Kilkenny - 39 Attractions You Must Visit

Types of Attractions in Kilkenny

Old Ruins (23)

Iconic Buildings (12)

Churches (7)

Botanical Gardens (4)

1 Day Treks (3)

Outdoors - Other (3)

Monuments (2)

Mountain Peaks (2)

Popular Activities And Trips in Kilkenny

List of Attractions in Kilkenny

Ballykeefe Wood

Forests

A deciduous forest in Kilkenny and has an elevation of 192 metres. Ballykeefe Wood is situated nearby to Ballykeefe Cross Roads, close to Seomra Glas. The woodland features an abundance of bluebells and brambles amongst pedunculate oak and young ash. The wood is adjacent to the old Ballykeeffe limestone mine, which was refurbished in the 1980s and now features rock climbing and an amphitheatre.

Know More

Black Freren Gate

Old Ruins

This is the last remaining gate from the medieval stone walls of Kilkenny, Ireland. This is the only gate from the old Norman city walls still standing, albeit with the help of metal bracing these days. Crumbling sections of the old walls remain throughout the city centre.

Know More

Brandon Hill

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Brandon Hill is Kilkenny’s highest point. It is 515 meters high and has an ascent of 300 meters. It is situated 4 kilometers South-SouthWest of Graiguenamanagh and 7 kilometers east of Inistioge. Its beautiful walk includes country roads, forest tracks and hillside paths as it winds its way to the top of Brandon Hill.

Know More

Burnchurch Castle

Monuments

Old Ruins

This National Monument, is a well-preserved 15th century Norman tower house with a round gate tower, situated in the parish of Burnchurch, County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is said to have been built and owned by the Fitzgeralds of the house of Desmond in 15th century and continued to be occupied until 1817.It is known for being one of several Irish towers with the slightly narrower sides of the castle extending up an additional floor, creating in essence a pair of tower wide turrets.

Know More

Butler Gallery

Art Galleries

The Butler Gallery’s new home is in the Evans Home, a former Almshouse. It is a dynamic cultural hub in the middle of Kilkenny, providing a variety of spaces for art, installations & sculpture both inside and out. The gallery, previously based in the basement of Kilkenny Castle, is located in the redeveloped Evans' Home, a former almshouse built in the 19th century for impoverished domestic servants.

Know More

Callan Motte

Outdoors - Other

Callan Motte is a motte-and-bailey and National Monument in Callan, Ireland.The eastward facing base of the Motte is situated approximately 100m from the King's River and its floodplain. This floodplain extends along the western riverbank, interrupted only by a small series of riverside residences adjoining both sides of the bridge.

Know More

Castlecomer Discovery Park

Outdoors - Other

This is an outdoor activity park set in 80 acres of woodland with a river, two lakes and imaginative indoor spaces. There are so many activities here and also it is flourished with natural beauty.

Know More

Cathedral Church of St Canice & Round Tower

Churches

Old Ruins

This is an impressive structure that dates back to 1285. Explore the cathedral and climb to the top of the magnificent 30 metre high round tower. The present building dates from the 13th century and is the second longest cathedral in Ireland. The cathedral contains some 16th-century monuments. The architectural style of the cathedral is Early Gothic and is built of limestone.

Know More

Clara Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Clara Castle is a tower house located in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It was built in the sixteenth century by the Shorthall family. It is five storeys tall with a vault above the third floor. The building retains many of its original oak doors and floor beams. There is a murder-hole above the entrance, which is also protected by a yett and drawbar.

Know More

Clomantagh Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Clomantagh Castle is part of a unique settlement of tower house, farmhouse and bawn. Originally constructed in the 1430s, additional buildings and outbuildings were added in the subsequent centuries - including a connected 19th century farmhouse. The castle was subject to renovations in the late 20th century and is now managed as a holiday rental property.

Know More

Dunmore Cave

Caves

The Dunmore cave is a limestone cave and it's located at Ballyfoyle, County Kilkenny. It is comprised of a quarter of a mile of passages. At its deepest point, the cave is 150 feet below the ground. The caves are now accessible via stairs and walkways and extensive lighting makes for dramatic and easy viewing of the calcite deposits, plants and animal life.

Know More

Famine Memorial Garden

Botanical Gardens

Famine Memorial Garden is a garden in Kilkenny. It is situated northwest of Sionhermitage, close to John and Patrick Saul Memorial. It has has four parts: the potato field, the Famine kitchen, the workhouse door and the emigrant ship.The memorial builds on work done by a local cross-community group in restoring a Famine graveyard nearby and followed the earlier creation in 2010 of a Garden of the Celtic Saints at the church.

Know More

Grace's Old Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Know More

Grennan Castle

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

Grennan castle was built in the 13th century by the Anglo-Norman, Thomas FitzAnthony. The twenty metre long rectangular castle stands on the west bank of the River Nore. The ruin was in relatively good condition up until the early 19th century, since then the courtyard walls and outer buildings have been destroyed. The first floor of the castle contained the great hall, and the second floor reached by a flight of steps in the east wall contained the dormitory area.

Know More

Jerpoint Abbey

Churches

Old Ruins

Jerpoint Abbey is one of the best examples of a medieval Cistercian Abbey in Ireland, which was founded in the 12th century. The architectural styles within the church, constructed in the late twelfth century, reflect the transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture. There is a Visitor Centre with an exhibition. It has been declared a national monument and has been in the care of the Office of Public Works since 1880.

Know More

Jerpoint Park

Outdoors - Other

Parks

Visit the unique Heritage Site in Jerpoint Park and enjoy a guided tour of the footprints of a deserted 12th Century Medieval town dating back to 1200AD. One of Ireland's best examples of a deserted 12th Century medieval town', a quote from The Heritage Council of Ireland. It was founded by either Earl Marshall or Griffin Fitzwilliam in 12th century, just west of the Cistercian Abbey, where the main crossing of the River Nore was formed by a tole paying bridge.

Know More

Kells Priory

Iconic Buildings

Old Ruins

This Augustinian priory is situated on the bank of the King’s river, 0.5km to the east of the present village of Kells and 12km south of Kilkenny city. The priory was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the canons were granted a site near a pre-Norman ecclesiastical site dedicated to St Kieran. The priory is a National Monument and is in the guardianship of the Office of Public Works. One of its most striking features is a collection of medieval tower houses.

Know More

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall

Botanical Gardens

A beautiful example of a romantic era garden dating from the 1790s. Untouched for 200 years, it is a picturesque paradise with a waterfall tumbling its way to a rushing stream and woodland paths leading to a cottage orné. Tiny bridges sit among ancient trees, wild fox-gloves, ferns and other historically correct 18th century planting.The garden is listed as an Irish Heritage garden and was awarded assistance in 1993 by the European Union Cultural Commission.

Know More

Map

Comments