• Try and catch a Hurling match. Kilkenny are perennial Irish champions.
• Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, [4]. First weekend in June annually. An annual comedy festival. It was first held in 1995 and usually runs over the first weekend in June. Many famous faces have appeared at it over the years including Bill Murray, Lewis Black, Rich Hall, Dom Irrera, Mike Wilmot, Dan Castellaneta, Doug Stanhope and David Cross. The festival includes stand-up comedy performances and has a film component called Kitty Flicks.There is also a traditional soccer match held on the Sunday afternoon between the Irish comedians and those from the rest of the world.  edit
• The Kilkenny Arts Festival,[5], which runs during August ever year, is a time of much colour and enjoyment in the City. The long streets are flooded with artists and music can be heard throughout the city.
• The Rythm and Roots Festival,[6], is yet another hugely popular festival in Kilkenny city, where music like jazz can be fully appreciated. It usually takes place at the beginning of summer and is very enjoyable.
• During the summer every year, Kilkenny plays host to a major concert in Nowlan Park, the local stadium. Past acts include Andrea Bocelli, Bod Dylan, Shania Twain and Rod Stewart, to name but a few. 2008's main headliner was Dolly Parton.

Kilkenny City, Ireland's most beautiful Historic City, is a perfect hub for arts and culture in Ireland. It is the historic gem in Ireland and the historic sites are concentrated in a small area in the City Centre:

For more information on the range of sights in Kilkenny, visit Kilkenny Tourism

• Kilkenny Castle and Gardens, Parade, Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7704100. €5.30 Adult, €2.10 Child. This stunning Norman Castle, which is the dominant feature in the city, is its principal attraction. Its huge forested gardens are beautiful to walk during the day.  edit
• Black Abbey, Abbey St, Kilkenny. Founded in 1225, this impressive Dominican Abbey has beautiful stained glass windows and is itself surrounded by the old city walls. Free Admission.  edit
• Rothe House, Parliament Street, Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7722893. A unique merchant's house built in the 16th Century. It contains Kilkenny's History Museum. €5 Adults, €3 for groups (10+).  edit
• St. Canice's Cathedral, Irishtown, Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7764971. Built over 800 years ago, this impressive Cathedral and round tower are one of Kilkenny's main attractions. With one of Ireland's only accessable Round Towers, on top of which one can see the most amazing view of Kilkenny, this is a must for anyone's trip to Kilkenny. The cathedral itself is wheelchair accessable.  edit
• Grace's Courthouse, Parliament Street, Kilkenny (Opposite Rothe House). Housing Kilkenny's Court House, this former fortress built in 1210 (Grace's Castle) and then converted into a prison in the 1500s is full of history.  edit
• Butler House, Butler House, Patrick Street, Kilkenny (Across the Street from the Castle, through the old stables). This stunning Chateau-like building is one of the residences of the Butler family that ruled Kilkenny for many years. During Arts week it has many exhibitions.  edit
• Kilkenny 'Slips', Throughout Kilkenny (Running Perpendicular to High Street). These winding streets that ramble through the city are a true view of Medieval Kilkenny.  edit
• St. Francis Abbey Brewery, Parliament Street, Kilkenny. This is Ireland's OLDEST brewery, founded in 1221. Heard of Kilkenny Beer? Smithwicks? Budweiser? They have all, at one stage, been brewed in this brewery.  edit

Out of Town

Indeed, while the principal attractions are to be found in Kilkenny City, there are many towns and villages around Kilkenny County which are well worth a visit.

• Kells Augustinian Priory, Kells, Co. Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7728255. One of Ireland's best in tact priories. This priory, surrounded by its old walls, was built in 1193 and contains celtic crosses from the 9th Century. It is well worth a visit.  edit
• Dunmore Caves, Dunmore, Co. Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7767726. The show cave is incredibly well developed and is a wonder to walk around. €2.90 Adult, €1.30 Child.  edit
• Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7724623. Built in the 12th Century. It is Ireand's finest Cistercian monastic ruin with a magnificantly sculptured cloister arcade. Includes visitor and exhibition centre. €2.90 Adult, €1.30 Child.  edit

Plane

Kilkenny is a mere 150km from Dublin, the main entry into Ireland. Flights from an array of destinations are available in Dublin Airport. Cork International Airport, also very close to Kilkenny, is another airport within a two hour drive of the city. Ryanair[1], flights from London start from €10 one way including taxes, while Aerlingus[2], Ireland's other national carrier, also offer excellent flights. Aer Arann[3], the third National Airline, offers flights from the smaller airports in Ireland including Waterford, Kerry and Galway. Waterford Airport, with flights from London and France to name but a few, is a mere forty-five minute drive from the city.

Train

Kilkenny Railway Station has regular services from Dublin Heuston Station. They leave throughout the day and take a mere hour and a half. Kilkenny also has rail services to Waterford throughout the day. Irish Rail

Bus

Kilkenny's Bus service and one of the largest bus services in Ireland, JJ Kavanagh, offers bus services to many destinations in Ireland. It also serves Dublin Airport. JJ Kavanagh Buses

Car

The roads from both Cork and Dublin are excellent by Irish standards. A large connection of motorway from Cork and indeed Dublin makes the journeys faster and safer. By 2010, the journey from Kilkenny to Dublin will take a mere hour by car, thanks to the new M9 motorway.

Throughout county Kilkenny there are an excellent array of things to purchase. Be it pottery in Bennettsbridge or different arts and crafts in Kilkenny City or, of course, boutique items of clothing on the High Street you are guaranteed to come back shopped out.

• Kilkenny Design, opposite the Kilkenny Castle on The Parade, is home of the finest crafts in the City.
• High Street includes Kilkenny's many boutique shops, as well as the usual High Street brands.
• The New MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, [7], includes many excellent stores, as well as some of the finest cafés around in the brilliantly renovated Work House and old Railway Station (It includes a Great Famine Memorial Garden).
• Nicholas Mosse Pottery, Bennettsbridge. The famous pottery of Ireland has its workshop just a few minutes south of the city.

Kilkenny has an excellent selection of some of the finest restaurants around, including many luxury and traditional places to eat.

• Fléva, 84 High Street, Kilkenny (Beside the Tholsel), ☎ 056 7770021. Closed Monday. This delightful first-floor restaurant offers a modern menu in a sophisticated surronding.  edit
• Jacobs Cottage, 1 Ormonde Street, Kilkenny (Found in the Hibernian Hotel), ☎ 056 7791220. Two menus, Table d'Hôte and A la Carte. This splendid restaurant is open from 6.30 to 10 Monday to Saturday for dinner, and till 9 on Sundays. Lunch times are as expected.  edit
• Kilkenny Design Centre, Castle Yard, Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7722118. Beautiful setting, opposite the castle and in the old stables of the Castle. This is the perfect café for a lunch during the day.  edit
• Café Sol, William Street, Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7764987. One of Kilkenny's favourite places to dine for lunch and dinner. Located just off the bustling High Street, its lively atmosphere and delicious international menu are not to be missed.  edit
• Rinuccini, 1 The Parade, Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7761575. Authentic Italian restaurant opposit the castle. Can be very busy. Lunch from 12 - 2.30 and dinner from 6 to 10.30.  edit
• Zuni, 26 Patrick Street, Kilkenny, ☎ 056 7723999. Stunning 'boutique' restaurant on Kilkenny's Edwardian Street, Zuni offers fine attention to detail on all their food.  edit
• Kytelers Inn, Kieran Street, Kilkenny. Probably Kilkenny's most famous pub and restaurant, this place is steeped in history and is the centre of Kilkenny's ancient witchcraft scene. The food is wholesome Irish food and with a pint of Guinness is an experience in itself.  edit

Other notable restaurants include Chez Pierre, Marble City Bar and Italian Affair, a wonderful Italian restaurant in Bennettsbridge where Italy surely comes to you.

The City of Kilkenny has a large array of pubs and clubs for all ages. While Parliament street remains the traditional area for quiet, comfortable pubs, John street is more for the younger clubbing crowd. Nevertheless, Kytelers Inn on Kieran Street and the new Left Bank on the parade offer fine drinking bars for all ages.

Throughout the pubs in Kilkenny you can try the native Kilkenny Beer and of course the native Smithwicks Ale, famous the world over as the distinct Red Ale.

• The Grapevine, Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny. This lovely wine bar, recently opened, has proved popular among the locals.  edit
• The Left Bank, Parade, Kilkenny. A Trendy Bar in Kilkenny's former Bank. This stunning building is in the heart if the city.  edit