exhibitions of paintings and photographs (upstairsgallery@hushmail.com). The impressive proscenium auditorium has a large balcony, with

The Set Theatre 69 John Street 056-7721728 www.set.ie

The Set Theatre is one of Kilkenny’s most spectacular venues, which runs a busy programme of theatre, comedy, music, film and other events. Built in 2009, the state of the art theatre can hold 252 people seated and

room for 75, and a wine bar service/ coffee dock for refreshments. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 2-6pm and Sundays/Bank holidays one hour prior to performances.

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Hosts a diverse, year round programme of drama, music, dance, visual art

Watergate Theatre

380 patrons, standing and seated. As well as acts from Ireland and abroad, the Set can host conferences and corporate events; it also sometimes acts as a nightclub. The Set has won much praise in a short time and won the IMRO Best Live Music Venue Award in the Leinster category three times since opening. There is a spacious car park behind the venue and it is a part of Langton’s Hotel, which has numerous bars and

The Set Theatre The Best Of Ireland Series

restaurant facilities. The flagship venue was designed by the prestigious David Collins Studio in London. 2013 marked the passing of David Collins. Originally from Dublin, David earned a degree at Bolton Street School of Architecture. From the beginning, David’s company vision was to balance aesthetics with rationale in all design projects. He was inspired by the likes of Eileen Gray, Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe, big names in the world of interior architectural design. The studio employed a multidisciplinary team to bring a multifaceted approach to all projects. The Set Theatre has all the hallmarks of a David Collins Studio project with deeply textured exteriors that at once feel brand new and full of history. It incorporates a balcony and the colour scheme of vivid red, blue and gold is intended to conjure up the glamour of a former age. The opulent décor is equal to the spectacle on stage and was a finalist in the FX International Design Awards in 2010. The Set and the David Collins Studio stand as a marker of David Collins’ legacy. | 29

Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

“ The Blackbird Gallery

The Blackbird Gallery Castle Yard, Castle Road 087-7843015 www.theblackbirdgallery.ie

Nestled in Castle Yard is a superb gallery showcasing the very best of Irish and international contemporary art, The Blackbird Gallery. Established in 2006 by Valerie Walshe, The Blackbird Gallery is set over several floors of a Georgian style

The Butler Gallery Kilkenny Castle 056-7761106 www.butlergallery.com

The Butler Gallery is a leading contemporary art gallery, which has been exhibiting for 70 years in the heart of Kilkenny City. Located in the former kitchens of Kilkenny Castle, the gallery has a permanent collection as well as holding a diverse programme of contemporary exhibitions “which reflects the constantly changing nature of visual art practice”. The gallery aims to provide a platform for the best of Irish art and artistic talent today but also has a strong commitment to presenting the work of internationally acclaimed artists—all to challenge and stimulate the audience. Butler Gallery has also developed a significant programme of education projects encouraging the participation of various audiences in the activities of Butler Gallery, including family, school, youth, adult and older age programmes. 30 |

building and stands firm as one of Ireland’s most prestigious commercial galleries. The gallery houses an impressive collection of national and international works both on canvas and paper Renowned artists such as Louis Le Brocquy and Charles Cullen hang alongside some of Ireland’s rising stars, offering a wonderful cross section of Ireland’s artistic talent. William Grace’s colourful seasonal landscapes and intimate country scenes These opportunities encourage meaningful public engagement and contribute to the development of an audience of diverse age groups, backgrounds and abilities. In 2008, Butler Gallery was awarded Full Museum Accreditation in 2008 from The Heritage Council of Ireland’s

Showcasing the very best of Irish and international contemporary art

are among some of the notable works found here. Expansion in 2009 and renovations in early 2014 are testament to the vision and commitment of its owner, which have led to the growth of this gallery as one of the finest in the country. The gallery hosts live performances and individual artists’ shows. They operate an international delivery service, wish list and gift voucher service and are happy to advise you on an artist or piece for your collection. The Blackbird Gallery is open Wednesday to Friday from 11am–5pm and Saturday from 11am–5pm. During the summer season the gallery is open every day. Further information is available on the website www.theblackbirdgallery.ie. Museum Accreditation Scheme for excellence in caring for collections, museum management and exhibition, education and visitor services. It is a not-for-profit organisation. The gallery is free of charge and open to the public seven days a week, all year round.

The Butler Gallery The Best Of Ireland Series

Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

Kilkenny Film Club www.kilkennyfilmclub.com

If you know your Anderson from your Allen; your Cronenberg from your Von Trier, film buffs like yourself are well catered for at Kilkenny Film Club. The club - which anyone can attend for one night or a whole season - aims to bring international, independent and world cinema to movie enthusiasts in the south east region.

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Films are typically shown on Tuesdays at 8pm every fortnight

The carefully selected films are typically shown on Tuesdays at 8pm every fortnight (see current season programme for specific details).

Kilkenny Film Club

Films are shown at the Set Theatre in John Street so viewers can enjoy the full cinematic experience in luxury. Tickets are priced per film or there ia a season ticket for seven films.

The Secret of... Cartoon Saloon

Song of the Sea

Not many Irish production companies can count two Oscar ® nominations among its accolades but Kilkenny’s Cartoon Saloon has that honour. Cartoon Saloon was formed by Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey in 1999. From award-winning short films such as From Darkness, Cúilín Dualach/ Backwards Boy, Old Fangs, The Ledge End Of Phil and Somewhere Down the Line to TV series like Skunk FU! and now Puffin Rock (launched on RTEjr in Jan 2015 and to be broadcast worldwide

later this year), Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international animation industry.

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Two Oscar ® nominations among its accolades

Cartoon Saloon has just released its newest feature film, Song of the Sea, a follow up to The Secret of Kells, which The Best Of Ireland Series

Tickets are available at the venue from 7.30pm on the evening. Kilkenny Film Club is a non-profit organisation assisted by Access Cinema and Langton’s House Hotel. was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010. Song of the Sea is directed by Tomm Moore and produced by Paul Young and Nora Twomey. The Oscar ® and Annie Award nominated film is currently enjoying theatrical success in France, USA and Canada with a further worldwide release planned for later this year, July 10 2015 in Ireland. Currently in development is a co-production with Aircraft Pictures and Melusine Productions to adapt the award-winning novel, The Breadwinner. Written by Deborah Ellis, it will be directed by Nora Twomey and is due to start production in summer 2015. Concentrating the artistic skills and experience of the company’s core creative founders, Tomm Moore, Paul Young and Nora Twomey, Cartoon Saloon continues to tell stories for the screen. The studio constantly aligns with artists and partners with whom it can grow and learn. For more information, see www. cartoonsaloon.ie, email info@ cartoonsaloon.ie or phone (0567764481). | 31

Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

Home of Design & Craft The Kilkenny Design Centre and National Craft Gallery are two mustsee local gems conveniently located in one place - the picturesque and historic Castle Yard. The complex is directly across from Kilkenny Castle. The Castle Yard was built around 1790 and housed the stables/ coach-houses of the fortress. The distinctive entrance building has an arched gateway and copper domed clock-tower. The entire complex was refurbished in the 1960s. The front building combines retail outlets and a restaurant. Assorted operating workshops are located further back. These were once home to the Kilkenny Design Workshops from 1965 to 1988 - an internationally acclaimed design practice and notable for being the first in the world to have been established by the government of a country. Find out more in the new free KDW iPad App at www.kdwapp.com. The gallery is in the second building.

National Craft Gallery Castle Yard 056-7796147 www.nationalcraftgallery.ie

The National Craft Gallery is Ireland’s leading centre for contemporary craft and design and has been designated as a regional hub for Irish Design 2015 (ID2015). ID2015 is a year-long programme exploring, promoting and celebrating Irish design and designers in Ireland and internationally which aims to foster dialogue and collaboration. The bright and airy gallery space with wood floors and large windows - is beautifully appointed and was established by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland in 2000. The National 32 |

Craft Gallery will present a dynamic series of ID2015 exhibitions and has a year round exhibition programme of Irish and international work. The gallery explores various themes in more detail through a diverse events programme which is very inclusive and familyfriendly. Events include workshops for children and adults, evening talks, film screenings, crafternoon tea and lunchtime ‘taster tours’. The gallery education space always has activities and worksheets to hand. The National Craft Gallery welcomes school tours of all levels, from primary school to third level. The staff can devise age-appropriate workshops on request at a reasonable cost. The gallery opens from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5.30pm and Sundays, 11am-5.30pm and admission is free. The Best Of Ireland Series

Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

Kilkenny Design Centre

Kilkenny Design Centre Castle Yard 056-7722118 www.kilkennydesign.com

Kilkenny has long been the capital of craft in Ireland and Kilkenny Design Centre showcases this industry in all its glory. The shop has a vast selection of craft and designer products from all over the island of Ireland. The range is diverse and includes pottery and china, glass and crystal, home textiles, knitwear, jewellery, accessories, paintings/prints, Celtic themed giftware and all manner of homewares and unique pieces. Some of the brands stocked include the Orla Kiely Collection, Magee, Jack Murphy, Erin Knitwear, Waterford Crystal, Belleek, Paul Maloney Pottery and Newbridge Silverware while locally

produced goods by Nicholas Mosse and Jerpoint Glass are also available. The centre supports tax-free shopping through Fexco and offers a worldwide shipping service. The Foodhall is a favourite local haunt offering free Wi-Fi. It serves fair trade organic teas and coffees and sweet/ savoury delights, gourmet ‘take home’ meals and carefully chosen artisan food gifts from the south-east and beyond, as well as fresh baked goods from the centre’s renowned bakery. The large bright dining space upstairs is elegantly lit with historic cartwheel windows looking out onto the stunning Castle Yard. This relaxing space offers food, ranging from hot to cold and sweet to savoury, which you can enjoy with a glass of wine or craft beer. The shop and restaurant open from 10am and the Foodhall is open from 8.30am, seven days a week.

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Kilkenny Guide Arts & Culture

Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre

www.ballykeeffeamphitheatre.com For a truly unique and unforgettable experience, why not attend a theatre or music event at Kilkenny’s outdoor auditorium, Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre? Located beneath Ballykeeffe Wood and Nature Reserve in a former quarry, which is roughly 11km from Kilkenny City, the amphitheatre has a state of the art canopy with superb acoustics. The audience sits on the elevated stone bench seating or on grass verges.

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The amphitheatre has a state of the art canopy with superb acoustics

Don’t Forget!

Craft Shopping

Kilkenny has a great reputation as a location for craft and so is one of Ireland’s best destinations for purchasing Irish art and crafts. Many makers and artists’ workshops/ galleries are also retail outlets. Be sure to check out the shopping section of this guide to learn about jewellers, Liam Costigan Goldsmith and Rudolf Heltzel (pages 64 and 63 respectively). Candle-makers, Moth to a Flame and

Ireland’s potential for inclement weather means that the venue’s programme of events generally runs from June to September. The programme is available on the website. Past events have included plays and live music by well-known artists. The canopy was erected in 2011 with the aid of LEADER funding. Kilmanagh Ballycallan Killaloe Community

Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre

glassmakers, Jerpoint Glass, are on page 65. Ceramicists, Rosemarie Durr and Andrew Ludick, have a profile on page 66. As mentioned on page 28, all of those featured on the MADE in Kilkennny Craft Trail have a vast selection of handmade products for sale too. At Kilkenny Design Centre (page 33), the retail store stocks a wide variety of Irish craft and giftware including knitwear, jewellery, ceramics, prints, paintings, woodwork, glassware and more by native designers, artists and companies.

Rudolf Heltzel 34 |

Enterprise Group Ltd. (KBK) runs the venue and is maintained by volunteers drawn from KBK members, who work all year round to keep the grounds in order. KBK is registered charity and was founded in 1986 by a group of local people in order to develop and promote community development. For more information and to purchase tickets, email ballykeeffe@gmail.com.

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DID YOU KNOW? Namesakes Kilkenny is not just a place name but also a surname and there are several notable people across the globe with this moniker. John Kilkenny (1901-1995) was a federal judge in the United States, serving from 1959-1971. He hailed from Oregon and was the son of an emigrant from Co. Leitrim. Canadian Michael Kilkenny (born 1945) is a former Major League baseball player. He played for the Detroit Tigers, the Oakland Athletics, the San Diego Padres and the Cleveland Indians and is also one of the few players in MLB history to play with four teams in the same season. Neil Kilkenny, born in 1985 in Enfield, England is a professional footballer with Preston North End. He has played for three international teams at various levels including Ireland, England and Australia.

Kilkenny Guide Festivals & Events

Kilkenny is famous in Ireland and throughout the world for its festival scene. Whether you have a passion for fashion or the arts, film or food, you can soak up the atmosphere all year round.

ÂŠ FĂĄilte Ireland

Festivals & Events The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Festivals & Events Kilkenny TradFest

Festival Frenzy! K ilkenny has a very lively calendar of festivals the whole year round, providing fun and frolics for all ages. Subject matter ranges from comedy to food, music to fashion and lots in between. If you’re planning a visit to the Marble City and the wider county, be sure to see what festivals are on when to truly see Kilkenny at its most vibrant. March The Kilkenny Music Festival runs in mid-March (2016 dates TBC) and has a large range of competitions in categories such as choral, vocal solo and instrumental performances by competitors from all over the southeast aims. The event, which typically includes a gala concert, aims to bring together a wide range of ages and talents to celebrate music (www. kilkennymusicfestival.com). St Patrick’s Day on March 17 celebrates Ireland’s patron saint and parades, 36 |

along with other events, happen all over the country. Kilkenny’s celebrations get an added boost with Kilkenny TradFest—a feast of traditional music, song and dance, which takes place in the run up to and on the patron saint’s day. The festival began in 2013 and events include a Music Trail, numerous live gigs, céilís, workshops, family activities and more, culminating in a traditional parade (www.kilkennytradfest.com; 2016 dates TBC). April Knights and fair maidens are invited to joust in Kilkenny Medieval Week— taking place from April 17-26 in 2015. Events will include royal feasts, storytelling, workshops, demonstrations, historic tours, a medieval market and many family friendly pursuits in city and county. Natives and visitors are encouraged to dress up in ye olde medieval costumes. See www. visitkilkenny.ie for more details. The Best Of Ireland Series

May One of the most successful annual festivals in Ireland devoted to a niche music genre is the Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival (www. kilkennyroots.com). Held annually on the May Bank Holiday weekend (May 1-4 in 2015), this festival draws some of the biggest names in roots/Americana music and also includes sub-genres like country, folk, blues, bluegrass, rockabilly and Cajun. Gigs take place in multiple local venues, large and small. MOJO Magazine said that the “Kilkenny Roots might just be the best pound for pound festival of its kind anywhere”. June The Sky Cat Laughs Comedy Festival (www.thecatlaughs.com) takes place annually in various venues in Kilkenny over the June Bank Holiday weekend (May 28-June 1 in 2015). For five days, laughter is king in medieval Kilkenny and the cream of Irish and international comedy talent perform. It will celebrate

Kilkenny Guide Festivals & Events © Evelyn McNamara

Kilkenny TradFest

Savour Kilkenny © Dylan Vaughan

Kilkenny Arts Festival

its 21st birthday in 2015 and the festival attracts around 30,000 visitors annually. Aside from individual shows, there is a festival nightclub, late variety shows and other informal events. The Kilkenny International Gospel Choir Festival inspires music-lovers and worshippers alike in June (June 19-21 in 2015). The programme includes a concert, workshops, a walking tour and more. Gospel choirs from Ireland and abroad can take part and visitors can simply enjoy the divine musical experience. See www. kilkennygospelchoirfestival.com to get in tune with the events. August Undoubtedly one of Ireland’s premier events, the Kilkenny Arts Festival takes place annually in mid August (August 7-16 in 2015) at assorted venues. Now 42 years in existence, The Kilkenny Arts Festival (www.kilkennyarts.ie) offers a packed multidisciplinary programme

Kilkenny Medieval Week (Courtesy of Kilkenny Tourism)

with events involving theatre, music, visual art, literature, craft, children’s and street theatre, film and the classical arts such as opera. The city’s oldest and largest non-profit festival now draws more than 45,000 visitors annually to over 30 indoor and outdoor venues. It attracts established groups/practitioners from all over as well as commissioning new works for its innovative line-ups. Ireland’s oldest agricultural show, the Iverk Show, is a day jam-packed with activities and lots to see for all the family (August 22 in 2015). Founded in 1826 and taking place in Piltown, County Kilkenny, it will have over 400 trade exhibits, machinery displays and even four show jumping arenas featuring international participants in the sport. Events include live entertainment, competitions, classes, the All Ireland Championship finals and classes in cattle and horses/ ponies and much more (www.iverkshow.ie). The Best Of Ireland Series

October Look out New York, Paris and Milan! Kilkenny has had its own Fashion Week in October in recent years (www. kilkennyfashionweek.com). There is typically a busy schedule of fashionthemed planned and bumper fringe programme to suit every age and taste. It aims to promote Kilkenny as a leading shopping destination and showcase the great choice of city centre shopping (2015 dates TBC). The October Bank Holiday Weekend is a very busy few days in Kilkenny with numerous events taking place simultaneously. All of the proceeding events are on around this time. Savour Kilkenny (www.savourkilkenny. com) gives a real taste of Kilkenny City and county. There is a full menu of events served up for this annual food festival (October 23-26 TBC). Since its humble beginnings nine years ago, this October snack has grown into a | 37

Kilkenny Guide Festivals & Events Kilkenny Arts Festival

Kilkenny Roots Festival

Rockfall Music Festival

feast with the tagline and events include cookery demonstrations, masterclasses, tastings, a food market, talks, discussions and more. There are tie-ins with local restaurants, cafes, hotels and bars too. The Rockfall Music Festival also typically takes place annually over the October Bank Holiday weekend (October 23-26 in 2015). Held in a variety of venues, live music and street entertainment form the core of the activities. Best of all: the local bands play for free and all monies raised from the festival are donated to charity. More details at www.rockfallfestival.com. On October 24-25 2015, the Thrillkenny Zombie Festival will make the city truly ‘medi-evil’. Billed as Ireland’s largest fancy dress where natives and visitors are encouraged to remodel themselves as the walking dead. There will be spot prizes in local bars and clubs, live music, zombie movie screenings, haunted treasure hunts and tours, the global Thriller dance world record attempt; free Thriller dance 38 |

Savour Kilkenny

workshops, a zombie walk for charity and a Zombie Ball (www.thrillkenny. com). November The Kilkenomics Festival is Ireland’s first event of its kind dedicated solely to economics, albeit with a comic edge, and it attracts many notable economists and commentators (www.kilkenomics. com). Founded in 2010 and running from November 5-9 in 2015, this unique festival aims to demystify national and global economic issues through stimulating and informative events in many city venues.

Dates etc are subject to change. These are just a selection of festivals and events around city and county. For more information and updates on these and more in Kilkenny, see www. visitkilkenny.ie. © Evelyn McNamara

The SUBTITLE European Film Festival (www.subtitlefest.com) in November offers film buffs a chance to see some of the most popular European films that aren’t available at your neighbourhood cinema. As well as this, the festival (November 23-29 in 2015) allows viewers an opportunity to meet the filmmakers and stars. Kilkenny TradFest The Best Of Ireland Series

Kilkenny Guide Activities

They say â&#x20AC;&#x153;idle folk have the least leisureâ&#x20AC;? and there is no fear of being bored with the wide range of activities in Kilkenny City and County to experience.

Activities The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Activities

Tee Time in Kilkenny! F rom Padraig Harrington to Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke to Graham McDowell, Ireland has produced its fair share of golfing legends. Golf is an exceptionally popular hobby and Kilkenny boasts no less than six great golf courses. Mount Juliet in Thomastown (056-7773012) is one of the premier courses in the country. Jack Nicklaus, in contention for the title of ‘greatest golfer of all-time’, designed this top class championship course. Located around 20 minutes from Kilkenny City, the par-72 course has been open since 1991 and attracts golfers from the world over. Its undulating fairways, water hazards and manicured greens provide a real challenge. Mount Juliet hosted the Irish Open from 1993-95 and also two World Golf Championship events in 2002 and 2004. Gowran Park Golf & Leisure (0567726225) is not only a superb parkland golf course, but is also home to the only grade one racecourse in the south-east. Located near the village of Gowran—16km outside the city—the 71 par golf course was added in 2001. All 18 holes present a trial for golfers of all levels. Against the stunning vista of the Blackstairs Mountains, golfers can amble through some of the 130 acres of mature woodlands and lakes of the Annaly Estate, where 15 holes are located and three on the racecourse.

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Kilkenny Golf Club in Glendine (056-7765400) is just a few minutes drive from the High Street. The par 71, championship golf course is set on 120 acres of parkland. Notable features of the course are “the four very challenging par threes, the long tree lined par four eleventh and a par four with a testing undulating green of some 40 metres long”.

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Golf is an exceptionally popular hobby and Kilkenny boasts no less than six great golf courses

Castlecomer Golf Club (0564441139) is a par 72 parkland course set in a 200 year old forest with picturesque views. Completed in 2003, the layout was recently adjusted for the better. Pat Ruddy designed it to be unique and it boasts “18 holes of tremendous character and challenge which will compel any discerning golfer to return again”. Callan Golf Club (056-7725136) is located in Geraldine, on the Knocktopher Road, about a 1.6km from the town of Callan and 19km from Kilkenny City. Established in 1929, the mature 18 hole

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Don’t Miss

* Getting your pulse racing with an active pursuit or adventure activity. * Hiking, biking, angling or golfing your way around Kilkenny. * Ruling the animal kingdom at a pet farm or reptile zoo. * Enjoying indoor fun at a bowling alley or cinema. * Shouting encouragement at a sports match or event. * Getting out in the fresh air at a park, garden or playground. * Seeing the sights and learning new facts while taking a tour. * Sampling Kilkenny’s foodie scene on the TASTE of Kilkenny food trail, or indeed walking or cycling on the many designated trails.

parkland course features well placed spinneys, bunkers and water hazards. Mountain View Golf Course (0567768122) is in Ballyhale, Kiltorcan— around 26km from Kilkenny City. This course is a case of “by name and by nature” with fantastic views. Developed by the O’Neill family, its 120 acre expanse includes carpet-like greens, creative hazards and one off additions such as two handmade wooden bridges, which featured in the film, Braveheart.

Kilkenny Guide Activities

Pure Adventure

The Quay, Graignamanagh, Co.Kilkenny 087-2265550 www.pureadventure.ie For an active holiday, Pure Adventure has thrilling activities for all ages. Pure Adventure is run by Patrick McCormack, a fully qualified outdoor education instructor with many years experience guiding tours & training canoeists.

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For an active holiday, Pure Adventure has thrilling activities for all ages

You can also try your hand at sea-kayaking on the stunning Copper Coast where you can get up close and personal with marine wildlife and see some wonderful natural features such as sea stacks, arches, caves, tunnels, blowholes and caverns. Pure Adventures trips and tours are suitable for everyone even if you have never been in a canoe or kayak before it’s the perfect way to have your first experience. If you would like to develop skills, Pure Adventure runs canoeing & kayaking courses teaching people from beginner to advanced skills levels.

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You can get up close and personal with marine wildlife and see some wonderful natural features

Pure Adventure offers activities suitable for everyone from hens & stags, school tours and youth groups, families & friends with plenty of full day and half day options to choose from.

The team at Pure Adventure offer amazing activities and experiences, ideal for getting out seeing the stunning surrounding countryside. You can try your hand at canoeing, kayaking or SUPing (stand up paddle boarding). Whether it’s an adventurous action filled white water adventure or a chilled out cruise along the meandering river this is a day well spent. The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Activities

Kilkenny’s Walking and

visit to Kilkenny offers guests a breath of fresh air, in more ways than one. Kilkenny City and County have an impressive range of natural beauty spots. Kilkenny also has a selection of mapped and signposted walking and cycling trails, which offer the perfect opportunity to refresh the senses. Nore Linear Park features a network of over 7km of accessible cycleways and footpaths on both sides of the River Nore as it flows through Kilkenny city and outskirts. It is divided into four sections: The West Bank from Bishops Meadows to the weir at Talbot’s Inch; The Peace Park between John’s Bridge and Green’s Bridge in the city centre; The Canal Walk parallel to Kilkenny Castle grounds; The Lacken Walk from the Dublin Road on to Bennettsbridge. The Thomastown to Inistioge Trail on the Nore Valley Walk takes you through diverse countryside, pastoral lands and woodland. It passes the ruin of Grennan Castle at the start, followed by the pretty 42 |

Dysart Woods and Dysart Castle. The Kilkenny to Bennettsbridge Trail is the second part of the Nore Valley Walk. It starts under the Ossary Bridge and heads south for 11km following the River Nore to Bennetsbridge. Once in Bennettsbridge you could then try the O’Gorman’s Lane Loop. This is a 4km trail starting at the Primary School and traversing country roads, old laneways, woodland tracks and riverbank. Castlecomer Discovery Park on part of the former Wandesforde Estate in Castlecomer offers 6km of themed forest walks looping around two man-made lakes and interspersed with wooden sculptures and picnic areas as well as a children’s playground. There is also a tree top walk in the midst of the canopy 10 metres above ground offering stunning views! Castlemorris Wood Walk consists of three looped walks that start and finish at the Grand Gates of Castlemorris Estate which lies west of the villages of The Best Of Ireland Series

Newmarket and Hugginstown and east of the village of Kilmaganny in South Kilkenny. The Holly Loop consists of 6km of forest track and grasslands; the Fern Loop is a 3km moderate walk; the Pheasant Loop is a 7km moderate-hard walk. The forest is closed to walkers during pheasant shooting season. Kilmacoliver Walk is a 6km loop walk starting at the Watering Place— wildlife lakes fed by fresh water springs—1km from the village of Tullahought on the border with Tipperary. At the summit (261m) is a circular enclosure of standing stones believed to be a megalithic tomb dating back 5000 years. Callan’s Abbey Meadow Walk is situated on the north banks of the King’s River in the town of Callan, about 15 kilometres from Kilkenny City along the N76 national road. This wheelchair accessible trail links architectural, archaeological and cultural sites in and around the town. It begins at the entrance to the Abbey meadow and continues

Kilkenny Guide Activities

Cycling Trails around one of the town’s earliest surviving developments, a 15th century Augustinian Abbey. Seating is available along the route. Mountain Grove Woods features a 4km trail that traverses the beautiful mixed woodlands at Mountain Grove in the picturesque village of Piltown, situated between the hills and forests of South Kilkenny and the foothills of the Comeragh Mountains. Jenkinstown Park and Gardens offers two short walking trails – the Jenkinstown Wood Loop and the Walled Garden Loop. It is situated off the N78 road about 10 km north of the Kilkenny City. It offers varied woodlands, picnic sites and a deer park. The woods are carpeted in bluebells in late spring and are quite a sight to behold. The Islands Walk, Urlingford starts opposite the library/courthouse on the Dublin side of town and is a short walk through the hinterland of Urlingford. It takes you through the town, past a restored 15th Century church and on into forest with mixed evergreen and

deciduous species, passing the River Goul and a 15th Century castle on its banks.

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A selection of mapped and signposted walking and cycling trails

Experienced walkers might like the Brandon Hill Loop, a 12 km trail starting in the town of Graiguenamanagh and traversing hillside, forestry tracks and minor roadways. Three cycle trails are also being developed by Trail Kilkenny. The North Kilkenny Cycle Route stretches for 83km and the trail begins in Ballycannan. The route, which is mainly along quiet country roads starts at Ballycallan and passes through Tullaroan, Freshford, Ballyragget, Castlecomer and finishes back where The Best Of Ireland Series

it started. The signs are up along the route but the mapboards and route guide have not yet been completed. The East Kilkenny Cycle Route (roughly 65km) begins at Bennettsbridge and takes in Graignamanagh, The Rower, Inistioge, Thomastown before ending back at Bennettsbridge. The signs are up along both routes but the mapboards and route guides have yet to be completed. The third cycle route, which is the longest and is 110km, is the South Kilkenny Cycle Route. The planned route starts at Thomastown and passes through Inistioge, New Ross, Kilmacow, Piltown, Knocktopher and ends in Thomastown. This route is still in the planning phase but it is definitely one to watch out for. For more information on upcoming events, as well as local walking and cycle trails, can be found on www.trailkilkenny.ie.

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Kilkenny Guide Activities

Lots of

! n u F y l i Fam

Kilkenny is awash with family friendly activities to keep grown-ups, tots and teens entertained. Whatever the weather, there are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep the family occupied. Get out and make some family memories you will treasure forever. When the weather is anyway fair a trip to Nore Valley Pet Farm (0567727229) will excite and delight with plenty of fresh air and the chance to see and pet some lovely animals. The facility also caters for group/youth activities and team building. Castlecomer Discovery Park (056-4440707) has everything from tree top walks, nature trails and a playground with a mini zip-wire and climbing wall. The National Reptile Zoo (056-7726757) in Gowran has a fascinating array of reptiles to learn about.

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If you want an active holiday experience for the family, there are plenty of options. Pure Adventure (087-2265550) offer lessons and treks for those interesting in kayaking and canoeing, or you can pay a visit to Kilkenny Activity Centre (0862611567) to go on a treasure hunt, take on the assault course, play bubble soccer or splatball (a lower velocity version of paintball). If you want to have fun in the water, The Watershed Sports & Leisure Centre (056-7734620) has a 25 metre, six lane pool, a five metre learners’ pool and a kiddie’s pool where your little ones can learn how to swim. For sightseeing, the miniature road train of Kilkenny City Tours (0877301500) is an ideal way to get around and lots of fun too. Kilkenny Cycling Tours (086-8954961) and Waterside Bike & Hike (086-4084008) offer the

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chance to see city and county in the bike saddle. Of course, for a bit of indoor fun, try Kbowl (056-7788200), which boasts ten-pin bowling and lots more entertainment. Art It. (086-3085270) lets kids and adults alike go wild expressing themselves with art classes and activities like life drawing and paintballing on canvas. The Kilkenny Omniplex cinema (1520-444700) has all the latest Hollywood blockbusters. In this section, there are also special features in this section on Kilkenny’s parks & gardens, walking & cycling trails, playgrounds, food & craft trails and more—all family friendly. And of course, there is a lot to do in other sections of this guide like history & heritage and arts & culture too. For more tips on family pursuits, see www.visitkilkenny.ie.

Kilkenny Guide Activities

Art It.

Priory House, MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre 086-3085270 www.facebook.com/pages/Art-ItKilkenny Many visitors to Kilkenny come to “paint the town red” while others come to experience the thriving arts and culture scene. There’s a place here that helps you do both and that place is called Art It.

for all ages with a variety of packages for hen parties, team building events, birthdays, school excursions or just to take some time out. From life drawing to action-packed paintballing of canvas, there’s something to suit everyone. Children and parents have a ball here too spending family time together, or children can join in to

DiDi’s art and craft classes on weekends, art camps in summer, and at her popular ‘drop in’ service where you can leave your children to get crafty for an hour or two while you tour Kilkenny or shop. DiDi’s work is on exhibition all year round at her studio and art gallery at Art It.

Art It. is the brainchild of DiDi Dobree – Wilson, an artist who herself has led a colourful life. Born in New York to Irish parents, her stints in Greece and Italy exposed her to a vibrant art scene which inflamed her own talents. DiDi studied art in London and Rome and had a successful career in fashion and interior design before returning to her love of painting, an area in which she excels. DiDi shares her passion for art through The Young Artist Studio’, which she started in 2001 and has now grown to become Art It. The studio has something

KBowl

MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Dublin Road 056-7788200 www.KBowlkk.ie Follow in the footsteps of music legend, Bruce Springsteen, and go to KBowl when in Kilkenny.

Art It.

This clean and modern 10-pin bowling and entertainment centre is located at the front of MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre beside the train station. Ten-pin bowling is a fun packed family activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. Children as young as four years of age can use the bowling ramps and lane barriers. The state-of-the-art computerised scoring systems allow players to relax

on the leather sofas while enjoying a selection of refreshments including soft drinks, cappuccinos, popcorn and pizza. As well as bowling, KBowl has the only Hurricane Karts in Kilkenny, a huge bouncy castle, arcade games and Teddy Mountain where children build their own teddy bears. You are sure to ‘strike’ fun times at KBowl! For more information, call 0567788200 or log onto www.KBowlkk.ie.

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Kilkenny Guide Activities Castlecomer Discovery Park

Castlecomer Discovery Park Castlecomer Discovery Park

The Estate Yard, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny 056-4440707 www.discoverypark.ie Castlecomer Discovery Park comprises 80 acres of stunning natural woodland and lakes with 6km of great walking trails. This beautiful park opened to the public in 2007 and has already been twice nominated as ‘One of the 3 Best Family Attractions in Leinster’ (Primary Times). It is situated on the grounds of the former Wandesforde Estate where many of the stone buildings have been beautifully restored to preserve the character of the estate. These can be admired as you enjoy the award winning craft studios located in the former stable buildings, where you can also meet the craft makers at work and find a novel gift.

or opt for a nature trail and unearth the magic of the park. For the more adventurous, discover your inner climber on the Tree Top Adventure Walk Activities, 10 metres above the ground, high among the trees. This 140 metre course provides a real mental and physical challenge—children love it while adults laugh with fear. There is also the opportunity to reach new heights on the great outdoor climbing wall with different levels for all to enjoy, or experience the daring ‘Leap of Faith’— climb the 7 metre pole, try and balance on the platform and then take a leap of faith.

Enjoy trout fishing on the picturesque lakes, where fishing lessons can be arranged and rod hire is also available. Explore the new permanent 1, 2, 3km orienteering trails, where you can complete the course in teams or solo, 46 |

The Visitor Centre stands on the site of a former grass drying building which was located in the estate yard of the Wandesforde Estate. Here you will find the fascinating interactive multimedia Coal Mining Exhibition, charting the formation of coal over 300 million years. Then it continues through Castlecomer’s coal mining history of over 300 years, which includes the discovery of plant and animal fossils. And after all that, relax with a snack or light lunch in the award-winning Jarrow Café, recommended by the acclaimed Bridgestone Guide.

Castlecomer Discovery Park Exhibition The Best Of Ireland Series

Kilkenny Guide Activities

The National Reptile Zoo Gowran, Co. Kilkenny 056-7726757 www.nationalreptilezoo.ie Visitors young and old can learn about this exotic class of wildlife first-hand in Ireland’s only reptile zoo. Reptiles residing in the zoo include snakes, lizards, tortoise, turtles, crocodiles, alligators, spiders, scorpions, iguanas, frogs, salamanders and many more species.

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Animal encounter sessions every hour where you can learn about some of the animals and get to hold and touch some

Nore Valley Pet Farm Annamult, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny 056-7727229 www.norevalleypark.com

Open since 1989, Nore Valley Pet Farm is the family friendly day out where the little ones can get up close to a veritable Noah’s ark of animals.

The zoo offers animal encounter sessions every hour where you can learn about some of the animals and get to hold and touch some of them as well! There are over 150 animals and there is something for everyone. Other facilities include a soft play area for young explorers as well as a snack bar, indoor and outdoor picnic areas and a souvenir shop. Reptile Zoo accommodates school/ group tours, birthday parties and corporate events. Reptile Zoo opens from 10am-6pm all year round. For more information, see www. nationalreptilezoo.ie or check them out on Facebook.

Set in the idyllic Nore Valley, take some time to stroll around the farm where you can bottle feed the lambs and goats or feed the ducks and turkeys. There are rabbits and baby chicks to cuddle, as well as cows, ponies, donkeys, deer and ostriches. There are also plenty of other activities including pedal go-karts and trailer rides, mini golf, giant chess, an indoor 3D maze, swings and slides. You can bring a picnic to have in the picnic area or you can relax with a cup of tea

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and a home baked scone. Walk off the treats along the two mile river walk and nature trail. Nore Valley Pet Farm isn’t just for the little ones. There are group packages available for groups including youth groups and stag or hen parties. The team building packages offer both a mental and physical challenge to promote better team dynamics. Nore Valley Pet Farm is open Monday to Saturday from 9am-8pm.

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Play Away!

Kilkenny Guide Activities

ilkenny has a multitude of playgrounds for little ones to get some fresh air and get rid of some excess energy! Read on for a description of play areas, big and small, all across the city and county. There is a playground at Kilkenny Castle Park. This is open in line with the park’s hours, which change seasonally (see sign on main entrance gate). The relatively new playground has a variety of swinging and climbing equipment to keep kids of all ages busy. There are plenty of benches for adults to relax on too, or families to picnic in fair weather. Talbot’s Court Playground is located on the Freshford Road in the city and is a small neighbourhood playground with unrestricted access, which opens all year round. It is suitable for children aged two to 14. At Lovers Lane, the Newpark Close

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Playground can be found. It offers adventure play with unrestricted access, year round and it is suitable for children aged two to 14. It is across the road from Newpark Marsh Park, which includes a wildlife area, soccer pitch, multi-use area, games area and footpaths for walking too.

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Kilkenny has a multitude of playgrounds for little ones to get some fresh air and get rid of excess energy

The Bishops Demesne Neighbourhood Park is near the Kilkenny Borough Council City Hall. The five-acre parkland includes adult exercise equipment, a soccer pitch, a multi-use games area, playgrounds and footpaths. The Best Of Ireland Series

At Garringreen on the Johnswell Road lies The Playground Next Door. This five- acre park open to the public year round and its facilities include a soccer pitch, a multi-use games area, cycle lane and footpaths. The playground is for kids aged two to 14. There is a playground at the Fr McGrath Centre on St Joseph’s Road. A joint community and Local Authority project, it is open all year round with unrestricted access. It has a wide range of swings, frames and the latest equipment. It is ideal for children aged two to 14, including children with disabilities. County Kilkenny has its fair share of community playgrounds so while exploring the county, you can take a pitstop at several towns and villages to stretch those little legs! At Castlecomer Discovery Park, kids can enjoy Timber Tumbles Playground among the other facilities. The adventure

Kilkenny Guide Activities

play area has unrestricted access and is open all year round (suitable for children aged two to 14). Church Avenue Playground is located on said avenue on the Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer. This ‘pocket park’ includes a hopscotch area, a multi-sports wall, a multi-use games area and footpaths as well as a wildlife area. Happyland Playground at The Fair Green in Callan is set in a 10-acre park, which is open to the public year round. The park includes two soccer pitches, a multi-use games area and footpaths. It is for children aged two to 14. The Earth is Fun play area at Marsh’s Street in Thomastown has a special theme based on the history of Thomastown and the River Nore. This community playground is open to the public year round and is for children aged two to 14.

A playground was recently added to Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum, which is situated just outside the village of Inistioge. There are a number of features and the surface is bark chip for safety. It is suitable for children under the age of 14.

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County Kilkenny has its fair share of community playgrounds

Amenity Area adjacent to the local handball alley on the Main Street of Mullinavat; Blackthorn Hills Playground at Blackthorn Hills, Ferrybank and the Ballyhale Amenity Area at Station Road, Ballyhale. For more information, contact the Parks Department at Kilkenny County Council on 056-7794373 or parks@ kilkennycoco.ie.

Rising Stars Playground is next to the Community Hall on the Main Street of Mooncoin in County Kilkenny. This community playground offers adventure play for children aged two to 14 years with unrestricted access, all year round. These details also apply for Place to Play Playground at The Fair Green in Graiguenamanagh; the Mullinavat The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Activities

Country Pursuits & Cocktails

If none of the activities featured so far take your fancy, there are a number of others to enjoy. If war games appeal to you, Laser Combat (087-1233117), uses inferred guns that fire up to 400 metres. It is perfect for grown-ups and kids alike (8 years and over). also available. The company also offers archery and laser clay shooting. At Kilkenny Airsoft (056-7795719) you can play a range of games using replica firearms that shoot non-metallic pellets as well as archery, archery tag

and trying your hand at the Airsoft shooting range. Countryside Leisure Activity Centre (056-7761791) in Bonnettsrath, around 10 minutes from the city centre, offers a range of activities including clay pigeon shooting, indoor rifle target shooting and archery. Opening times vary with the seasons so be sure to make contact in advance. There is a permanent Orienteering Course at Kilkenny Castle Park. Developed in conjunction with Waterford Orienteers, there are maps

of varying distance (1.8km-3.5km) and corresponding answer sheets, which are free to download from www. kilkennycastle.ie. The orienteering course is open to all and is a great way to explore the fabulous grounds of Kilkenny Castle Park and there is also a small area of the Canal Walk involved in the courses. For more information or to organize a specific event, call 0567704108. If you want to learn how to shake it up with the best, there are several places running cocktail-making classes—perfect for groups and parties. The Cocktail Academy (www. thecocktailacademy.ie) runs 90 minute interactive classes from its base in John Street. Participants can learn about the history and origins of cocktails as well as different techniques for making alcoholic mixed beverages. The fee includes some samples and a wristband for drinks discounts Biddy Early’s or The Dylan Whisky Bar. Other bars such as Matt the Millers, Lanigan’s, The Rafter Dempsey’s and hotels such as the Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel can organise cocktail-making classes on request too.

Cinema in Kilkenny There is a four screen Omniplex Cinema in Kilkenny located at the Fairgreen in the city (1520-444700; www.omniplex.ie). This shows all the latest releases, from children’s movies to Hollywood blockbusters. It opens daily from 2pm and from noon on Saturday and Sunday. All screens boast high-backed, luxury stadium seating in all auditoria giving a perfect view from every seat. Kilkenny has a few connections with the film industry in that the award-winning animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, is based here. Also, acclaimed British actors, Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, and their filmmaker sister, Martha, lived in Kilkenny for several years. Ralph Fiennes starred in The English Patient, Schindler’s List and several films in the Harry Potter franchise.

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Kilkenny Guide Activities

Tours of all Types! What better way to get a true experience of a place than to go on a tour? There are several tours operating in Kilkenny involving trains, bikes, walks and even hurleys! Kilkenny City Tours (087-7301500) uses a miniature road train to ferry people around the key sights in the city. The 30 minute tour starts at Kilkenny Castle and there is a running commentary all the way through as you pass by historical landmarks like Rothe House and St Canice’s Cathedral. The tours run March to October but there is often a ghost train at Halloween and a polar express at Christmas. The Kilkenny Way Hurling Tour (056-7721718/086-8171978) is a unique, action-packed tour that gives an insight into the world’s fastest field game and an opportunity to learn the basic skills from real players in the most successful hurling county. Dubbed ‘the ultimate hurling experience’, the two-hour tour runs seven days a week.

Tynan Walking Tours (087-2651745) runs several daily tours from midMarch to October. The 70 minute tours are delivered by an experienced guide and take in the most notable sights on Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile. The tour outlines the city’s fascinating history and most famous characters is glorious detail. Tours leave from Kilkenny Tourist Office on Rose Inn Street. Group/private tours by appointment.

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What better way to get a true experience of a place than to go on a tour

Experienced and novice cyclists alike can get on their bikes to enjoy the surroundings of Kilkenny. Kilkenny Cycling Tours (086-8954961) offer several options. Guided tours depart twice daily in high season and take in sights like Kilkenny Castle, St Mary’s Cathedral and St Francis’ Abbey on the The Best Of Ireland Series

10km and two hour circuit (which can be shortened or extended). The company also runs a self-guided cycling tour to Dunmore Cave, hiking tours and offers bike rental. Waterside Bike & Hike (0864084008) offers both guided cycling tours and rental. From its base in Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, cyclists can explore the Barrow River towpath—a safe and traffic free bike trail—and spot some of the wonderful wildlife along the way. Guided tours of individual entities are available too. One notable one is the guided heritage tour of the site of Newtown Jerpoint (086-6061449) at Jerpoint Park. The once thriving 12th century town close to Jerpoint Abbey was only opened to the public in 2011 and the site contains the tomb effigy of St Nicholas of Myra—the remains of the Turkish holy man are said to have brought to Ireland for safekeeping by Knights of the Crusade. | 51

Kilkenny Guide Activities Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum

Kilkenny Parks & Gardens

hough it is named the ‘Marble City’, Kilkenny is also very green thanks to the wealth of natural beauty blooming in its many parks and gardens and if you venture into the county, there is more still to enjoy. Newpark Marsh Eco Park is set over 23.7 acres and is dominated by Newpark Marsh—a designated proposed Natural Heritage Area. With plenty of green spaces and an abundance of native trees, the park boasts a multi use games area, footpaths, cycle lanes, a playing pitch and dressing rooms as well as a picnic area and a place to feed the ducks. Garringreen Neighbourhood Park is located east of the city centre and can be accessed from the Johnswell or Hebron Roads. The park measures nearly 7 acres and includes play areas, footpaths, cycle lanes and a playing pitch. The 6.5 acre Loughboy Neighbourhood Park is on Bohernatounish Road, on the southern outskirts of Kilkenny City. It has a lot of footpaths for walkers. The Nore Linear Park follows the banks of the River Nore as it flows through the city. It has a network of accessible cycleways and footpaths on

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both sides of the river and although it is still a work in progress, there are over 7km of footpaths and cyclepaths available for use. The grounds of the majestic Kilkenny Castle (056-7704100; see pg 11) are perched overlooking the city and the River Nore. The grounds offer 20 hectares of splendid scenery and feature tree-lined avenues, a well-established rose garden, a variety of shrubs, large statues of various figures and an ornamental lake. Rothe House (056-7722893; see pg 15) consists of a beautiful townhouse and gardens. The garden is a recreation of a 17th century garden and is the only urban garden of this period open to the public. It opens Monday to Saturday from 10.30am-4.30/5pm with additional hours in summer. Jenkinstown Park, 10km north of Kilkenny City, was once part of a large estate. The beech wood here is renowned for its carpet of bluebells in late April. Tree species include rare Chinese Necklace Poplars, ash, oak and Norway spruce and the park has a variety of fauna including foxes, badgers, squirrels and bats and an enclosed deer park. The Best Of Ireland Series

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Though it is named the ‘Marble City’, Kilkenny is also very green thanks to the wealth of natural beauty blooming in its many parks and gardens

The beautiful 18th century Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum (087-8549785/056-7794373) overlook the River Nore Valley and the picturesque village of Inistioge. Here, you’ll find here a collection of exotic trees in the arboretum, woodland walks as well as a walled garden, rose garden, rockery and a recreated Turner Conservatory. It also has one of the longest Monkey Puzzle avenues in Europe. Group tours are available on request. There are tea rooms on site too. In high season, the gardens open 9am - 7pm.

Kilkenny Guide Activities © yykkaa

Kilkenny Castle Park

For a walk on the wild side, visit the unique Fiddown Island Nature Reserve. It is located in South Kilkenny near the picturesque village of Fiddown on the River Suir. The state-owned reserve was established in 1988 on a 60 plus hectare island site. The alluvial woodland is dominated by willow and reed swamps and is known locally as ‘Sally Island’ due to the willow, or Sally rod, that grows there. It is the only known site of its particular type in Ireland and is home to otters, kingfishers and seasonal visitors include reed bunting, sedge warblers, mute swans, moorhens, coots and herons. Kilfane Glen and Waterfall (056-7724558) is a romantic era garden dating from the 1790s, untouched for two centuries. It covers about 15 acres of easily accessible natural landscape and is exceptionally beautiful with its waterfall, stream, woodland paths, tiny bridges and restored cottage, set among trees and plants.

garden and it opens to the public daily from 11am- 6pm from July 1 to August 31. Admission is €7 per person with reductions for students, OAPs and families. The Watergarden (056-7724690) in Thomastown offers the public large and peaceful gardens, free of charge, as well as a café and art gallery. There is a walled garden by a stream and a kitchen garden which supplies the café with ingredients. Opening hours are from Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am-4pm.

Woodstock Gardens

The gardens at Mount Juliet (056-7773000) near Thomastown are quite spectacular. The estate is also home a luxury hotel and golf course but the grounds incorporate a designated trail where visitors can take in the well maintained herb, rose and walled gardens. Visits are by appointment only and there is an admission fee.

There are also pieces of art in situ. Every year one or two artists are invited to submit proposals for a site specific work and selected pieces is installed/created. The garden is listed as an Irish Heritage

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Activities

Kilkenny for Sport From fishing to football and horseracing to hiking, Kilkenny is a real sporting county with umpteen outlets for sports and spectacle. Kilkenny is situated in the Nore Valley on both banks of the River Nore with its many tributaries so it is an ideal spot for angling. Be sure to enquire about fishing permits before casting your line anywhere. There are various established fishing areas to enjoy the sport. These include Jerpoint Park (056-7793186/0866061449) where anglers can fish for wild salmon and brown trout; Castlecomer Discovery Park (056-4440707) where rainbow trout is the ‘fish of the day’; Mount Juliet estate (056-7773000) boasting “game angling at its very best with wild Atlantic salmon and brown trout” and Ardaire Springs (0868128937) which, covers over 2.5 acres of lakes stocked with rainbow trout. Those with an interest in all things equestrian are spoiled for choice here. If you want to try your hand at horse riding and trekking, there is Danville House Farm (086-1209210) and Warrington Top Flight Equestrian Centre (0567722682). Gowran Park (056-7726225) is the only grade one racecourse in the south-east. The picturesque course—one mile and four furlongs in length—hosts roughly 16 race meetings throughout the year featuring both National Hunt 54 |

and flat race meetings. The hospitality is second to none too, with a range of dining options available as well as bar and Tote betting facilities. With the likes of Scanlan Park (athletics) and Nowlan Park (GAA), there are often sports events on to enjoy. Adventure sports and outdoor pursuits are also popular in Kilkenny. Pure Adventure (087-2265550) run kayaking, canoeing and sea kayaking trips on the Rivers Barrow and Nore and on the south east coastline as well as stand up paddle boarding in Kilkenny City. Kilkenny Airsoft (056-7795719) is the first fully automated indoor airsoft shooting range in Ireland—where people of all ages can enjoy target/combat games. Other options include a diverse range of activities with Go with the Flow River Adventures (087-2529700);

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Kilkenny Activity Centre (0862611567) or Team Dynamics (0567763635) and Laser Combat (0871233117). For a more leisurely watersport— swimming—you can visit the Watershed Sports & Leisure Centre (056-7734620), which also has a state of the art gym, a multi sports arena, an outdoor running track and four floodlit Astroturf pitches. Kilkenny’s local clubs have excelled is many disciplines. These include Kilkenny City Harriers, Marble City Boxing Club, Kilkenny City Storm, An Oige and Tyndall Walking Clubs, Kilkenny Gymnastics Club, Badminton Bridge Club, Kilkenny Chess Club and Kilkenny Rugby Club to name but a few. Soccer, hockey, handball and Gaelic Games are played all over city and county.

Hurling

Kilkenny Guide Activities

‘Clash of the Ash’ The so-called ‘Clash of the Ash’ is the main sport played and followed in Kilkenny—which is hardly surprising as the county is the most successful ever at hurling in Ireland. The Kilkenny branch of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) was founded in 1887. There are three clubs in the city catering for all age groups; James Park (James Stephens), Dicksboro and O’Loughlin Gaels are the three city grounds and there are many more teams around the county. Nowlan Park is the county team’s home ground and county headquarters of the GAA. Staff co-ordinate the activities of over 50 clubs from here. As of September 2014, Kilkenny has won a record 35th All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The ‘Cats’ (also known as the Stripy Men or the Noresiders) hold a number of records in one of Ireland’s national sports, including the honour of having won the most Provincial Championships (Leinster) with no less than 69 titles! Kilkenny has also won the most All Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship titles (11; tied with Cork), the most All

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Ireland Minor Hurling Championship titles (21)…the list goes on! Some of Ireland’s most celebrated hurlers hail from Kilkenny including 10 time All Ireland medal winner, three time ‘Hurler of the Year’ and widely regarded as the greatest hurler of all time, ‘King’ Henry Shefflin. Shefflin’s career tally of 27 goals and 480 points makes him the top championship scorer of all-time. Other famous names include DJ Carey, JJ Delaney, Eddie Keher, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, Noel Skehan, Pat Henderson, Martin Comerford, Frank Cummins, Phil ‘Fan’ Larkin, Richie Power Snr, Eddie Brennan, Jackie Tyrell and current senior team manager, Brian Cody to name but a few. Camogie (ladies’ hurling) is also popular in Kilkenny and there are 12 senior All Ireland titles and 11 National Camogie League titles to attest to that. The local support is phenomenal, with thousands attending games at Nowlan Park, and at the national stadium, Croke Park. During GAA season, the city and county is literally covered in team colours black and amber with flags, signs, bunting and window displays.

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Kilkenny Guide Activities © Trail Kilkenny

The True TASTE of Kilkenny T he eminent playwright, George Bernard Shaw, once said that “there is no sincerer love than the love of food” and Kilkenny has an interest in food which proves just that!

The range of producers and food outlets is large—nearly 30 at last count. From confectionary to cheese, fish to farmers, bakeries to cookery schools, markets to eateries, the trail stretches all around city and county.

Kilkenny may be a small city but two of its restaurants currently have a renowned Michelin star. Campagne in Gashouse Lane in the city and the Lady Helen restaurant at the Mount Juliet Estate in Thomastown were among nine Irish restaurants awarded stars in the Michelin guide—a veritable bible for foodies.

Committed to delivering a high quality product using mainly traditional methods and remaining as organic as possible

Quoted in The Irish Times the Chairman of Kilkenny Tourism, Colin Ahern said that the awards cemented Kilkenny’s reputation for “ top class artisan food producers” and as “one of the top food destinations not just in Ireland, but in the world”. Kilkenny has its own food trail, TASTE of Kilkenny, which is a project established to promote awareness of local food producers and the food outlets and eateries that support such businesses. 56 |

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All members “are committed to delivering a high quality product using mainly traditional methods and remaining as organic as possible whilst highlighting the potential of the county as a leader in high quality produce”. The Best Of Ireland Series

The trail offers local people and visitors alike a chance to truly experience the fine fare of Kilkenny, whether in an orchard or a café. The spotlight is also on the traditions, practices and people behind the vibrant food culture here. It informs and raises awareness of how our food gets to the plate. Members in the trail which are featured in this guide include: Foodworks (pg 73); A Slice of Heaven (pg 78); Kilkenny Design Centre (pg 33/72); Langton’s (pg 89); the Marble City Car & Tea Rooms (pg 80); Bridie’s Bar & General Store (pg 80); Kilkenny Farmers’ Market (pg 67) and the Jarrow Café at Castlecomer Discovery Park (pg 46). For more information on the trail and detailed descriptions of member outlets, see www.trailkilkenny.ie/food-trail or pick up the orange-coloured trail brochure in the tourist office and other outlets.

Kilkenny Guide Shopping

From big brands to independent stores to craft outlets, Kilkenny offers plenty of opportunities to shoppers to pick up a unique item, whatever that may be.

Shopping The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping Opened in 2004, Tiffany offers a large range of ladies shoes, handbags, head pieces/fascinators and jewellery for all occasions. Whether you are searching for shoes and accessories for a wedding, a day at the races or any other formal event, a browse in Tiffany is well worth it.

“ Moore’s Fashions

Moore’s Fashions 8 Parliament Street 056-7721146

Moore’s Fashions has been catering to the needs of the fashionable lady for almost 100 years. The reason behind Moore’s Fashions continued success is their courteous, efficient and helpful service where the customer is top priority. The store caters for all age groups and stocks sizes 10-26. Stocking both international and Irish brands, there is an extensive range of coats, jackets, knitwear, skirts, trousers, blouses and more to browse through.

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Tiffany Shoe Shop Unit 1, Kieran Street 056-7771199 www.tiffanyshoeshop.com

For ladies who are looking to complete any outfit with the perfect items, this shoe and accessories boutique has an excellent selection available.

Catering to the needs of the fashionable lady for almost 100 years

Moore’s stock includes fashion coats from Kirsten, Damo and Concept K; knitwear by Rabe, Emrico and Castle; blouses by Efro and trousers by Michele, Richy and Zerres. Other leading labels available include Libra, Aria, Godske and Gelco. The traditional store front is a nod to the interior with a diverse range of styles, changing with the seasons. Should you have a formal event like a wedding right down to a night at the 58 |

theatre or smart work wear, Moore’s is a great place to go. Whatever the occasion, Moore’s Fashions has something to impress. For information and enquiries, feel free to email mlmoore@eircom.net.

Tiffany Shoe Shop The Best Of Ireland Series

Tiffany offers a large range of ladies shoes, handbags, head pieces/ fascinators and jewellery

The shop stocks the latest trends, season to season, and takes pride in carrying shoes and bags in every colour available so you can mix and match to your heart’s content. The amiable staff members are happy to help and advise in any way possible. The brands of shoes available (instore and in the online shop) include Hogl, Peter Keiser, Avance, Pacomena, Pitilos, Lotus and Van Dal to name just a few. Big names in handbags (and shoes) include Menbur and Smith & Canova. Tiffany opens from Monday to Saturday, 9.30am-6pm.

Kilkenny Guide Shopping

The Sweater Shop

The Sweater Shop 81 High Street 056-7763405 www.sweatershop.com

For traditional knitwear with a twist, trust the Sweater Shop for the widest range of Irish designs. The Sweater Shop on High Street is 100% Irish owned and is renowned for its superb selection of quality Irish woollens at reasonable prices.

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Don’t be fooled by the name though, The Sweater Shop sells a lot more than just sweaters. Gift ideas can be found in the range of ponchos and scarves, including a trendy take on the Aran style chunky snood. No room for chunky knits in your suitcase? Not to worry, they have a large

selection of ladies’, gents’ and kiddies’ T-shirts and sweatshirts with various Ireland and Kilkenny designs as well as the Guinness T-shirt collection. The Sweater Shop is open from Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm and you can also shop online at www. sweatershop.com.

Gift ideas can be found in the range of ponchos and scarves

They sell a variety of knitwear from different wools e.g. soft and cosy merino, pure new lambs’ wool, Donegal tweed wools, with heavy and light knits for all seasons. They stock a wide range of the traditional-and recently back in vogue-Aran sweaters and cardigans for men, women and children, including some colourful versions. The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping

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right at home on this pretty boutiqueladen Georgian street. The shop decor is inspiring and murals on the walls reflect the medieval history of the city. Chandeliers, wooden display cases and large framed mirrors add touches of opulence while classical music and the gentle aroma from scented candles provide an atmosphere in which the client can relax and shop in comfort. The Luxe Room carries a handpicked selection of international designer

wear with labels including Clara Couture, Rebel, Sonia K, Rinascimento, Goat and Patrizia Pepe. Expect to find unique pieces in their small collections such as the one-off fur capes for brides made of mink, rabbit and French lace. Complete your outfit with their range of luxury leather bags, shoes and elaborate jewellery. At all times the emphasis is on offering style, quality and individuality to the discerning individual. Superb service is part of their success and they include a styling service as part of their customer care. At Luxe Room Kilkenny, the shopping experience is to be enjoyed and remembered. Opening hours are from Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm.

The large range of stock includes such prestigious names as Magee, Baumler, Bugatti, Casa Moda, Meyer, Club of Comfort and many more brands.

A visit to this friendly and attractive family-run store will convince you of the old local saying: “Yes - Frank Wall Mans Shop Suits You Best.’’

Luxe Room Fashion & Accessories

Luxe Room Fashion & Accessories 4 William Street 087-3132210 www.luxeroom.ie

Ladies, for a luxury shopping experience while in the Marble City, look no further than Luxe Room Fashion & Accessories. Located on William Street, the luxury brand fashion and accessories store is

Frank Wall Mans Shop 97 High Street 056-7721066

For a luxury Marble City shopping experience, look no further than Luxe Room Fashion & Accessories

Frank Wall Mans Shop is a name that is synonymous with quality, personal service and value in fashion clothes for men. Wall’s has been an institution on the High Street for many decades and stocks mens’ suits, leathers, sports coats, slacks, shirts and knitwear.

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This friendly and attractive family-run store will convince you of the old local saying: “Yes Frank Wall Mans Shop Suits You Best.’’

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping

Marble City Barbers

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Marble City Barbers

Marble City Barbers 9 John Street 056-7722266 www.marblecitybarbers.ie

school interior with its black and white tiles, marble countertops and wooden stations lets you take a step back in time. The walls are adorned with fascinating sports memorabilia.

They have developed a variety of shave and beard products which are handmade and locally sourced in Kilkenny

The friendly and relaxed atmosphere coupled with friendly staff will ensure that you enjoy having a cut or shave in this one-of-a-kind barbers. They have developed a variety of shave and beard products which are handmade and locally sourced in Kilkenny. These products and more are available in store. Marble City Barbers opens from Monday-Thursday 9am-6pm; Fridays from 9am-6.30pm and Saturdays 8.30am-6pm.

In past generations, gentlemen had to be perfectly groomed and in this old school barbershop, all the classic techniques and values from that time are preserved to this day. Great quality and service is the primary aim here. The shop offers cutting, styling and beard trimming by highly trained and experienced staff. Whether going for a trim, a whole new look or even a distinctive effort for ‘Movember’, Marble City Barbers can meet every need. For the ultimate in relaxation, they specialise in hot towel shaves. The heated towels open up the skin’s pores allowing the closest shave possible with an open razor. Combined with face massage oils and after care treatments, it makes the ideal treat or gift. The sleek black exterior is representative of the modern but the old The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping

Gifts & Gems in Kilkenny! From Me To You

MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre Opposite MacDonagh Train Station 086-2385457 www.facebook.com/ FromMetoYouForever Born of a creative spirit, the colourful pieces housed in this collectibles store and art gallery call to something within you and urge you to take them home. From Me To You showcases the wonderfully decorative work of Darlene Garr, an abstract expressionist painter whose paintbrush sweeps explosions of pigments across many forms.

Internationally known, US-born Darlene has been painting professionally for over 35 years and has received wide recognition for her talent, with private and corporate collectors around the world. At her shop, From Me To You, you can acquire some of her artwork or pick up special and unique gifts for all occasions. Fashion items include one-of-a-kind hand-painted silk scarves, shawls & tunics and hand-painted glass jewellery includes adorable glass heart pendants. Other hand-painted glass pieces include vases, carafes, jugs, Champagne flutes, sundae and wine glasses and more.

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Showcases the wonderfully decorative work of Darlene Garr

If you are more in the market for a collectible artwork, her original oil paintings as well as art prints and rolled canvas are available to view, and Darlene also accepts commissions. From Me To You is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-6pm.

From Me To You

O’Reilly’s (Kilkenny) Ltd. 11-12 John Street 056-7721732

Whether you are in need of the perfect gift or indeed homewares, decorating and hardware supplies, O’Reilly’s offers all of this. Open for many years, the spacious store has an excellent range of furniture large and small including dressers, tables, chairs, lamps, bedroom sets, wall art and ornaments. If you’re thinking of giving any room in your home a fresh look in terms of décor, O’Reilly’s stocks a selection of top quality wallpapers, paints, accessories, fixtures, fittings and tools to do the job to a high standard. 62 |

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Spacious store has an excellent range of furniture large and small

O’Reilly’s specialises in gifts for all occasions too and wedding presents are a specialty. It has a comprehensive selection of dinnerware, clocks, frames, pottery for display and more. The experienced team of staff is always on hand to help and advise so whatever your query is, they can point you in the right direction. O’Reilly’s has customer parking available at the John’s Quay entrance. The Best Of Ireland Series

O’Reilly’s (Kilkenny) Ltd.

Kilkenny Guide Shopping

Did you Know?

Beautiful Kilkenny In 1985, Kilkenny became the first city to win the Irish Tidy Towns Competition and triumphed again in 2014—beating 849 other contenders to the coveted title. The official Tidy Towns committee is the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Committee (KKB), founded in 1980 and still doing great work today. County Kilkenny’s villages and towns also have been awarded many individual medals in the contest. In 2008, the city was named the Academy of Urbanism’s European Great Town for that year. Academy Chairman, John Thompson, commented that it was “great to have an Irish town coming through… especially Kilkenny which is coming to terms with economic growth without losing its wonderful character and humour”.

Get Crafty in Kilkenny Rudolf Heltzel

10 Patrick Street 056-7721497 www.facebook.com/rudolfheltzel

and skill. He has won international praise, not just for his own work but also in encouraging and advising others. He has long championed Irish craftsmanship and feels it is a vital part of our heritage.

Kilkenny hurling may be famous for all its silverware but Rudolf Heltzel, one of the major figures in Irish jewellery, also has his workshop in the Marble City.

His son, Christopher, who now runs the business, has continued the Heltzel tradition of unique engagement/wedding rings, dress rings and pendants.

The German-born craftsman has worked in Kilkenny since 1966—turning gold, silver, platinum and precious stones into spectacular jewellery creations.

The distinctive style marks pieces out but the sheer variety and design combinations will dazzle as surely as the glint of the high quality materials used.

“ Worth A visit!

Nature at its best

Heltzel tradition of unique engagement/ wedding rings, dress rings and pendants

He was one of the first craftspeople to base himself in the acclaimed Kilkenny Design Workshops (KDW) and is often described as a trailblazer, in both design

The shop itself always has interesting window displays and they are happy to explain their jewellery-making process. The service is quite personal and customers can browse and try on pieces. The price range starts lower than you would imagine and there is a generous range to choose from. You can also commission an individual piece. For more information, see www.rudolfheltzel.com.

Jenkinstown Park, 10km north of Kilkenny City, is a favourite spot for photographers in the spring. The beech wood there is renowned for its carpet of bluebells, which flower in mid to late April. The park has a selection of flora and fauna and boasts forest walks, a deer park, picnic sites, a craft centre and a commemorative garden. The unique Fiddown Island Nature Reserve is located in south Kilkenny. The nearly 63 hectare site is stateowned and was established in 1988. Near the picturesque village of Fiddown on the River Suir, the long narrow island is a mix of marsh and woodland, covered in willow scrub and bordered by reed swamps. It is the only known site of its particular type in Ireland.

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping a gallery feel to it with the bright space filled with pale wood display cases. Every item is made with exceptional skill and he strives to create pieces with a difference, which are appealing to the eye, but are also very wearable and durable.

“ Liam Costigan Goldsmith

Liam Costigan Goldsmiths

Colliers Lane, High Street 056-7762408 With over 48 years’ experience, Liam Costigan combines craftsmanship with high quality materials to create one of a kind pieces of jewellery The Kilkenny native and awardwinning goldsmith designs a range of distinctive pieces using gold, silver and

platinum, with precious and semiprecious stones. Liam was an apprentice to Rionore Ltd and Rudolf Heltzel in Kilkenny. After qualifying, he spent several years in Denmark doing further study and working with Ole Lynggard, Copenhagen. After returning to Ireland, he worked at Kilkenny Design Workshops. His store on Colliers Lane—which also incorporates his own workspace where he crafts everything by hand—has

While there is vast range of jewellery on display, you can commission individual pieces for something truly unique

While there is vast range of jewellery on display, you can commission individual pieces for something truly unique. Liam Costigan’s pieces are perfect for engagements, weddings or just a gift for someone special…even if that someone is yourself.

GL Ryan Watchmaker & Jeweller 71 High Street 056-7721725 www.ryanjewellers.ie

The staff at GL Ryan’s has been assisting customers to find the most flattering quality jewellery for all occasions for 70 years. Located directly across from the Market Cross Shopping Centre, GL Ryan’s is so much more than a store with services such as engraving, jewellery and watch repair, battery replacement, valuations, jewellery cleaning and of course the priceless advice from some of Kilkenny’s most experienced jewellers. The neat store is welcoming and warm with all jewellery housed in elegant wooden cabinets, the glass crystal clear for you to get a good look at the jewels on offer. Of course, should you wish to try a piece on, all you have to do is ask. GL Ryan’s stocks platinum, yellow and white gold in a range of stunning styles. Celtic jewellery is quite popular and GL 64 |

GL Ryan Watchmaker & Jeweller

Ryan’s stocks a range of Claddagh rings, Celtic crosses and charms. All the diamonds are carefully selected for their excellent quality and attractive price. Popular watch brands The Best Of Ireland Series

include Tissot, Rotary, Seiko, Citizen, Swatch, Kenneth Cole, Police and Karen Millen. The store is open Monday to Saturday from 9am-6pm.

Kilkenny Guide Shopping

Crafts in the County countryside, with nearby walking trails and artisan cafes, a trip to Jerpoint Glass Studio & Gallery Shop is an ideal destination for an enjoyable day out.

“ Jerpoint Glass Studio & Gallery Shop

Jerpoint Glass Studio & Gallery Shop Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny 056-7724350 www.jerpointglass.com

For 35 years Jerpoint Glass Studio has created beautiful handmade glassware for your home.

Moth To A Flame

Kilkenny Road, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny 056-7727826 www.mothtoaflamecandles.com If you are looking for unique handmade candles then Moth to a Flame is a beacon, as the name suggests, that will draw you to Bennettsbridge. In business since 1999, Moth to a Flame makes distinctive textured candles which have found their way to craft shops, hotels, restaurants, churches and even film sets and television series. Pop into the workshop in Bennettsbridge and you could soon have one sitting on your mantelpiece. In the new, extended shop, there are a variety of candles, to suit all occasions, interiors and even exteriors. For scented candles choose from the “Silkmoth” range. Colourful candles can be found in the “Gloworm” two-tone range while the “Gypsymoth” designs come lacquered.

Drawing on 2,000 years of glassblowing tradition, the skilled craftsmen individually create each piece

Drawing on 2,000 years of glassblowing tradition, the skilled craftsmen individually create each piece of Jerpoint Glass using simple hand tools and their creative judgement. Watch as they turn molten glass into the beautiful Jerpoint shapes. At the family-run glassblowing studio, you can get right up close to the action. Nestled in the beautiful Kilkenny

In the adjacent shop, you will see the full collection, plus carefully chosen pieces of Irish craft to complement your Jerpoint Glass. These include fine woollen blankets, candles, linens, ceramics, exhibitions, artwork, sculpture and more…

The “Pillar” range offers seasonal colours while the “Rock” and “Heritage” items make for uniquely Irish gift ideas. These beautiful wax creations are available directly from the workshop. Moth to a Flame also specialises in wedding candles and offers colourthemed arrangements, small or large, for any church or reception area.

Moth to a Flame is a member of MADE in Kilkenny. Witness the craft of candle-making at the workshop, where you can also buy newly made candles, often still warm from the mould. The workshop is open Monday to Saturday from 9am-6pm and on Sundays in November and December from 125pm.

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping

DID YOU KNOW? Home-grown Talent

Rosemarie Durr Pottery & Andrew Ludick Ceramics

Kilkenny has many well-known natives who have excelled in a vast range of pursuits. James Hoban, the architect of the US presidential mansion, The White House, was from Kilkenny as was George Berkeley. Berkeley was a Bishop of Cloyne, an eminent philosopher and the city of Berkeley in California is named after him. His contemporaries at Kilkenny College included the acclaimed author of Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift and English playwright, William Congreve. There are many other well-known writers from Kilkenny including the poet, Brian Mac Giolla Phádraig; poet, John Locke; classical scholar and poet, Constantia Grierson; author and journalist, Standish James O’Grady; playwright, Thomas Kilroy; novelist and broadcaster, Francis MacManus and writer, John Banim. Famous musicians include Cormac Battle, Jeremy Hickey, Ronan Tynan and Darren Holden. Noted artists from Kilkenny include Christopher Hewetson, Edmund Garvey, Mildred Anne Butler, Gerard Casey and Tony O’Malley. In the sports arena, noted ‘Cats’ include a long list of hurlers, chess player, James Mason and hockey player, Maeve Kyle. High military honour, the Victoria Cross, has been bestowed on several Kilkenny men including John Barry, Frederick Hall, Walter Hamilton and John Ryan. Figures in Irish political life, past and present, hail from Kilkenny including James Stephens, John McGuinness, Liam Aylward, Jim Gibbons and Phil Hogan.

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Rosemarie Durr Pottery & Andrew Ludick Ceramics

Castlecomer Discovery Park, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny 087-6833639 www.rosemariedurr.com/www. andrewludick.com What better gift for the home than some hand thrown pottery or an intricate ceramic piece? This store offers an excellent selection of both. Showing her distinctive collection of tableware, Rosemarie Durr’s designs are more reminiscent of china than of heavy cumbersome pottery. All her wares are designed to be functional and because they are made with stoneware clay and fired to 1,300 degrees Celsius you can put these items in the dishwasher, oven or microwave. Rosemarie makes all sorts of tableware from mugs, cups and bowls, to jugs, plates, teapots and vases. She also makes other stoneware clay creations in the form of ramekin dishes and wine goblets. Rosemarie’s style is influenced by ancient eastern artists as well as the surrounding woodlands, bringing simple lines and full forms to her work. Andrew Ludick, Rosemarie’s husband, also has beautiful items for sale here. American-born Ludick cites influences as wide as Native American art, artist Paul Klee, ceramist John The Best Of Ireland Series

ffrench and jazz musician, Thelonious Monk. He describes how the process of coiling and pinching clay goes on to suggest the pieces’ ultimate decorations. Exhibited and collected around the world, he has just designed a range for US store Crate & Barrel, which goes on sale this spring. He was listed as one of Ireland’s top designers for the Year of Craft by The Irish Times. Many of their handcrafted items are available to purchase on their respective websites, but a wander about the store itself is definitely worth your while. You never know what may take your fancy!

Kilkenny Guide Shopping

Gourmet Shopping in Kilkenny

The Wine Centre

The Wine Centre 15 John Street Lower 056-7722907 www.thewinecentre.ie

Located on bustling John Street, is Kilkenny’s oldest wine merchant, the Wine Centre. Here you will find a treasure trove of fantastic quality wines, craft beers from all over the world and a large selection of Irish whiskies. Established in 1965, the multi awardwinning Wine Centre has built a stellar

reputation as one of the country’s best wine merchants and off licences. The store, with its exposed rafters and array of wooden shelves, is organised according to country, vintages and variety. The Wine Centre boasts a long list of fine wines, some still in their original wooden boxes and stored in its custom-built cellar. Every customer is greeted with a smile here. The staff members are true wine and beer aficionados, who are happy to inform, advise and explain. The Wine Centre runs a Wine and a

Beer Club with tastings every month. The shop holds weekly events too like whiskey tastings and always has a Wine of the Week. If you’re looking for value, the Wine Centre has great weekly promotions in all departments. Awards to date include: Leinster Off Licence of the Year 2015 (Noffla) which is in fact their third year in a row, Spirit Specialist of the Year 2012, Best Customer Service 2011 and National Off Licence of the Year in 2003 to name but a few. The Wine Centre has a free customer car park at the back and for news and updates check out their Facebook and Twitter pages, The Wine Centre Kilkenny. This shop is definitely worth a visit during any stay in Kilkenny.

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The store is organised according to country, vintages and variety

Locally grown goodness

Food Producers In Kilkenny

Many eateries in Kilkenny use local and artisan produce in their menus. Some of the county’s producers have won national acclaim.

Some food businesses based in Kilkenny include Kilkenny Free Range Poultry, Mosse’s Farm Apple Juice/Blackcurrant Cordial, Goatsbridge Trout Farm, Second Nature Oil, Knockdrinna Cheese, O’Shea Farms, Highbank Organic Farm, Mileeven Fine Foods, Lavistown Sausages and The Truffle Fairy. The baking sector is particularly strong here with business booming for firms including Kells Wholemeal, Tess’s Homestyle Baking, Oldtown Hill Bakehouse, Keogh’s Model Bakery and A Slice of Heaven among others.

Markets There is a weekly Farmers’ Market on Thursdays on The Parade, near Kilkenny Castle. It runs from 9.30 am until 2.30 pm. There are a variety of stalls selling wares from fresh meat, fish and vegetables to prepared foodstuffs, crafts and natural beauty products.

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping

The Gourmet Store & Café

56 High Street 056-7771727 www.facebook.com/pages/TheGourmet-Store This combination of continental food store and café has been steadily growing in popularity since it was founded 18 years ago. The food section has a large selection of both product types and brands - local, national and international. The neat shelves are laden down with jams, chutneys, honey, pastas, oils, sauces, spices, teas, biscuits, chocolate and sweets. The shop provides a hampermaking service all year round. That is only the least of the friendly service offered by owners, Pádraig and Irene, and their team. The delicatessen counter offers a range of cheeses, cold meats and salads for take-away and/or to fill sandwiches, rolls etc. Freshly made bread, scones, pastries, quiche, sausage rolls and more are also available daily. The compact café—partitioned off from the store—serves hot drinks, soup, sandwiches, bagels, panini and more. It

Le Caveau – Specialist Wine Merchant Market Yard 056-7752166 www.lecaveau.ie

opens from 8am and is very popular; on any given day you could come across schoolkids munching outside while regulars chat over lunch inside. Cold sandwich options include chicken (Cajun/smoked/Tikka Masala), ham/turkey, tuna salad and cheese (mozzarella/feta/brie). The hot sandwich

The Gourmet Store & Café

Wine buffs will love a visit to Le Caveau. Specialising in importing artisan wines from small, family-run vineyards there is a world of wine to be explored at Le Caveau. Complimenting this artisan selection is an assortment of wines from World leading estates.

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menu has a distinctly international flavour with names like ‘Florence’, ‘Indian’, ‘Milano’ and ‘Roma’ but there is also a classic ‘Kilkenny’ or something made to order!

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The staff at Le Caveau are quite discerning when it comes to choosing the ideal wine, they must reflect their region of origin, have the correct balance of purity and drinkability. All the wines have been personally tasted so you can be assured of only the best quality wine passing your lips. Such is the dedication to quality and service that Le Caveau earned a ‘Best in Ireland 2015’ plaque from the McKennas’ Guide. Le Caveau was also recipient of the Sunday Business Post’s ‘Nationwide fine wine merchants of the year’ in 2008, 2012 and 2014 and ‘Burgundy Specialist of the Year’ in 2013 and 2014. Wines are available for purchase on the website or in Le Caveau itself. It is not just wine that is on offer here, you can peruse sherry, port, cider and spirits. The knowledgeable staff are also available to help you choose that all important wedding wine to suit your tastes and budget. Le Caveau is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am to 6.30pm.

Kilkenny Guide Shopping

Three Top Independent Bookshops

The Book Centre

10 High Street 056-7762117 www.thebookcentre.ie

history, biography, sports, Irish interest, cookery and many more - the neat shelves at The Book Centre are groaning with everything including the latest releases, bestsellers and classics.

Behind the monochrome façade of the historic building on High Street lies The Book Centre, the city’s largest bookstore, which has been in business here for over 40 years.

It has a special section for carefully chosen children’s books and stocks greeting cards, magazines and gifts too. The atmosphere inside is relaxed and inviting.

A veritable treasure trove for bookworms, the shop has a stunning selection artfully arranged in sections. Whatever your interest - fiction or nonfiction and more specific genres like

The shop prides itself on its friendly and knowledgeable staff members, who are always happy to help and make recommendations. They will endeavour to track down and order any book, which

The Book Centre

DID YOU KNOW?

Some of the most important newspapers in the 18th and 19th century were produced in Kilkenny including Finn’s Leinster Journal from 1767 and The Leinster Independent from 1872. The Kilkenny People was first published in 1895 and is still going today. The Kilkenny Reporter is another current, weekly publication.

The Irish poet and singer-songwriter, Thomas Moore (1779-1852) reportedly wrote the lyrics for the well-known song, ‘The Last Rose of Summer’ while staying at Jenkinstown House in Kilkenny in 1805.

Kilkenny News

is not in stock. They also arrange books into excellent window displays and themed arrangements in-store. Special offers are a regular occurrence with discounts on books of the week and month - chosen by the manager - as well as ‘3 for 2’ deals in store to choose from. After a long browse among the shelves, you can take a break for coffee and a bite in the Pennefeather Café upstairs. The Book Centre also has branches in Waterford, Wexford and Naas. The opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 9am-6pm and Sunday 1-5pm.

Thomas Moore

Among his other compositions are ‘The Minstrel Boy’ and ‘Oft in the Stilly Night’. Between 1808 and 1810, he performed annually with local group, the Kilkenny Players. The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Shopping

Stone House Books

Dalgan House, St. Kieran’s Street 056-7790780 www.facebook.com/ stonehousebooks Never has there been a better time to ‘hit the books’ than with locally owned, independent bookshops like Stone House on the scene. A solid choice by name and by nature, the large shop on St. Kieran’s Street has massive windows—showcasing the latest releases, striking displays and vast expanse of shelves and volumes inside. Every title is handpicked by owner, Liz Walsh, “to ensure a diverse and appealing selection of great reads” so whether your interest is in classics or new releases; fiction or non-fiction or Irish or international authors, there is a huge selection neatly arranged in sections. All genres from crime to romance, thriller to fantasy and much more are covered. There is also a large range of children’s books. If a book is not in stock, the helpful staff will be happy to order it in and are as passionate about books as the customers so queries are welcomed.

Dubray Books

056-7752800 Unit 1-3, Market Cross Shopping Centre, James’s Street www.dubraybooks.ie/dubray-bookskilkenny Get into the good books at Irish-owned family business, Dubray Books, which

Stone House Books also sells greeting cards, giftwrap and book tokens, as well as supplying libraries and pop up services to local festivals. Regular in house events include book launches and author readings, with a book club once a month.

Stone House Books made the top five for the Bord Gáis Energy Awards for Best Independent Bookshop for 2011 and was shortlisted for Best Independent Bookshop in UK and Ireland in 2010 and in 2013. For more updates, Stone House Books is on Twitter @ Stonehousebooks.

Stone House Books

has one of its eight branches in the heart of the Marble City. Dubray Books started life in 1972 and has grown from strength to strength since then. Opened in 1994, the Kilkenny store has its own personality and, as Dubray has a policy of recruiting staff who are readers and book-lovers, you can be sure the staff recommendations here are as good as

the service. These selections inform great price promotions and will provide interesting choices for any reader. The store has a huge range and blend of stock, spanning novels to non-fiction, classics to crime, special interest to bestsellers and much more. It takes particular pride in its children’s book section, which has umpteen titles for young readers. The company has just published a new edition of Mad About Books: The Dubray Books Guide to Children’s Books, so they really know their stuff.

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Manager, Anita Power, and her team, can order any book the store doesn’t have in stock. Local book clubs can earn their members a 10% discount on their club choices by registering here. Dubray Books opens seven days a week: Monday to Wednesday and Saturday, it opens 9am-6pm; Thursday and Friday, 9am-9pm; and Sunday, 2-5pm.

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The store has a huge range

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

With an array of cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs, Kilkenny has a reputation for being a great place to eat out and enjoy your favourite tipple, night and day.

Food & Drink

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

Anocht at Kilkenny Design Centre

Castle Yard 056-7722118 www.KilkennyDesign.com/anochtrestaurant Carefully crafted and creative food is the raison d’être in the award-winning restaurant at Kilkenny Design Centre. Far from your regular cafeteria-style fare, chef, Paul Cullen, and his vastly

Ripley’s Steak House

Butterslip Lane (off St. Kieran’s St.) 056-7770699 www.ripleys.ie This versatile steakhouse has many tables overlooking St. Kieran’s Street so it’s a brilliant place to dine heartily while watching the world go by. Since it opened in 2005, Ripley’s has built a reputation as an eatery to get a succulent steak but the menu has much more to offer, with service to match. The décor is cosmopolitan with vivid red walls with one animal print section, abstract art and a striking bamboo mirror running the length of one wall. The furniture is a mixture of different colour leather, suede and velvet. Somehow it all works. Ripley’s does lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Small bites such as potato skins, breaded garlic mushrooms, chicken/ beef burrito and Caesar salad sit beside baby back ribs, homemade beef burger, blackened chicken carbonara, stirfy and 8oz sirloin steak. Sharing platters of nachos or chicken wings are good value. The early bird menu has some of the 72 |

experienced team are making the most of artisan and local ingredients, available seven days a week from 10am to 6pm. The large dining space is open and bright, lit by wonderful circular windows, looking out onto the historic Castle Yard and beyond. Its whitewashed walls, exposed beams, wooden floors and watercolours create a relaxing space. The high ceiling allows the pleasant hum of dining and service to carry. Recommended by food critic, Georgina Campbell, the food ranges items on the lunch menu with changes and additions such as deep fried brie, buffalo chicken wings, chicken burrito, vegetarian fajita, seafood pie and steak hot pot. The early bird runs Monday to Thursday all night and Friday/Saturday from 5-6.30pm. There is also a three course wine and dine deal for two for €50, available weekdays 5-10pm.

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A reputation as an eatery to get a succulent steak but the menu has much more

The a la carte menu again includes most of the lunch/early bird favourites with extras such as crispy duck spring rolls, chicken/steak/tiger prawn fajita, slow roasted lamb shank, pan fried Atlantic seabass and more steaks—the biggest being a 16oz t-bone. Mains range from €10-30. Desserts include sticky toffee pudding, double chocolate fudge cake, croissant bread and butter pudding, profiteroles and vanilla cheesecake. The Best Of Ireland Series

from hot to cold, sweet to savoury. There are quick bites like scones and cakes or there are salads and savoury tarts—with a glass of wine or craft beer should you wish. Bigger lunch items include a rich seafood chowder, Moroccan lamb or chicken and broccoli crumble. By night, the restaurant atmosphere changes to create Anocht, the design centre’s evening restaurant. Linen drops hung from the large oak beams making intimate, candlelit spaces. The evening menu incorporates local artisan ingredients with options like Kilmore Quay potted prawn & crabmeat, panfried Duncannon scallops, slow-cooked shoulder of Wexford lamb, Mileeven honey-glazed pork belly and Paddy White’s rib-eye steak. Mains range from €18-24. You can top off the meal with chocolate fondant or fresh lemon tart among other ‘sweets’ and there is a comprehensive wine and cocktail list. The restaurant offers a brilliant value early bird special from 6-6.45pm with two courses from €23.50 or three from €27.50. Anocht opens each Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 6pm ‘til late.

Ripley’s Steak House

Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

La Rivista

22 Parliament Street 056-7771666 www.larivista.ie Fans of good Italian fare are guaranteed a ‘buono notte’ of wining and dining at the intimate, La Rivista, where pizza, pasta and quality grills are top of the menu board. The oversized street-facing windows offer a birds-eye view of Parliament Street. By night, the restaurant is a cosy and stylish setting. Light-coloured wall coverings complement darker furniture, which is offset by stunning art and elegant mirrors on the walls. Located adjacent to Kilkenny’s Watergate Theatre, La Rivista is a popular choice for pre-theatre diners and can accommodate large parties from family get-togethers to girlie nights, as well as romantic dinners for two. The team also loves to welcome families. With a challenging activity menu for the kids, they can spend time doing puzzles and colouring while Mum and Dad enjoy a sumptuous meal. Little ones also love the chocolate and vanilla Oreo sundae! Led by manager, Jennifer Quinn and head chef, Therese Maguire, La Rivista offers delicious Italian dishes to suit

Foodworks

7 Parliament Street 056-7777696 www.foodworks.ie

La Rivista

every palate. Excellent customer service is a given and La Rivista caters for specific dietary needs with many gluten and dairy-free options. The a la carte menu has something for everyone. Pizzas range from rocket and garlic to the gamberetti Alfred or pollo arrostito. Pasta dishes range from staples such as carbonara or Bolognese to Mediterranean pancetta & chorizo with spicy sausage. Also expect fresh salads, tasty grills and delectable seafood dishes. Mains range from €11.50 to €19.95. La Rivista also offers several good value set menus. The Wine and Dine deal for two is a three course meal with a bottle of wine for €59 (5-10pm

weekdays) while the Early Bird menu offers two courses for €19.95 and three for €24.95 (5-10pm, Sunday to Friday). The Saturday Night Set Menu offers two courses for €22.95 and three for €26.95 all evening. The Sunday lunch menu has two courses for €16.95 and three for €19.95 (12.30-5pm). Dishes on these menus include pork fillet roulade, oven-roasted supreme of chicken, vegetable lasagna, any gourmet pizza and fish of the day with a wide range of starters and desserts. La Rivista is listed in the Paulo Tullio annual guide and has achieved certificates of excellence from Trip Advisor.

Foodworks is a café style bistro with a unique aim to bring food directly from farm to plate. Located in a former bank in the town centre, the airy space with high-ceilings

has a bright, fresh look that matches the style of the cooking. The unfussy dishes use quality local produce, including pork and vegetables, from the experienced chef-owner’s farm. Sample dishes include garlic prawns, crispy cod croquettes, confit pig’s trotter, chicken liver & foie gras paté, grilled fillet of hake, potato gnocchi, roast rump of lamb, Works steak burger, spit roast chicken and much more. Meal prices range from €10-29 and there are also fixed price menus available. Vegans and vegetarians are catered for and Foodworks is fully licensed, with a range of wine and other drinks to complement your meal. Open seven days a week, the eatery boasts air conditioning, customer Wi-Fi and is fully wheelchair accessible. Foodworks was recommended by the Michelin Guide 2014 & 2015 and was awarded Best Casual Dining in Leinster 2014/15 in the Irish Restaurant Awards.

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

The Riverside Restaurant & Riverview Bar

Kilkenny River Court Hotel, The Bridge, John Street 056-7723388 www.rivercourthotel.com Superb wining and dining is a given the opulent surrounds of the four star River Court Hotel. The award-winning Riverside Restaurant and the adjoining bar offer top class food and drink with unrivalled views of Kilkenny Castle and the River Nore. The restaurant has timeless décor— light-filled from the large windows during the day and atmospheric in the evening. It serves breakfast and dinner daily but opens for lunch on request for groups and functions. Afternoon Tea is served daily from 1-5pm. Breakfast is a buffet of continental and cooked options as well as some made to order dishes. Prepared by an experienced culinary team, the menus are a mix of Irish and international cuisine—combining the best produce

DID YOU KNOW?

Strongbow

There were many people who made a huge contribution to Kilkenny’s early history. Richard de Clare - also known as Strongbow - played a leading role in the Norman invasion of Ireland and came to the city around 1172. He built a wooden castle on the high ground beside the River Nore. Two decades later, William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke built the first stone castle on the site in 1195. Strongbow was dubbed “the greatest knight that ever lived”, serving four Kings with distinction. His son, the 2nd Earl, established the Black Abbey in 1225, one of the first priories of the Dominican Order in Ireland.

The Butler Dynasty The Butler family - more accurately the third Earl of Ormonde - acquired the castle in 1391. The Butler dynasty ruled the area for centuries and made a significant contribution to the foundation of modern Kilkenny. In 1967, the 24th Earl, Arthur Butler, sold the abandoned castle to a restoration committee for £50 to be preserved for the public. 74 |

with real flair. Samples from the menu include Teriyaki flaked salmon, aged sirloin steak, supreme of chicken, cider braised pork belly and poached spinach & ricotta tortellini. There are also a range of chef’s seasonal signature dishes and a delicious dessert menu. There are a number of set menus available including an early bird menu and the chef’s set dinner menu—served on different days and times—which range from €22.95 to €29.50.

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Light-filled from the large windows during the day

The Riverview Bar is newly refurbished with a bright modern contemporary theme and serves delicious Bistro food throughout the day. The Terrace Kitchen serves bistro-style food all day during the summer months with sandwiches and light bites as well as roasts, fish and steak, for example. The outdoor, covered terrace gives diners and drinkers a chance to sit

Kilkenny in Numbers

24,423

Population of Kilkenny City and environs

1213

Year Kilkenny’s first castle was completed

95,419

Total population of County Kilkenny

1609

Year Kilkenny was awarded city status by Royal Charter

117

Distance in kilometres from Kilkenny to Dublin

514

Year St. Canice, one of the patron saints of Kilkenny, was born

40,000

Number of bricks in the 23 metre chimney of Kilkenny’s old woolen mills

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The Riverside Restaurant & Riverview Bar

al-fresco and enjoy the fare, beverages and the tranquil vistas. For more information and booking, email info@ rivercourthotel.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Real Santa Claus According to legend, the remains of St. Nicholas of Myra - the inspiration for Santa Claus - are interred on the grounds of the church at Newtown Jerpoint, near Thomastown in Kilkenny. The grave slab depicts a cleric with the heads of two knights. Several sources allege that his remains were taken to Ireland and buried here around 1200 by knights (possibly Norman) who took part in the Crusades.

Cafés

Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

Kilkenny has truly embraced café culture with numerous casual eateries where you can sit and watch the world go by.

#eat

This café places a real emphasis on healthy, fresh and local food that packs a flavoursome punch. Owner, Helen Kiely, has designed a refreshing menu featuring salads, soups, gourmet sandwiches, hot wok meals, and award-winning sushi platters in season.

Crotty’s Coffee House

options like a full Irish, scrambled eggs, a breakfast bagel or a hot croissant. It also offers assorted pastries and breads and does fresh soup, filled sandwiches (regular and toasted), rolls, panini, ciabattas and wraps. You can’t miss out with a selection taking in chicken coronation, tuna melt

Regency Court, Friary Street 056-7770516 www.eatkilkenny.ie

Kieran Street 056-7764877

This family-run café is as traditional as they come but with a stellar reputation built up over 20 years in business. It was founded by Martin Crotty—a master baker—and is run by him and his wife, Mary. Behind the quaint crimson shop front, the café is compact and bright with old school décor and has an outdoor seating area with an awning to protect punters from the elements. There is also a shop counter for the baked goods like homemade jams, breads, buns and made-to-order cakes. Crotty’s apple tart is rather famous locally. The café is not all hot drinks and sweet treats (although the chalkboard advertising baked goods with tea/coffee for very reasonable prices did sound good!) The breakfast menu has several

The pale interior with bright splashes of colour is a pleasant setting for lunch or a coffee break with a sweet treat during the day. House salad options, with homemade dressings, include Cobb, Chicken Caesar, Beef Eater and Muscle Builder or you can create your own. The signature range of sandwiches, including wraps and ciabattas, have a range of delicious fillings to tempt the tastebuds. For something warm, the wok meals have mouthwatering options like chicken and chorizo, chili and ginger prawns, zesty beef and sesame soy turkey to name but a few. These are served either on leaves or noodles–including a gluten free option. If none of the menu items appeal, you can build your own wok meal. All meats, soups and chilli are cooked on the premises. There are gluten-free options and regular deals. The café offers a call and collect service and outside catering. #eat opens 12-3pm.

and veggie deluxe. Other savoury items like quiche, sausage rolls and potato wedges are available too, as is free Wi-Fi. Everything is available for take-away. Crotty’s Coffee House opens from 9am5.30pm Monday to Saturday.

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink Stephan’s Pretzels

the shop every day, so the freshness and flavour are at their best. As soon as you smell the pretzels, you won’t be able to leave the shop without trying some! For more information and updates, the shop is on Facebook: www.facebook. com/pretzelshop.

Vio’s Coffee and Pizza 34 Kieran Street 056-7795668 www.facebook.com/vioscaffee

Stephan’s Pretzels Unit 21, Level 2, Market Cross Shopping Centre 087-7506502 www.stephanspretzels.ie

Kilkenny is a blooming city, full of exciting things and amazing places and one unique hidden gem is Stephan’s Pretzels—the only pretzel shop in the south-east. Opened in 2011 by Stefan, the shop on the second floor of Market Cross Shopping Centre never ceases to amaze with its ever-growing variety of products. If you are visiting Kilkenny or just strolling the city a visit to his shop is definitely a must. The combinations are numerous and there is something for everyone, whether you like it sweet or savoury.

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The only pretzel shop in the south-east

Cinnamon & sugar, vanilla, seeds, cheese, white and milk chocolate pretzels, doughnut and a chocolate filled doughnut, if you’re in for something sweet. Hungry? Pretzeldogs, homemade beef burgers or calzones with chicken or ham are a real delight. If you haven’t tried the cakes, you’re in for a real treat. Homemade waffles, crèmes or homemade chocolate are the latest additions. Everything is baked in 76 |

For a relaxed, fun place to have a coffee or grab a bite with all the family, pop in to Vio’s. Owners, Martin and Violeta Zselna, have certainly mastered their arts of great coffee and crêpes. Together with the friendly atmosphere here, Vio’s is a great place to refresh. They serve an extensive list of teas and freshly brewed coffees that look like something out of a magazine. They also do hot chocolate and a variety of milkshakes so there’s something for everyone.

Savoury crêpes come with all the toppings you’d expect in a good pizza parlour—the classic caprese, a 3 formaggi of cheddar, Emmental and gorgonzola and Hawaiian with cheese, ham, pineapple and sweetcorn. For a tasty way to start your day, try the Irish breakfast of bacon, egg, mushroom and tomato, all in a crêpe. A range of sandwiches can also be made to order. For a delicious dessert, try one of their sweet crêpes with sugar and lemon, a winter taste of apple and cinnamon, or the luxurious gelato option with three scoops of ice-cream.

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Fun place to have a coffee

Go nuts with their yogy or milito options, or for a real treat try the violette special—a crêpe with fresh fruit of the day, vanilla ice-cream and a dash of maple syrup. Extra toppings are also available, as are muffins and scones. Pop in for breakfast, lunch or just a treat.

Vio’s Coffee and Pizza

DID YOU KNOW?

Twinning

Kilkenny is twinned with the town of Moret-sur-Loing in north-central France. The medieval town is around 60 kilometres south-east of French capital, Paris, on the Loing—a tributary of the River Seine. The Best Of Ireland Series

The town was a source of inspiration for renowned impressionist artists like Monet, Renoir and Sisley and is depicted numerous times in their work. In January 2015, the communes of Moret-sur-Loing and Écuelles merged to become one commune called Orvanne.

Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

Mug*Shot Café

25 James Street James Street: 056-7777798 Granges Road: 086-2275695 www.mugshotcafe.ie Located between St. Marys Cathedral and Market Cross Shopping Centre on James’s Street, a funky, friendly and vibrant café awaits you. Mug*Shot Café’s thriving business began in 2007 and it has recently extended the kitchen to accommodate the increasing demand for its eclectic variety of food. The café offers freshly homemade soups, great Vegan fare, a selection of gluten free dishes including desserts and cakes and a vast, colourful variety of healthy, tasty salads. Manager, Aoghán Courtney, chef, Antonia Bottoni and the amiable staff provide you with a diverse lunch menu, which have been created using the best ingredients from local, award-winning suppliers.

Willoughby’s Café 1 High Street 056-7813020 www.willoughbyscafe.eu

Family-owned and run, Willoughby’s Café offers a generous serving of great food and selected giftware in historic surrounding.

Mug*Shot Café

Mug*Shot Café serves freshly ground Italian Lavazza Coffee and Java Republic Herbal Teas. There is an extensive take-out/outside catering menus, free Wi-Fi, daily newspapers and an outdoor seating area in the courtyard. Opening hours are: Monday to Saturday, 8.30am-5.30pm and the

Sunday Brunch Club runs 11am-4pm. There is also a Mug*Shot Café open at Ayrfield Medical Practice on Granges Road providing the same great food, coffee and service. That branch opens Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm. For more information, email: mugshotcafe@ eircom.net.

The classic burgundy and white frontage opens up into a warm, bright space decorated in shades of white and mint green complemented by splashes of vivid colour and artwork. The café serves breakfast and lunch but it is also the perfect spot for afternoon tea, with fabulous views of Kilkenny City. Service is fast and friendly.

The lunch menu is diverse with an emphasis on fresh produce and creative fare. For lighter bites, there is homemade soup, made fresh every day, along with open sandwich and wrap menus, with options from marinated chicken ciabatta to Willoughby’s club sandwich. There are also delicious gluten-free cakes and desserts with a wide selection of hot drinks available.

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Willoughby’s Café holds regular events and stocks quirky gift items for all occasions

Willoughby’s Café holds regular events and stocks quirky gift items for all occasions. Opening hours are: 9am-7pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink A Slice of Heaven/Kilkenny Cookery School

DID YOU KNOW?

Bridging Kilkenny The two main bridges in Kilkenny City have a fascinating history. Green’s Bridge and John’s Bridge were both built around 1200 and their names also date back to the Middle Ages. Both have been rebuilt numerous times, mainly due to flooding in 1487 and 1763. In the ‘Great Flood’ of 1763, Green’s Bridge collapsed. People subsequently gathered on John’s Bridge and the whole structure collapsed, killing 16 people. Green’s Bridge was rebuilt in 1766 and it is thought that the bridge was inspired by the Roman Bridge at Rimini, Italy. The current John’s Bridge was built in 1910 and when it was completed, it was apparently the longest singlespan reinforced bridge in Ireland or Britain. A third bridge, Ossory Bridge, was added in 1984.

A Slice of Heaven/ Kilkenny Cookery School

Unit 5-6 Regency Court, Friary Street 087-9533870 www.asliceofheaven.ie If you want to indulge in, buy or even learn to make divine cakes, A Slice of Heaven is a homegrown bakery, coffee shop and cookery school all mixed into one. Owner, Mary McEvoy, is a former pastry chef with acclaimed restaurant L’Ecrivain and the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel. Her award-winning sweet treats are renowned but now visitors can sit down and enjoy them too. A Slice of Heaven offers delicious food made with locally sourced, good quality natural ingredients and put together with flair and imagination. In

Don’t Forget!

The Gourmet Store The Gourmet Store (pg 68) on 56 High Street also has a café, as well as selling a selection of fresh and readymade ingredients and foodstuffs.

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the stylish café, you can choose from the varied menu and take a well-earned rest or take something home to enjoy. Handcrafted wedding and occasion cakes are available for purchase, based on a ready-made design or your own unique take. Cupcakes, or other desserts, can be bought in store or ordered in advance for events. The new dedicated cookery school runs a wide selection of courses and classes, catering for both adults and children from age six upwards. At Kilkenny Cookery School, there is something for everyone—learning to make desserts and savoury fare alike, decorate a cake and much more. Mary also runs camps and workshops during school holidays too. A Slice of Heaven effortlessly combines store, coffee shop and a fun learning opportunity and that makes it well worth a visit.

Pubs

Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

Kilkenny has a variety of both quaint old style public houses as well as stylish, modern new age pubs to choose from.

The Dylan Whisky Bar 5 John Street 056-7722689 www.thedylanwhiskybar.com

The Dylan Whisky Bar is named after legendary folk singer, Bob, and, like the man himself, is one of the most distinctive characters on the Kilkenny bar scene. The bright red front leads into a self-styled ‘old Victorian’ type pub with an array of leather seats, brass lamps, cabinets, glass murals and whiskythemed paraphernalia like mirrors and signs. Most of the fixtures and fittings are solid wood, including the impressive bar with its built-in clock. There is also a cosy, open fire as well as a nice snug— winner of the Powers Whiskey Ireland’s Best Snug 2011—decorated with Bob Dylan memorabilia. There is a heated outdoor smoking area also. This place is heaven for whisky connoisseurs, so if you know your single

Biddy Early’s

6 John Street Lower 056-7722689 www.biddyearlyskilkenny.com Biddy Early’s is named after the reputed Clare witch but the strange and energising brews it mixes up these days are the cities best cocktails! Young hearts run free at this bar, which makes every effort to make sure customers have a highly entertaining night out, whether it is with a live band or DJ, karaoke or a fun theme night. Don’t let the traditional frontage fool you; the interior is modern with maroon and cream walls, wood panelling and framed posters hanging on the walls. There is a heated outdoor patio area with seating, making for a comfortable smoking area. Biddy Early’s is the city’s leading cocktail bar with an extensive menu and a mammoth cocktail happy ‘hour’ from 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Thursday. The

malt from your blended grain, your bourbon from your rye, this is an ideal spot. The menu samples range from €515 and there are over 190 of the world’s best whiskies to pick from. No reservations are needed for tastings (five samples of single malt Irish Whiskey for €20) and private sessions can be arranged. Aside from whisky, the Dylan has a

regular drinks menu, a superior gin menu and a selection of cocktails and craft beers too. It opens daily from 11am serving the finest of teas, coffees and light bar food options. When the candles appear on the tables, the bar has a lively ambience and several weekly events like a cult film night, trad sessions and live music.

bar staff has some nifty mixology moves and has won international awards to prove it. Their motto is “when it pours it reigns”. The bar offers Kilkenny’s premier cocktail making class, ideal for private parties and company gettogethers. Full details can be found at www.thecocktailacademy.com There is something on all the time at Biddy Early’s and the chalkboard outside

advertises daily and weekly events. For all those aspiring singers, karaoke night is Thursday from 9pm while every Friday & Saturday night Kilkenny’s top DJs spin out all the latest and greatest hits. Other weekly events include live bands and match screenings on the four plasma screens.

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink There is a very high ceiling and more shelves up on the second level. The distinctive tile floor extends through to the bar, accessed through saloon-style doors. It has a timeless style and quality, with a simple black and cream colour scheme and wood panelled walls, with old monochrome photos displayed.

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Bridie’s Bar & General Store

Bridie’s Bar & General Store 72 John Street 056-7765133 www.langtons.ie/bars/bridies

Bridie’s Bar and General Store is like stepping into a time machine and arriving in another era but the beautiful recreation is irresistible.

Marble City Bar & Tea Rooms

66 High Street 056-7761143 www.langtons.ie/bars/marble-citybar Not many places can boast about being the holders of the Pub Lunch Award and the Black & White Best Newcomer Award like The Marble City Bar & Tea Rooms can. Whether you’re a local or just visiting for the day, their friendly service and great food will have you coming back for more. One of the oldest public meeting houses in Kilkenny, it has a revamped yet timeless interior. The Marble City Bar has a warm and friendly atmosphere that makes it the perfect backdrop for relaxing lunches, intimate dinners and midday meetups alike. Kick back, relax and treat yourself to a drink from their range of international coffees and teas. You’ll be spoiled for choice with their selection of cakes and pastries. It offers the best in fresh Irish produce 80 |

Bridie’s Bar and General Store is like stepping into a time machine and arriving in another era

The frontage is a vibrant pale blue with an ornate sign and large windows. The first section is the general store, with its walls of well-appointed wooden shelves displaying food products like dressings, preserves and all manner of giftware. It also sells fresh bread, cakes and sweets—which are measured out with scales (old school sweet shops are in vogue in Ireland these days!)

It is dominated by the long wood, pewter and marble bar counter. Customers can sit at this and sip a pint or coffee, or at the many tables. The beer garden/smoking area outside is pleasant too with several covered in seating areas under Victorian style bus shelters. The place is gleaming by candlelight and it looks very impressive.

and individual brunch, lunch and dinner menus where traditional dishes are infused with delicious modern quirks. Why not sample the creamy homemade seafood chowder or the delicious beef and Guinness casserole? The warm chocolate and pecan nut brownie also deserves a special mention here. If you’re just dropping in for

lunch, you won’t want to miss trying the fantastic MCB club sandwich with hearty homemade fries. The bar serves food from 9am-10pm and the tea rooms serve food from 9am9.30pm daily. For award winning food and service, coupled with a buzzing atmosphere, drop into the Marble City Bar & Tea Rooms.

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

DID YOU KNOW?

The Olde Capital

Kilkenny was the capital of Ireland in the 17th century. Between 1642 and 1649, there was a period of Irish selfgovernance when roughly two-thirds of the population were ruled by the Irish Catholic Confederation. This is often referred to as the ‘Confederation of Kilkenny’ because it was based in the city. The confederation was abolished when Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland and crushed the rebellion.

Disney’s Tale

The great-grandfather of legendary film producer and animator, Walt Disney, hailed from Kilkenny. Arundel Elias Disney emigrated to America from Gowran in the county around 1834. The Mickey Mouse creator’s name was descended from the Normans and genealogists say that 512 ancestors of Walt Disney are known to have lived in Ireland.

Cave of Cats

Dunmore Cave, in the north of the county, has a very interesting history and may even hold the key to why Kilkenny natives are nicknamed ‘cats’. The Triads of Ireland—compiled from the 14th century, refer to it as ‘Cave of the Alders’ and one of the “three darkest places in Ireland”. According to legend, a female warrior called Aithbel killed a cat-like monster, Luchtigen, ‘Lord of the Mice’, in the cave. Though there is no concrete evidence of this, perhaps the idea that there were fierce cats inhabiting the area stuck.

Car Reg Code

The letters on car number plates registered in Kilkenny are KK, which is slightly unusual given that, according to the Irish car registration system (first and last letter) they should be KY. Unfortunately, that classification was already taken by County Kerry, which comes first in alphabetical order.

Tynan’s Bridge House Bar 2 John’s Bridge 056-7721291

Tynan’s Bridge House Bar is Kilkenny’s longest running licenced premises serving customers from its location overlooking the River Nore since 1703. The bright blue exterior—wonderfully lit up at night and bedecked with flowers over its name fascia—won Shop Front of the Year in 2013 The interior is old world but has an ageless quality with features like wood panelled ceilings, brass lanterns and beer taps a marble horse-shoe shaped bar counter and interesting antiquities such as the old spice chest. Before the early 20th century, the premises was a grocery and pharmacy as well as a bar. Some of the interior walls have signs and photos of regulars, visitors and good times in the bar (which is the mark of a great pub).

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Tynan’s Bridge House Bar is Kilkenny’s longest running licenced premises

Tynan’s can accommodate a surprisingly big crowd but there some alcoves where customers can have quiet chats and television is curtailed to rare occasions such as hurling/rugby matches and the odd race meeting. Conversation

DID YOU KNOW?

Bewitched Kilkenny In 1324, Kilkenny woman, Petronella de Meath, became one of the first people to be charged with witchcraft in Europe and the first person in Ireland to be burned at the stake for heresy. Petronella was a maid to Dame Alice Kyteler - a noblewoman who was widowed four times. Her children accused her of using sorcery to kill her fourth husband, seemingly to gain control of her fortune. They convinced Bishop of Ossory, Richard de The Best Of Ireland Series

Tynan’s Bridge House Bar

and banter is encouraged between customers and the friendly staff. There is live, easy listening music every night from 9-11pm but otherwise, the background music is sixties and seventies and not too intrusive. Parties of all types are welcome. Tynan’s has been maintained in its present format previously by the Tynan family and now by the Coady family, who also run the renowned Step House Hotel in Borris, Co. Carlow only 16 miles from Kikenny Tynan’s Bridge House Bar has the honour of being the winner of the first three competitions for Black & White ‘Pub of the Year’.

Ledrede, who investigated and alleged that she made potions and sacrificed animals to demons. His efforts to have her arrested backfired because the Chancellor of Ireland was Dame Alice’s brother in law. She fled abroad and was never heard from again. But the Bishop still pursued her supporters and Petronella was his most tragic victim.

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink A traditional Irish pub split into two bars, the lower bar still displays artifacts and products sold at a time when you could enjoy a pint while grocery shopping while the top bar maintains its traditional setting, while incorporating a wide screen television. The building is steeped in history, with references in local records showing a grocery and bar in the building from 1833 on, but records date the building at several hundred years prior to this.

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Spacious, friendly family run pub

Syd Harkin’s Pub

Syd Harkin’s is a spacious, friendly family run pub in the heart of Kilkenny city, located beside the tourist office and just a stones throw from Kilkenny Castle.

Sport is always a popular topic in Syd’s with a particular fondness to the local game of hurling with several pictures and reports from matches in bygone days adorning the walls. Sandwiches and traditional homemade vegetable soup is available daily. Relax, unwind and watch the world go by from the half door looking out to the bustling Rose Inn Street. Syd’s is a must-visit on your visit to Kilkenny!

Paris Texas Bar and Smokehouse

and marinated lamb are other meaty offerings, or if you prefer fish they have salmon and local Goatsbridge trout. For a tasty snack or starter try the chicken wings or chilli nachos. Paris Texas is also well known for relaxed atmosphere and generous portions.

The broad drinks list offers a range of world beers, spirits, wines and delicious cocktails so you are bound to find the tipple of your choice. For quality food and service in a beautiful location, call into the Paris Texas Bar and Smokehouse.

Syd Harkin’s Pub

25 Rose Inn Street 056-7722134

92 High Street 056-7761822 www.facebook.com/ParisTexasBar This recently renovated bar and smokehouse comes highly recommended for anyone serious about authentic U.S. barbecue and home smoked foods. Located on the busy High Street and boasting a spacious interior that is the envy of all around them, Paris Texas Bar and Smokehouse is a step ahead of the rest when it comes to look and design. Thankfully their level of service and quality of product is of the same high standard. The attentive staff will welcome you warmly and happily advise you on the restaurant’s extensive food menu which includes a wide range of vegetarian and gluten free options. Try their popular pulled pork sandwich with frizzled onions and barbecue sauce, or build your own burger—a delicious Black Angus Irish beef burger flame-grilled to perfection and finished with the toppings and sauce of your choice. Ribs, steak 82 |

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

The Field Bar & Restaurant

2 High Street 056-7702763 www.thefieldkilkenny.com The Field Bar & Restaurant is at the center of Kilkenny’s main throughfare, overlooking The Parade and the landmark Kilkenny Castle. Owners, John and Sally Anne McDonald, take great pride in running

Cleere’s Pub & Theatre 28 Parliament Street 056-7762573 www.cleeres.com

Cleere’s is a heady mix of tradition and modernity, and has built a good reputation among music fans for legendary gigs and trad sessions. The exterior of the pub is bright red and as quintessentially Irish as they come (except maybe for the posters for upcoming performances in the windows!) That theme—red and posters— continues on the walls inside and is joined by other music memorabilia and quirky pictures. It has some bench seating at the front and a lot of tables stretching back and around the bar. With its well-worn demeanor, soft folk music playing on the stereo and friendly staff and clientele, Cleere’s has an easygoing, comfortable air about it. It does a bustling trade on busier nights. There is also a 100 seat, multi-purpose venue at the back of Cleere’s, which hosts plays, comedy nights and bigger bands.

one of the city’s oldest bars. You can see from the massive Kilkenny hurling banner outside that the management is sports mad, making it the place to watch a match or chat at length to John, a former Kilkenny hurler, about the subject. The Field houses the largest hurley in the world, with pride of place over the bar, autographed by many sporting legends. The décor is traditional and rustic with touches like restored barrels and old signs for everything from Wills The pub boasts the longest running traditional Irish music session in the city on Monday nights from 9pm, and another regular trad night on Wednesdays. All sorts of bands play there regularly too and it does its best to cover interesting bases such as Cajun and bluegrass music too.

Woodbine cigarettes to Brasso jockeying for position with framed sports pictures and old newspapers on the walls, with a wide array of different sporting subjects covered. The Field is spread over two levels and serves food all day from breakfast, going to an all day menu from noon to 9pm. Local produce is prepared in the kitchen to provide hearty, stylish dishes. Starters include seafood chowder, goat’s cheese crustini & buffalo wings. Among the light meals are a club sandwich, char-grilled salmon salad, toasted special and wraps. The mains options won’t disappoint with a large selection of homemade burgers, black angus sirloin steaks, traditional lamb stew and fish and chips to name but a few. There are desserts and chef’s specials daily. Comfortable at any time of the day, the atmosphere gets livelier as the night wears on with live music, whether trad or rock, every night of the week. DJs take over on late opening nights. Special entertainment can be organised for hen or stag parties, and any group or function can be catered for.

With bar food, Cleere’s sticks to soup and sambos with a twist. Sandwiches can be toasted or filling ‘doorstops’ and soups include unusual varieties like Cajun red bean stew and broccoli, pear and blue cheese. It does teas and coffees along with minerals etc. Pizzas are available during the day and in the evenings.

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

DID YOU KNOW? Famous Ales Kilkenny has its own niche in Irish brewing history. John Smithwick started brewing ale in Kilkenny City in 1710, on the site of a former Franciscan abbey where monks had allegedly brewed ale since the 1300s. St. Francis Abbey Brewery was the oldest working brewery in Ireland until it closed down production in 2013. Smithwick’s, best known for its trademark red ale, was founded and brewed there until that time, as was another brand, Kilkenny. Kilkenny is an Irish cream ale similar to Smithwick’s with some subtle differences including a cream head like the iconic Irish stout, Guinness.

Delaney’s Bar & Grocery

Delaney’s Bar & Grocery 30 Patrick Street Upper 056-7721287

The Kilkenny name was originally used during the 1980s and 1990s to market a stronger version of Smithwick’s for markets abroad but it now refers to a similar but distinctive beer. Apart from Ireland, Smithwick’s (which has several different beers in its range) and Kilkenny are popular in other countries including Germany, the United States, Canada and Australia. Both beers are now part of Diageo (which also owns Guinness) and are brewed in St James’s Gate in Dublin. St. Francis Abbey Brewery on Parliament Street, Kilkenny now plays host to the Smithwick’s Experience Tour. On this interactive tour, visitors can learn about the history of the brewery and the art of brewing. 84 |

Delaney’s Bar & Grocery is a homely, proper old fashioned local and a favourite for many loyal Kilkenny GAA followers. It’s a nice 10 minute stroll out of town but you can’t miss the yellow and black exterior—team colours of the famous ‘Cats’, which is no coincidence.

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A homely, proper old fashioned local and a favourite for many loyal Kilkenny GAA followers

There is a small grocery section at the front selling just the essentials, sweets, soft drinks, newspapers and the Lotto. The pub is separated from the shop by a partition and doors. The décor is traditional and harks back to when bar/grocery was a commonplace sight in Irish towns. Sadly, this type of establishment is rare now. The long marble bar counter has plenty of space for customers to sit elbow to elbow, supping a pint and watching whatever’s on the box (mostly sports, it has to be said). It has the feel of a bar with regulars and why wouldn’t they come back with the quality of the pints and staff with a friendly word for everyone? Delaney is a name synonymous with Kilkenny GAA with several legends, present and past, lining out for the county. On match days, it livens up with GAA fans eager to discuss tactics and trivia. What they don’t know about Gaelic games probably isn’t worth knowing! It’s even a pick-up spot for buses travelling to matches.

DID YOU KNOW?

Warm Welcome

In 2013, Kilkenny was voted as one of the world’s most friendly cities by readers of the internationally known, Condé Nast Traveler Magazine. At number nine, The ‘Marble City’ was the only European city to be ranked in the top 10. The Best Of Ireland Series

Readers praised Kilkenny’s “clean” air and many pubs. “People were always greeting you,” one reader wrote. Another praised the “charming” locals, describing them as “proud folks who want you to sample their best”.

Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

a creamy pint of Smithwick’s in good company or just in peace. The neat green, red and cream front— with the name in old Irish lettering— marks it out as an honest to goodness, traditional bar.

Inside, the wooden partition a ways down the worn wooden counter marks it out as a former grocery/bar. O’Riadas is long but not overly large. It has a cosy feel to it with most of the clientele on high stools along the bar or to the ledge opposite but there is bench seating with tables at the back. The cream walls and red ceiling are covered with layers upon layers of paint. Any decoration is nothing fancy but an interesting mix of things like US car number plates, framed old playbills from the theatre and festivals and the obligatory collection of sporting memorabilia. There is no background music playing day or night but you might randomly come across an occasional live acoustic session down the back. The main source of entertainment, aside from yarns by some local character, is sports on the television; the low key atmosphere livens up for Kilkenny GAA matches. O’Riada’s has a staunch, regular crowd but fellow drinkers and staff are always friendly. Its location opposite the Watergate Theatre makes it a nice stop off for a pre-theatre drink.

The Pumphouse is a great place to make new friends with such a diverse group of customers eager to chat and “have the craic”. You are guaranteed a great vibe, with music non-stop and the chance to challenge someone to a game of pool. Listen to live bands on various nights and a great DJ every Friday and Saturday night. The resident Sunday night band has a huge following and make for a great way to finish off your weekend in Kilkenny. Fans reckon that once you’ve heard

them, you just have to come back. Traditional music raises the roof during the summer season, as does its acoustic gig every Thursday night year round. The Pumphouse has an upstairs function room for your private parties and a special smoking area. This popular watering hole also serves teas and coffees and, some might say, the “best toasties in Kilkenny”. The Pumphouse crew look forward to seeing you.

O’Riada’s Bar

O’Riada’s Bar 25 Parliament Street 056-7764933

O’Riada’s is a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle where customers can enjoy

The Pumphouse

26-28 Parliament Street 056-7763924 www.pumphousekilkenny.ie If you’re looking for a traditional, friendly pub in the heart of Kilkenny City, look no further than The Pumphouse. The place is popular with both locals and visitors who enjoy its lively and welcoming atmosphere, from its roaring fire to its great music; it makes you feel right at home.

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If you’re looking for a traditional, friendly pub in the heart of Kilkenny City, look no further than The Pumphouse

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Kilkenny Guide Food & Drink

O’Faoláin’s Pub/Pegasus Nightclub

O’Faoláin’s Pub/ Pegasus Nightclub Upper John Street 056-7761018 www.kilfordarms.ie

If you happen upon popular superpub, O’Faoláin’s, or nightclub, Pegasus, you’ll be in flying form before long. O’Faoláin’s has three levels and is definitely one of the most spectacularlooking watering holes in the city, if not the country. It is built around a 16th-century stone church, which was brought over from Wales piece by piece and reconstructed.

The décor is cream and brown shades with lots of leather and dark wood; it’s a real fusion of new and old. It opens at 10am so it’s also great for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and has multiple screens to watch sports. The food menu runs until 9pm. Starters include Caesar salad, smoked salmon, chicken liver pate and shrimp salad while mains take in quiche Lorraine, spicy salmon fishcakes, tagliatelle, lasagne, chicken curry, plaice, sirloin steak, a choice of sambos including the toasted special and desserts. There is a lot of seating on all levels in the warren-like bar, including by the

Original architectural features include pillars, archways and vaulted windows and these blend with modern features like stairwells, balconies and of course, bars!

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balconies so you can spot the talent. Service is always polite and quick. When it’s crowded, with DJs playing to set the mood, it’s a great spot to pass a few funfilled hours. It has late opening (til 2am) every night except Tuesday. Hen/stag parties are welcome, as are other functions. There is a heated beer garden/smoking area at the back. Pegasus is the new kid on the block on the local nightclub scene, open on weekends. It has a state of the art set-up and plenty of space with a large dancefloor and DJs spinning the hottest tunes to get the crowd going.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Marble City

Kilkenny is known as ‘The Marble City’. Limestone and marble were available from the ‘The Black Quarry’ on the outskirts. Many of its streets were paved with dark grey limestone flagstones and when wet, the streets shone like marble. Kilkenny marble was used in the construction of many local buildings but also in Cobh Cathedral in Cork and the gravestone of Daniel O’Connell in Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery.

It has a state of the art set-up and plenty of space with a large dancefloor and DJs spinning The Best Of Ireland Series

Kilkenny Guide Accommodation

There is an excellent choice of places to stay in Kilkenny and take an extended â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cat napâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with top quality hotels, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts and self-catering outlets aplenty.

Accommodation

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Kilkenny Guide Accommodation

Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa

Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa Old Dublin Road 056-7760088 (Main Hotel) 056-7705814 (Reservations) www.lyrath.com

Lyrath Estate Hotel is a five star luxury hotel located only minutes from the medieval City of Kilkenny. Set in almost 200 acres of lush green parkland and gardens, the beautiful 17th century house is complemented by a series of modern spaces. By simply coming here, you will feel you are somewhere special. Along with 139 stunning guestrooms, Lyrath Estate Hotel offers an impressive selection of dining options, an awardwinning spa & health club, a stateof-the-art conference centre and a spectacular wedding venue.

in the mood for some exotic cuisine, the popular Yindees Oriental Restaurant is just the thing. Guests seeking relaxation and tranquillity can immerse themselves in the Oasis Spa. With its thermal suite and outdoor hydrotherapy pool, you can take a break from the hectic pace of life, while engaging with the landscape around you. Visitors can choose from an extensive range of luxury spa treatments, from facials to massages. The adjoining health club boasts a 17-metre infinity edge pool, a sauna, a Jacuzzi and a wellequipped fitness centre. You can truly treat yourself at Lyrath Estate. The luxurious hotel offers Traditional Afternoon Tea from only €17.50 per person and Champagne Afternoon Tea from only €32 per

La Perla, the stylish restaurant where breakfast and dinner are served, has large picture windows running the length of the room and overlooking the manicured gardens. Tupper’s Bar is perfect for an informal meal and has access to a conservatory, a sheltered terrace and the gardens. The sophisticated X-Bar has perhaps the best views over the estate from its panoramic windows, which you can enjoy while sipping a cocktail. If you are 88 |

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person. There is also an early bird menu available at Yindees Oriental Restaurant. There are exceptional day rates available for the Oasis Spa.

Langton House Hotel 67 John Street 056-7765133 www.langtons.ie

The Langton House Hotel has grown from a humble boarding house for travelling salesmen in 1938 to a sumptuous four-star hotel with 34 bedrooms today. The hostelry founded by Ned and Bridget is still family owned and run, and sticks to the same principles of impeccable service and hospitality that they offered to weary commercial travellers long ago. The Langton family now runs several hospitality and entertainment outlets in Kilkenny City with the hotel complex, the Marble City Bar, the Set Theatre and Bridie’s Bar & General Store.

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Kilkenny Guide Accommodation

Guests can unwind in any one of six different bar areas

The award-winning Langton Room restaurant takes fine dining seriously. The lush surroundings are a nod towards the top quality cuisine, which is locally sourced. A sample of what to expect includes appetisers such as salmon & dill filled mushroom caps, smoked mackerel paté, marinated beef strips and crab claws.

Mains include a fine selection of steaks including rib-eye, fillet, t-bone, sirloin and surf ‘n’ turf as well as lamb cutlets, steak burger, fillet of salmon, seabass, supreme of chicken, ½ roast duck, braised lamb shank, pork steak, salads, sandwiches and desserts. There is a set dinner option. Langton’s is an AA approved hotel and has the mark of approval by food critics, Lucinda O’Sullivan and Georgina Campbell. There are special offers like deals on two nights B&B with one evening meal; midweek/overnight breaks; golf/ medieval packages and the ‘style in the city’ break.

The contemporary accommodation includes executive rooms and specially designed suites - each more lavish than the next with bespoke furniture and décor

The contemporary accommodation includes executive rooms and specially designed suites - each more lavish than the next with bespoke furniture and décor. All rooms are state of the art but appointed with the maximum comfort in mind. Other facilities include free Wi-Fi all over the hotel and free parking. Corporate amenities include three splendid suites suitable for conferences or any other event. Guests can unwind in any one of six different bar areas or enjoy an event in the Set Theatre - the city’s newest venue. Informal dining goes from delicious bar food to tapas. The tranquil and refined Tea & Wine Rooms are an ideal place for a daytime break with a large selection of teas, coffees and snacks.

Langton House Hotel The Best Of Ireland Series

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Kilkenny Guide Accommodation

Kilford Arms Hotel

Kilford Arms Hotel Upper John Street 056-7761018 www.kilfordarms.ie

The three star Kilford Arms Hotel is enviously located between Kilkenny’s main public transport hub, MacDonagh Station, and the historic city centre. It boasts 60 clean, comfortable rooms including a variety of doubles, twins, triples and family rooms. The hotel aims to offer guests ‘a home from home’ stay but with a little bit extra! These extras include the White Oak Restaurant, PV’s Bar, O’Faoláin’s Bar and Pegasus Nightclub, plus free Wi-Fi in public areas, a games room and private parking. There are also packages available for corporate meetings and conferences.

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The hotel aims to offer guests ‘a home from home’ stay but with a little bit extra

The White Oak Restaurant is a case of by name and by nature. The unique décor incorporates solid wood floors and fixtures including throne-like, woodturned chairs and branches as decoration. The food is of a distinctly Irish flavour with favourites like stew, bacon and cabbage, smoked salmon and sirloin steak made from local ingredients.

The Best Of Ireland Series

PV’s Bar is relaxed and traditional with live bands three nights a week and big karaoke session on Saturday nights. It has a lunch and snacks menu during the day with a selection of soup, sambos, salads and bigger meals like shepherd’s pie, lasagne, burger or roast beef. O’Faoláins Bar (and late bar) is set over three levels in the shell of a 16th century church. It also serves a range of food from noon to 9pm. Pegasus Nightclub means that you don’t have to go far to find a place to drink and dance into the night.

Kilkenny Guide Accommodation

Club House Hotel

Club House Hotel Patrick Street 056-7721994 www.clubhousehotel.com

This 18th century, boutique hotel has a wealth of original features and modern comforts in a convenient location. The Club House Hotel offers 28 comfortable bedrooms of varying sizes, which are all uniquely decorated in both contemporary and period styles with television and free Wi-Fi as standard.

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Attention to detail has been paid in recreating the vintage, Georgian surroundings

1970s still plays an active role and his son, Ian, is now the general manager. Attentive service is key to their ethos. Head chef, Tim Clifford, is still cooking here after 35 years and the best of local produce is showcased in his varied menus. With its genuine old world charm, Victor’s Bar & Restaurant is a favourite for visitors and locals with cosy surroundings, occasional live music and delicious food to boot. It serves lunch and dinner, with a good value early bird as well as the a la carte selection. Sample dishes from the menu include beer battered prawns, warm O’Briens black pudding, crespelle of seafood

gratine, golden fried scampi supreme, mixed grill, Maryland style chicken, crispy half roast duck, grilled local lamb cutlets, a variety of steaks, rustic apple pie, Cramer’s Grove ice cream selection and much more. The wine list is comprehensive. There is also a special menu for kids. The Club House Hotel can cater for weddings, conferences, meetings, functions and other events too. Special offers available include an early booker’s special, a midweek special, a weekend dinner/B&B deal and more so be sure to check the website for more information.

Special attention to detail has been paid in recreating the vintage, Georgian surroundings including those in hotel common areas and Victor’s Bar & Restaurant on-site. The plasterwork— particularly evident in the dining room and bar ceilings—is very striking. The well-known Spy cartoons featured in famous magazine, Vanity Fair, between 1868 and 1914 hang on the walls on the stairwell and corridors. The Brennan family runs the hotel. Owner, Jim, who bought it in the late The Best Of Ireland Series

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Accommodation

Kilkenny Guide Accommodation

Featured Hotels Kilford Arms Hotel (Pg. 90) John Street 056-7761018 www.kilfordarms.ie

Langtons House Hotel (Pg. 89) 69 John Street 056-7765133 www.langtons.ie

Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa (Pg. 88) Dublin Road 056-7760088 www.lyrath.com

The Club House Hotel (Pg. 91) Patrick Street 056-7721994 www.clubhousehotel.com

City Hotels Aspect Hotel

Ring Road, Springhill 056-7783100 www.aspecthotelkilkenny.com

Hotel Kilkenny

College Road 056-7762000 www.hotelkilkenny.ie

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Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel

1 Ormonde Street 056-7771888 www.kilkennyhibernianhotel.com

Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel Ormonde Street 056-7750200 www.kilkennyormonde.com

Pembroke Hotel

11 Patrick Street 056-7783500 www.kilkennypembrokehotel.com

Springhill Court Conference, Leisure & Spa Hotel Waterford Road 056-7721122 087-1312029 www.springhillcourt.com

Newpark Hotel

Castlecomer Road 056-7760500 www.flynnhotels.com/newpark_hotel_ Kilkenny

The River Court Hotel The Bridge, John Street 056-7723388 087-9460881 www.rivercourthotel.com

Zuni Boutique Hotel 26 Patrick Street 056-7723999 www.zuni.ie

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County Hotels Carrollâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hotel

Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny 056-7768082 www.carrollsknocktopher.com

Mount Juliet

Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7773000 www.mountjuliet.ie

City Guesthouses Berkeley House

5 Lower Patrick Street 056-07764848 www.berkeleyhousekilkenny.com

Bridgecourt House

Greensbridge, Green Street 056-7762998 www.kilkennybridgecourt.com

Butler House

16 Patrick Street 056-7722828 www.butler.ie

Fanad House

Castle Road 056-7764126 www.fanadhouse.com

Kilkenny Guide Accommodation Glendine Inn

Castlecomer Road 056-7721069 www.glendineinn.com

Laragh House

Smithsland North, Waterford Road 056-7764674 www.laraghhouse.com

Rosquil House

Castlecomer Road 056-7721419/ 087-9818868 www.rosquilhouse.com

San Antonio Guesthouse Castlecomer Road 056-7771834 www.kilkennycitybandb.com

The Laurels Guesthouse College Road 056-7761501 www.thelaurelskilkenny.com

County Guesthouses The Rising Sun Guesthouse

Main Street, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny 051-898173 www.therisingsun.ie

The Waterside Guesthouse Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny 059-9724246 www.watersideguesthouse.com

City B&Bs Auburndale B&B

16 Springmount, Waterford Road 056-7762716/086-8528622 www.auburndale.ie

Avila B&B

Freshford Road 056-7751072/086-8417370 www.avilakilkenny.com

Breagagh View B&B

1 Maiden Hill, Kells Road 056-7703111/086-3618046 www.breagaghview.com

Carraig Rua

30 Dublin Road 056-7722929/085-1437905 www.bandbcitykilkenny.com

Celtic House

18 Michael Street 056-7762249/086-8566676 www.celtic-house-bandb.com

Chaplin’s B&B

Castlecomer Road 056-7752236/ 087-2955793 www.chaplinsbandb.com

Church View B&B

Cuffesgrange, Callan Road 056-7729170/ 087-7560351 www.churchview.info

Dunromin B&B

Historic Houses

Dublin Road 056-7761387/ 087-6169072 www.dunrominkilkenny.com

Ballaghtobin

Kenmur House

Ballaghtobin, Callan, Co. Kilkenny 056-7725227 www.ballaghtobin.com

Blanchville House, Coach Yard & Sanctuary Spa Dunbell, Maddoxtown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7727197 www.blanchville.ie

Lawcus Farm Guesthouse

Stoneyford, Co. Kilkenny 086-6031667/087-2911056 www.lawcusfarmguesthouse.com

45 Father Murphy Square 056-7722956 www.kenmurhouse.com

Killarney House

Freshford Road 056-7723118 www.killarneyhouse.ie

Launard House

Park Villa

Castlecomer Road 056-7761337/ 087-9081114 www.kilkennybedandbreakfast.com

Rodini B&B

Waterford Road (R910 off N10) 056-7721822 www.rodinibandb.com

The Rise B&B

Dunmore 056-7764534/ 086-0759345 www.therisedunmore.com

Twin Oaks B&B

Bawnlusk, Kells Road 056-7729082/087-7300496 www.twinoakskilkenny.com

County B&Bs Aard Oakleigh

Ballyreddin West, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny 056-7727388 www.aardoakleigh.com

Abbey House

Jerpoint, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7724166 www.abbeyhousejerpoint.com

Aisling B&B

Polerone, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny 051-895456 www.aislingbandb.com

Árd Álainn

Thornback Road, Keatingstown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7767680/ 086-1656726 www.ardalainn.ie

Brandon View House

Ballyling Lower, Graignuenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny 059-9724625/087-6508649 www.brandonviewhouse.com

Bungalow Farmhouse B&B

2 Maidenhill, Kells Road 056-7751889/085-7825850 www.launardhousekilkenny.com

Clonmantagh, Woodsgift, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny 056-8835215 www.bungalowbb.com

Mena House

Carrickmourne House

Castlecomer Road 056-7765362/087-2362601 www.menahousebandb.com The Best Of Ireland Series

New Ross Road, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7724124 www.carrickmournehouse.com | 93

Kilkenny Guide Accommodation

Castle View B&B

Newlands Country House

Charlefield Farmhouse

Norely Theyr

Balleen, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny 056-8832181 www.castleviewbb.com The Rower (R700), Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny 051-422386

Cradóg B&B

Craddockstown, Woodsgift, Freshford, Co Kilkenny 056-8835224 www.cradog.com

Cullintra House

Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny 051- 423614 www.cullintrahouse.com

Damerstown Farmhouse

Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny 056-4441337/ 087-2819872 www.damerstownfarmhousebb.com

Grove Farm House

Ballycocksuist, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny 056-7758467

Kilbawn Country House Dungarvan Village, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny 056-7793883/086-3388405 www.kilbawnhouse.com

Moate Farm B&B

Sevenhouses, Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny 056-7729171 www.newlandscountryhouse.com Barronsland, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny 056-7727496/ 086-0645441 www.norelytheyr.com

Oldtown Farmhouse B&B

Oldtown, Stoneyford, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7728224/086-3992863 www.oldtownfarmhouse.com

Pomodora House

Clinstown Road, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny 056-8832256 www.pomadora.com

Springview Farmhouse B&B Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny 056-8831243 www.springviewbb.com

Tower House B&B

Low Street, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny 056-7724500

Wandesforde House

Dublin Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny 056-4442441 www.wandesfordehouse.com

Moate, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny 056-8832283 www.moatefarm.net

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The Best Of Ireland Series

Hostels/Caravan & Camping Kilkenny Tourist Hostel 35 Parliament Street 056-7763541 www.kilkennyhostel.ie

Lanigan’s Hostel

28/29 Rose Inn Street 056-7721718 www.hostelkilkenny.ie

Mac Gabhainn’s Backpacker Hostel

24 Vicar Street 056-7770970 www.macgabhainnsbackpackers.com

Nore Valley Park

Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny 056-7727229 www.norevalleypark.com

Tree Grove Caravan & Camping Park Danville House, Newross Road 056-7770302 www.treegrovecamping.com

Kilkenny Guide Further Afield

Having enjoyed all Kilkennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sights and experiences, why not broaden your horizons and visit some neighbouring counties, or even Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital?

Further Afield The Best Of Ireland Series

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On Kilkenny’s Doorstep

Kilkenny Guide Further Afield

There are a variety of sites and experiences in Kilkenny’s neighbouring counties within driving distance. The following are just some of the many places of interest on Kilkenny’s doorstep… Waterford

Wexford

Tipperary

Just east of County Kilkenny, Waterford is home to Ireland’s oldest city and the capital of the sunny south east. A colourful city with a rich history, attractions include the the Viking Quarter with the excellent Waterford Museum of Treasures and Waterford Crystal Visitors’ Centre (see overleaf for details).

On the east coast, Wexford has plenty to offer including a 13th Century Norman structure that functions as a lighthouse, scenic Johnstown Castle and Irish Agricultural Museum as well as Duncannon Fort and some extreme adventure at Gravity Forest Park.

South Tipperary borders with Kilkenny. Sights there include the famous Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most spectacular archaeological sites where an intact round tower, a 13th century Gothic cathedral, a 12th century Romanesque chapel and more are built on limestone outcrops on a hill.

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Waterford is home to Ireland’s oldest city and the capital of the sunny south east

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Wexford has plenty to offer

There is plenty more to see and do in Wexford from spotting elusive wildlife at Secret Valley Wildlife Park to having your fill at any number of Wexford’s fine eateries.

Outside of the city there are a number of beaches and places like Tramore, Dungarvan, Dunmore East and An Rinn Gaeltacht as well as the Copper Coast Geopark to discover. 96 |

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Sights there include the famous Rock of Cashel

Other noteworthy sites are the Galtee Mountains, Cahir Castle, South Tipperary County Museum and Nenagh Heritage Centre/Museum.

Kilkenny Guide Further Afield

Waterford Quay

Rock of Cashel

Carlow Castle

Dublin Spire

Carlow

Laois

Dublin

Carlow is also adjacent to Kilkenny. It may be small but has lots to see including a beautiful garden trail taking in various cultivated creations such as Altamont Gardens, Arboretum Inspirational Gardens and Burtown House & Gardens to name several.

The heart of the midlands, there is more to Laois than meets the eye. There is history aplenty at the Rock of Dunamaise, Emo Court and Stradbally Steam Museum and sample arts and culture at the Dunamaise Arts Centre.

Kilkenny is relatively close to Dublin; the capital is roughly an hour and 20 minutes away and brimming over with things to do. The top tourist destination in the country is here—the Guinness Storehouse, where you can stand in world’s largest pint glass, learn how the renowned ‘black stuff’ is brewed and transported and sample the product in the Brewer’s Dining Hall and the Gravity Bar. You can take a stroll in the Phoenix Park, which stretches to 707 hectares and one of the largest walled parks in Europe. Bask in culture in outlets like the National Museum of Ireland collections (Archaeology, Decorative Arts & History and Natural History); the National Gallery and the Irish Museum of Modern Art to name a few. There are umpteen more attractions such as the Spire monument; the historic G.P.O, a primary site of the 1916 Easter Rising; sporting and music venues, areas like Temple Bar and much more.

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It may be small but has lots to see

There is plenty more to see including Carlow Castle, the Visual Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow Museum, Cathedral of the Assumption and Dome Family Entertainment Centre.

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The heart of the midlands, there is more to Laois than meets the eye

You can take in the picturesque scenery of Laois in any one of seven golf courses, go for a spot of shopping in Portlaoise and visit pretty villages like Mountmellick, Abbeyleix and Durrow.

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Kilkenny Guide Further Afield

Waterford Crystal Waterford Crystal Visitors’ Centre

House of Waterford Crystal, The Mall 051-317000 www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com If you have ever wondered how a stunning piece of Waterford Crystal is made, then a trip to the Waterford Crystal Visitors’ Centre will shed some light on the subject. A must-see on any visit to Waterford, the Visitors’ Centre offers guided factory tours where you can learn all about Waterford’s history in crystal production and see how this world-famous crystal is made. Visitors can also peruse the substantial collection of crystal in the opulent retail store and enjoy equally exquisite food in the Crystal Café. The Waterford Crystal seahorse trademark says a lot about this brand. Not only is the seahorse a heraldic creation from the Waterford city coat 98 |

of arms, it also reflects Waterford’s maritime connections and distinct beauty. The curved shape of this unique sea creature lends itself to an artistic representation of what designers at Waterford crystal strive for, something unique and special. Waterford Crystal has reached the four corners of the globe in the form of sporting trophies, chandeliers, and of course the iconic ball of light dropped from Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The factory tour will bring you from start to finish in crystal production and proves both fascinating and informative as you learn all about the dynamic processes that go in to making a piece of the iconic crystal. As you walk through the various rooms you will see the ancient practice of mould making and how Master Blowers shape the molten crystal. This is an exciting chance to see these highly skilled craftsmen at their trade. The blowing room is particularly exciting with a steamy, hot and noisy The Best Of Ireland Series

atmosphere created by the furnace which reaches astounding temperatures of 1300°C. Once the crystal is cooled it is passed on for quality inspection. Each piece must be as clear and perfect as the last. Then it is passed on to the cutters, sculptors and engravers who have studied for many years to create the sparkling designs that Waterford Crystal is famed for.

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Waterford Crystal has reached the four corners of the globe

If you just wish to peruse or purchase some crystal, then the retail store is for you. With the world’s largest collection of Waterford crystal, including designs by John Rocha and Jasper Conran, one could spend hours just gazing at the exquisite crystal on offer. It is not just decorative homewares you

Kilkenny Guide Further Afield

will find here, but drink ware by Jo Sampson, candleholders, vases, picture frames, clocks and serve ware, all of which would make an ideal gift for an anniversary, wedding or retirement. A piece of Waterford Crystal lasts a lifetime. The retail outlet offers many services such as engraving, an archive stemware service, tax-free shopping and international shipping. Visitors can take a break at the Crystal Café with a choice of salads, soups, wraps and ciabattas, sandwiches, fresh homemade scones, cakes and coffee all freshly made and served with a smile. And if the weather is as clear as the crystal, you can take your coffee to the outside seating area. The factory tour can take over an hour and a half, not to mention the time it takes to examine the wares in the retail store so make sure to set aside enough time to fully appreciate the beauty of the Visitors’ centre. Opening times for the factory tour are

9am-3.15pm (extended to 4.15pm in the high season) and 9.30am-5pm for the retail store.

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A must-see on any visit to Waterford, the Visitor’s Centre offers guided factory tours where you can learn all about Waterford’s history in crystal production

Adult tickets cost €13, concessions of €10 are available and children under five go free. Family tickets are €30 and the building is wheelchair accessible. The Best Of Ireland Series

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Useful Information TOURISM:

Kilkenny Tourist Office Shee Alms House,   Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny City 056-7751500 www.visitkilkenny.ie www.kilkenny.ie www.discoverireland.ie

EMERGENCY:

Caredoc (Out of Hours GP Service) 1850-334999

7 Sevens 056-7777777

TRANSPORT:

Kilkenny Taxi Service 056-7763017

MacDonagh Station  (Irish Rail/Bus Éireann) Dublin Road, Kilkenny City 056-7722024  Timetables also on: www.irishrail.ie/ www.buseireann.ie

General Emergency Services (fire, ambulance etc) 999

JJ Kavanagh Bus Services 0818-333222 www.jjkavanagh.ie

Kilkenny Garda Station Dominic Street, Kilkenny City 056-7775000 See www.garda.ie for a full list of Garda Stations in Kilkenny.

Buggy’s Coaches Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny 056-4441264 www.buggy.ie

St Luke’s General Hospital Freshford Road, Kilkenny City 056-7785000

Kilkenny Taxi www.kilkennytaxi.com  056-7722224/087-2255333 Call a Cab 056-7761300

See www.hse.ie for a full list of registered General Practitioners in Kilkenny. 100 |

TAXI:

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MEDIA:

www.kilkennypeople.ie www.advertiser.ie/kilkenny www.kilkennyreporter.ie www.kilkennyjournal.ie

OTHER:

Post Office John’s Green, Kilkenny City 056-7722963 5 Irishtown, Kilkenny City 056-7722719 See www.anpost.ie for a full list of post offices/services in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Guide County Map Clogh

Bally agg Ballyragget Ball g 7

Fre Freshford rd

N7 7

Urlingford Urlin U lingfford

To Dublin Carlow

P Paulstown

27 9

Kilkenny ny y

Tullaroan n

Johnstown

15 28 Castlecomer

N7 8

Galmoy lmoyy

N7 8

To Portlaoise

C Crettyard

N10

Gowran ow 14 25 Goresbridge 10 Bennettsbridge B sb 20 19 9 18 13 12 Callan llan Stoneyford oneyf rd Graiguenamanagh Gr 7 24 Kells 5 4 1 11 2 26 30 6 Th 1 Thomastown Inistioge Knocktopher n kt her 17 Ballyhale 16 The T e Rower Windg dgap dg Kilmaganny ny 29 3 233

Kilm ilm lmanagh ag g 31

To New Ross Glenmore nm re e

Mullinavat Fiddown

N25

Piltow ow wn

Kilmacow Please Note: This map indicates approximate locations only and does not illustrate all minor roads.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Jerpoint Abbey Dunmore Cave Kilmogue Dolmen Kells Priory Duiske Abbey Kilree Round Tower Killamery High Cross Grannagh Castle Foulksrath Castle The James Hoban Memorial Jerpoint Glass Studio & Gallery Shop Pure Adventure

Slieverue ev e

Moonco co coin 22

To Waterford t

13. Nore Valley Pet Farm 14. The National Reptile Zoo 15. Castlecomer Discovery Park 16. Windgap Grotto 17. Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum 18. Kilfane Glen & Waterfall 19. Moth to a Flame Candles 20. Nore View Folk Museum 21. Rosemarie Durr Pottery & Andrew Ludick Ceramics 22. Waterford Crystal Visitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Centre (Follow M9) The Best Of Ireland Series

23. Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa 24. Callan Famine Memorial & Graveyard 25. Gowran Park Golf & Leisure 26. Mount Juliet 27. Kilkenny Golf Club 28. Castlecomer Golf Club 29. Mountain View Golf Club 30. Callan Golf Club 31. Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre

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Kilkenny Guide City Map

C M8

N77 to Castlecomer/Athy Ballyragget/Portlaoise

New Orchard Road Roundabout J9

J10

1 H LEC

. AY

BA L

L EL

LY BO U

IDG

NN PE

SBR

T..

EEN

ST.

ROA

GREEN

NEW

Greens Bridge

St. Lukes Hospital

VICA

BAR

RAC

MICH

DIN

ER T.

ST .

The Tholsel

HIGH

. LO ST

Canal Walk

E YF

PATRIC

T ES

Kilkenny Castle Grounds

NE W LO

Kilkenny Design Centre/ National Craft Gallery

K ST.

ST.

N ST . ST.

GAO

DLIN

ROS E IN

T. LS NEL PAR

L RD.

MAU

RID

ST.

LLI

County Hall

Cathedral Square

FRIA

’S QU

’S

LIN

S S’S

ST.

St. John’s Presbytery

IER

JOHN

ILL

KIC

Market Cross S.C

.U LS

St. Mary’s Cathedral

Bus Station & Railway Station

T ST

Rothe House

Market Yard

MEN

UIL

AN GL

LIA

The Black Abbey

Court House and Grace’s Castle

ST.

PAR

BEY

UPPER

OR MO

ST .

K ST.

PATRIC

6 To Callan & Clonmel

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J2 To Kells R697 J1

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J4 Bohernatounish Roundabout

J3 N10 to M9 Motorway to Waterford Exit 9

MacDonagh Junction S.C

Abbey Bridge

AEL S

St. Francis Abbey Brewery

KS T.

R ST

St. Canice’s Cathedral

J5 R700 to Bennettsbridge, Thomastown New Ross Rosslare Europort

Kilkenny Guide City Map

F History & Heritage

To Johnswell Road

N10 to M9 Motorway to Dublin Exit 8

Nowlan Park G.A.A

Black Abbey- A3 Famine Heritage of MacDonagh Junction- D3 Kilkenny Castle & Park- C5 Kilkenny Courthouse- B3 Kyteler’s Inn- B4 Maudlin Tower- D4 O’Loughlin Memorial Church of St John the Evangelist- C4 Rothe House & Gardens- B3 St Canice’s Cathedral- A2 St Mary’s Cathedral- B4 St. Mary’s Church & Graveyard- C4 The Butter Slip- C4 The Hole in the Wall- B4 The Shee Alms House- C4 The Smithwick’s Experience- B3 The Tholsel- B4

Arts & Culture Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre- A3 (Follow R695) Kilkenny Design Centre- C5 National Craft Gallery- C5 The Blackbird Gallery- C5 The Butler Gallery- C5 The Set Theatre- C4 Watergate Theatre- B3

Activities

Canal Wal

J6 R712 to Paulstown, Gowran, Graiguenamanagha & Carlow

Art It.- D3 Castlecomer Discovery Park- C1 (Follow N77) KBowl- D3 Nore Valley Pet Farm- E6 (Follow R700) Pure Adventure- F4 (Follow R712) The National Reptile Zoo- F4 (Follow R712)

Shopping Dubray Books- B4 Frank Wall Man’s Shop- B4 From me to You Gift Shop, Gallery & Fashions- D3 G.L. Ryan Watchmaker & Jeweller- B4 Jerpoint Glass Studio & Gallery Shop- F2 (Follow N10) Le Caveau-Specialist Wine MerchantC3 Liam Costigan Goldsmiths- B4 Luxe Room Fashion & Accessories- B4 Marble City Barbers- C4 Moore’s Fashions- B3 The Best Of Ireland Series

Moth to a Flame Candles- E6 (Follow R700) O’Reilly’s (Kilkenny) Ltd.- C4 Rosemarie Durr Pottery & Andrew Ludick Ceramics- C1 (Follow N77) Rudolf Heltzel- C5 Stone House Books- C4 The Book Centre- B4 The Gourmet Store & Café- B4 The Sweater Shop- B4 The Wine Centre- C4 Tiffany Shoe Shop- C4

Food & Drink #eat- B5 A Slice of Heaven/Kilkenny Cookery School- B5 Anocht at Kilkenny Design Centre- C5 Biddy Early’s- C4 Bridie’s Bar & General Store- C4 Cleere’s Pub & Theatre- B3 Crotty’s Coffee House- C4 Delaney’s Bar & Grocery- C6 Foodworks- B3 La Rivista- B3 Marble City Bar & Tea Rooms- B4 Mug Shot Café- B4 O’Faolains Pub/Pegasus nightclub-D3 O’Riada’s Bar- B3 Paris-Texas Bar & Restaurant- B4 Ripley’s Steak House- C4 Stephan’s Pretzels- B4 Syd Harkin’s Pub- C4 The Dylan Whisky Bar- C4 The Field Bar & Restaurant- B4 The Pump House- B3 The Riverside Restaurant & Riverview Bar- C4 Tynan’s Bridge House Bar- C4 Vio’s Coffee & Pizza- C4 Willoughby’s Café- C5

Accommodation Kilford Arms Hotel- D3 Langton House Hotel- C4 Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa - F4 (Follow R712) The Club House Hotel- C5

Further Afield Waterford Crystal Visitors’ CentreD6 (Follow N10, M9)

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Enjoy the Waterford Crystal Factory Experience. Book your tour online today.

To book your factory tour visit waterfordvisitorcentre.com or phone +353 (0)51 317000 On social media:

DUBLIN

SHANNON

WATERFORD CORK