Discover Kilkenny: History, Art and Brewing Heritage

Kilkenny brings together historic buildings, art and the history of brewing. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, these different themes can help you explore the city according to your interests. Options range from self-guided visits to guided tours, with some combining several themes.

History in Buildings and Museums

Kilkenny Castle currently offers three visit options: a self-guided visit, a guided tour and a special visitor experience. The formats available on your travel dates may change, so check the current options before planning your visit.

The Medieval Mile Museum is located on the site of St Mary’s 13th-century cruciform church and graveyard. It presents artefacts that tell the story of people’s work and lives in Ireland over more than 800 years of history. This brings a specific historic site together with a broader perspective on Irish history.

St Canice’s Cathedral has been an important place of Christian worship since the 6th century. Its round tower is the oldest surviving structure in Kilkenny. Its long-standing religious significance and the age of the surviving structure offer two distinct points of connection with the city’s history.

Art and Routes Through the City

The Butler Gallery is a contemporary art gallery and museum with a permanent collection in the southeast of Ireland; it is located in the heart of Kilkenny city. At weekends, it offers guided tours of modern and contemporary Irish art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Tour schedules may change, so check the current dates before your visit.

The Medieval Mile Trail takes you on foot through Kilkenny’s cobbled streets. This makes it different from a guided visit to the Butler Gallery: here, the route takes you through the city streets. Check the latest information about the trail beforehand.

Brewing History and Culinary Experiences

At the Smithwick’s Experience, visitors learn about more than 300 years of brewing history. The tours trace the story of the brewery from the first Smithwick’s ale brewed in 1710 and end with a fresh pint. The experience therefore focuses on the history of one brewery.

Kilkenny Food Tours offer guided experiences that bring together food, craft, culture and local stories. Compared with the brewing history at Smithwick’s, this approach combines several themes. When planning your trip, you can choose between a clearly defined historical focus and a broader cultural experience.

Getting There and Finding Your Way Around

Kilkenny is served by regular train and bus connections. Check the timetables before travelling. When planning, it helps to consider your journey to the city and your routes around it separately.

Historic Sites in County Kilkenny

In the wider destination of County Kilkenny, Rothe House broadens the historical perspective. It was built in 1594 as a business premises and family home for John Rothe Fitzpiers. Guided tours with knowledgeable guides are available; during opening hours, you can explore the house, courtyards and garden independently. Take the opening hours into account when planning your visit.

In Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Jerpoint Abbey was founded in the 12th century. It is one of the finest examples of a medieval Cistercian abbey in Ireland and is known for its detailed stone carvings dating from the 13th to the 16th century. Kells Priory offers another distinctive feature: its surviving medieval fortifications inspired the local name “Seven Castles of Kells”.

Discover more destinations: Gowran, Mullinvat, Urlingford, Thomastown, Freshford, Graiguenamanagh, Callan, Piltown

For the wider travel overview: County Kilkenny.