Kilkenny City – Over 400 Years Old

Kilkenny City, once the medieval capital of Ireland is a booming, lively town perfect for your leisure break in Ireland. Each year Kilkenny hosts a number of international festivals and the city is a popular tourist destination with plenty to see and do.

2010 Kilkenny Calendar of Events

Click here to read about everything happening in Kilkenny this year.

Things To Do in Kilkenny

You will never be bored in Kilkenny with things to do for all ages and interests. Here is just 10 activities y ou can do in County Kilkenny.

• Kilmacoliver Walking Trail
  Kilmacoliver Walk about 12km from Kilkenny city. The trail is 6km in length, it is of moderate difficulty.
• The Islands Walk Urlingford
  The scenic route follows lanes, forest tracks and hills. It is about 15km from Kilkenny city
• Nuenna Equestarian Centre
  Nuenna Equestarian Centre Group and Individual Lessons to all standards
• Warrington Top Flight Equestarian Centre
  Equestarian Centre, Warrington, Bennetsbridge, Kilkenny. Excellent facilities to suit every standard of rider. Indoor and outdoor arenas. Cross Country, Lessons, Riding Holidays, and Children's Summer Camps.
• Tynan Walking Tour
  The leisurely stroll involves the hero's and villains of the Kilkenny's chequered past, whilst you explore the lanes, streets and stories of Kilkenny city.

• Kiltoran Kart Racing
  Kiltorcan Raceway caters for groups of 10 or more people and offer race formats to suit most tastes
• McDonagh Junction Shopping Centre
  MacDonagh Junction is Kilkenny is a new residential, commercial business and leisure quarter. The development has brought leading Irish and International retailers to the City. It is just 10 minutes walk from The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny
• Kilkenny Design Centre
  Retailer of extensive range of leading quality crafts in ceramics, textiles, jewellery gifts. Award winning day-time restaurant serving home cooked food.
• Kytelers Inn Kilkenny city
  Visit Kilkennys oldest pub and soak up the atmosphere. Established in 1324, this popular Kilkenny pub and restaurant has plenty of history to offer
• Nowlan Park GAA Grounds
  GAA stadium where Gaelic games such as hurling and Gaelic football are played. County Kilkenny are All Ireland hurling champions. 

Golf in Kilkenny

Kilkenny city is surrounded by some wonderful 18 hole golf courses. The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny has linked up with Gowran Park Golf Club for an exclusive golf package.

Golf courses around Kilkenny include:

• Gowran Park Golf Club
  In 2001 Gowran Park, in County Kilkenny, developed this unique 18 hole golf course to compliment its renowned race meetings. Incorporating a mixture of established woodland and lakes, this Jeff Howes designed par 71, 18 hole golf course provides and excellent test for the low handicap golfer whilst also being very enjoyable for the middle to high handicappers.
• Callan Golf Club
  This 18 hole parkland course features well placed spinneys, bunkers and hazards, with water featuring on 8 of the holes.
• Castlecomer Golf Club
  Built to USGA standards the 18 hole parkland golf course is 15km from The Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny city.
• Mount Juliet Golf Club
  The Jack Nicklaus designed golf course at Mount Juliet is a challenging 18 hole championship golf course set 20 minutes drive from Kilkenny city and The Pembroke Hotel.
• Kilkenny Golf Club
  18 hole golf course just outside Kilkenny city. A feature of the Kilkenny Golf Club course "Fluacht Fiadh", an ancient Irish kitchen.

Top Tourist Attractions Kilkenny

Kilkenny is an old Norman settlement built on the River Nore. The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny city is the closest hotel in Kilkenny to Kilkenny Castle and is central to most tourist attractions in Kilkenny city. Top tourist attractions in County Kilkenny include:

• Kilkenny Castle
  The original Anglo-Norman stone castle was built for William Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke (c.1146-1219) during the thirteenth century. The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny boasts wonderful views of the historic Kilkenny castle.
• St Canices Cathedral
  The second longest cathedral in Ireland and with a round tower offering fabulous views of Kilkenny city. Only 15 minutes walk from The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny
• Discovery Park Castlecomer
  Where History and Science Come Alive Only 25km outside Kilkenny city from The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny
• Nicolas Mosse Pottery
  Wonderful pottery shop set inside an old flour mill in Bennetsbridge just 5 miles outside Kilkenny city away from The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny
• Kilkenny Folk Museum
  Kilkenny Folk Museum in Bennetsbridge Kilkenny. Let Seamus guide you through his huge collection of items from the last century
• Tynans Bridge House Bar
  Tynans is a classic bar in Killkenny and is one of the oldest pubs in Kilkenny with a tradition and atmosphere to match. Located within 5 minute walk of The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny.
• Rothe House
  The House is open to the public as a Museum, displaying some of the 2,500 artefacts collected by the Society since its founding in 1947. 15 minute walk from The Pembroke Kilkenny
• Butler Gallery
  Museum in Kilkenny Castle. Only 5 minute walk from The Pembroke Hotel Kilkenny
• Woodstock Gardens
  The gardens, overlooking the River Nore Valley, offer the visitor a wide variety of attractions and are a most relaxing and beautiful environment in which to spend a day It is about 6km from Kilkenny city
• Black Abbey Kilkenny city
  Black Abbey houses some of the most stunning stained-glass windows, including favoured Irish saints Patrick and Brigid, and a large set of panels depicting 15 mysteries of the Rosary.

Whilst Kilkenny city is an ancient settlement it has a vibrant nightlife with great pubs and restaurants.