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The long stone front of Kilkenny Castle across the lawn of its courtyard

City

Things to do in Kilkenny city

County Kilkenny

Five of the twenty places on our County Kilkenny list are in or near Kilkenny city: Kilkenny Castle, St Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower, Rothe House and Garden, Medieval Mile Museum and Smithwick's Experience. That is a castle, a cathedral, a house and garden, a museum and a distillery between them. Below you will find ten more places from Fáilte Ireland's listings and twenty events coming up.

On our Kilkenny list

5 places in and around Kilkenny city.

  1. The long stone front of Kilkenny Castle across the lawn of its courtyardKilkenny CastleCastle · Kilkenny cityThe Norman castle stands over the Nore in the middle of the city, with the long gallery inside it and fifty acres of parkland behind.
  2. Kilkenny rooftops and trees looking out over the countryside from St Canice's round towerSt Canice's Cathedral and Round TowerCathedral · Kilkenny cityThe 13th century cathedral is at the top of the city, and the thirty metre round tower beside it is open to climb.
  3. The stone front and arcade of Rothe House on Parliament Street in KilkennyRothe House and GardenHouse and gardens · Kilkenny cityThree merchant houses and their cobbled courtyards on Parliament Street, built by John Rothe between 1594 and 1610, with the orchard garden restored behind them.
  4. Carved stone crosses on display inside the Medieval Mile MuseumMedieval Mile MuseumMuseum · Kilkenny citySt Mary's Church on High Street is no longer a church. It holds the carved merchant tombs of the city instead.
  5. The brewery front at Smithwick's in Kilkenny with its red arched doors and bannersSmithwick's ExperienceDistillery or brewery · Kilkenny cityThe brewery visitor centre on Parliament Street stands on the St Francis Abbey site, where brewing ran from 1710.

More to see in Kilkenny city

From Fáilte Ireland’s own listings.

  1. Black AbbeyAbbey or church · Kilkenny CityThe Black Abbey was established as a Dominican friary in 1225.
  2. Butler GalleryMuseum · Kilkenny CityButler Gallery is one of Ireland's leading contemporary art galleries and museums with a permanent collection.
  3. Geraldine Walsh ArtGallery · Kilkenny CityGeraldine Walsh Art provides original Irish landscape paintings, fine art prints, and inspiring painting workshops in the heart of Kilkenny City.
  4. Kilkenny Design CentreCastle or historic house · Kilkenny CityKilkenny Design Centre offers an unrivalled selection of Irish handcrafted gifts.
  5. Newpark Fen and Eco-ParkNature and wildlife · Kilkenny CityThe Newpark Marsh Eco-Park is an award-winning game and bird sanctuary, and one of Kilkenny City's most important natural habitats.
  6. St John's PrioryAbbey or church · Kilkenny CityThe Augustinians established St John’s Priory in Kilkenny City in the 1200s.
  7. St Mary's CathedralAbbey or church · Co. KilkennySt Mary’s is a gothic revival-style Catholic cathedral that dominates the skyline of Kilkenny City.
  8. The Hole In The WallCastle or historic house · Co. KilkennyThe Hole in the Wall, Kilkenny City, is one of Ireland’s oldest surviving Elizabethan townhouses, which now houses an intimate tavern and a venue for gigs and events throughout the year.
  9. The National Design & Craft GalleryGallery · Co. KilkennyThe National Design & Craft Gallery was established by the Crafts Council of Ireland in 2000 and is Ireland's leading centre for contemporary craft and design.
  10. The National Reptile ZooZoo or aquarium · Co. KilkennyWant to know what a snake really feels like or how a chameleon catches its prey?

What’s on in Kilkenny city

Tomorrow, Sunday 8th November

  1. Sun8 NovLimitless With Mark The Science Guy!Watergate Theatre · Kilkenny CityFree

Saturday 28th November

  1. Sat28 NovYulefest Kilkenny 202628th November to 23rd DecemberFreeFestival

Wednesday 2nd December

  1. Wed2 DecBad ApplesWatergate Theatre · Kilkenny City

Saturday 5th December

  1. Sat5 DecIrish National Opera Presents Smetana's The Bartered BrideWatergate Theatre · Kilkenny City

Sunday 6th December

  1. Sun6 DecStars of Irish Country Christmas ConcertWatergate Theatre · Kilkenny City

Wednesday 9th December

  1. Wed9 DecBallet Ireland Presents Romeo & JulietWatergate Theatre · Kilkenny City
  2. Wed9 DecRomeo & Juliet, Ballet IrelandWatergate Theatre · Kilkenny City

Thursday 10th December

  1. Thu10 DecPhil CoulterWatergate Theatre · Kilkenny City

Friday 11th December

  1. Fri11 DecCream of Kilkenny Cats Jazz SpectacularWatergate Theatre · Kilkenny City

Sunday 13th December

  1. Sun13 DecThe Music of Harry PotterSt. Canice's Cathedral

Everything on in County Kilkenny

More from the Kilkenny list

  1. The arcaded nave of Jerpoint Abbey with the cloister garth in front of itJerpoint AbbeyAbbey · ThomastownA Cistercian abbey of the 12th century near Thomastown. The carved figures along the cloister arcade are the reason to go.
  2. The walls and towers of Kells Priory across a field with sheepKells PrioryMonastic site · KellsAbout three acres are walled in behind seven towers, beside the King's River at Kells.
  3. A chamber of fallen rock inside Dunmore Cave, County KilkennyDunmore CaveCave · CastlecomerStairs from the visitor centre take you down into a limestone cave north of the city, and a tall calcite column, the Market Cross, is the thing to see.
  4. The ruined shell of Woodstock House above its formal gardenWoodstock Gardens and ArboretumGarden · InistiogeThe Victorian estate garden sits on the hill above Inistioge, with a monkey puzzle avenue, a noble fir walk and a walled garden.
  5. A stone arch bridge over the stream at Kilfane Glen with mossed boulders below itKilfane Glen and WaterfallWaterfall · ThomastownThe wooded ravine near Thomastown was laid out in the 1790s, with a thatched cottage orné beside a made waterfall. It is closed for 2026 and opens again for July and August 2027.
  6. Barges moored on the Barrow below the arched stone bridge at GraiguenamanaghGraiguenamanaghTown · Co. KilkennyDuiske Abbey and a seven arch stone bridge are what the town is built around, under Brandon Hill on the Barrow.

All of Kilkenny

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