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Kilkenny City is the administrative capital of County Kilkenny. Established as a city by royal charter of King James in 1609, Kilkenny is therefore one of the oldest cities in Ireland. Situated on the River Nore, Kilkenny is very pretty city and ideal for walking around.
The city has a population of 22,179 at the 2006 Census making it the second smallest city in Ireland after Armagh. Despite its small size, there are many attractions in Kilkenny and it is a hugely popular place for short breaks.
Kilkenny Castle is the most important tourist attraction in the city. It is the most prominent landmark in this compact and beautiful city and is the most visited attraction in County Kilkenny and up there with the top tourist attractions in Ireland.
Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century. William the Earl Marshall built the first stone castle on the site, which was completed in 1213. The Butler families were long time inhabitants of the Castle through many generations right up to 1935. The family bought the Castle in 1391 and lived there throughout wars, feuds and a variety of rulers of Ireland until 1935, quite a remarkable feat considering the political events and various wars and invasions that took place over that time. The Butler family donated the property to the Nation in 1967 and the castle and grounds are managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Located in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle is one of the great treasures of Kilkenny City and indeed Ireland – the Kilkenny Design Craft Centre, which offers an unrivalled selection of Irish handcrafted gifts. While it has many imitators, the Centre remains Ireland’s most prestigious source of Irish gifts of exceptional quality, all chosen with a discerning eye for quality, uniqueness and style. It attracts thousands of visitors every year and it is to the forefront of cutting-edge design in Ireland.
St Canice’s Cathedral is another one of the Kilkenny’s attractions, also known as Kilkenny Cathedral. It is dedicated to St. Canice and is the Church of Ireland cathedral church of Kilkenny and the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Cashel and Ossary. The present building dates from the 13th century and is the second longest cathedral in Ireland.
Kilkenny City is nicknamed “The Marble City” and after a tour of the cathedrals and castles, it is not hard to see why.
Not far from the city, near the village of Thomastown stands Jerpoint Abbey, a former Cistercian Monastery and large settlement when constructed. Some superb architectural features remain on the ruins for inspection.
Kilkenny offers a host of leisure activities and amenities to the visitor. There is an abundance of parks and walking trails in the area. Golfers are well-catered for by both Kilkenny Golf Club, in the city, and the famous Mount Juliet Golf and Country Club, near Thomastown. Mount Juliet hosted the Irish Open Golf Championship several times. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, it is regarded as a great test of golf and one of the finest parkland courses in Ireland.
Kilkenny boasts a large amount of quality hotels for a city of its size. There is a sparkling nightlife with some great pubs such as the renowned Langtons in the city centre.
The compact size of Kilkenny City is what provides the great character to it. You can wander around the city and never be far from anything. The streetscapes are beautiful with some lovely shop and house facades. A wide variety of cuisine will keep the foodies happy.
Each year Kilkenny hosts the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival on the June bank holiday weekend. It has developed into Irelands leading comedy festival with stars from Ireland and worldwide performing every year.
If you are planning a visit to Kilkenny, then this is a good time. But, here again, any time is a good time to visit Kilkenny and no excuses are needed to see one of Irelands most beautiful cities.
For more information, visit www.kilkennytourism.ie
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