Historic places in Kilkenny

Historic places in Kilkenny

1. See Not mapped

   Jenkinstown Park

   The forested park is a nice place for a walk or a picnic; it's muddy after wet weather and the deer expect to be fed. In April the forest is carpeted by bluebells. It was laid out in the 1870s as the grounds of the Bryan-Bellew Estate, and some original trees survive. Most of the castle has been demolished, but a few scraps remain, with some remnants incorporated into a modern mansion. Thomas Moore (1779-1852) wrote the poem The Last Rose of Summer while staying at Jenkinstown House in 1805. This was the forerunner of a wave of traditional Irish melodies given English lyrics, as popular as it was maudlin, with dozens of settings, literary references and translations. Japanese schoolchildren dutifully learned it as Niwa-no-Chigusa (庭の千草), "The Plants in the Garden".

   Car park daily 9:30AM-5PM·Free

2. See Not mapped

   Kilkenny Castle

   Splendid Norman castle, built from 1195 to control the river ford, and the powerbase of the Butler dynasty. It was restored in the 19th century so the interiors are mostly Victorian. You can self-tour or join the guided tour.

   Daily 9:30AM-5PM·Self-tour adult €8, conc €6, child €4

3. Eat Not mapped

   Kyteler's Inn

   Medieval pub with good beer, food and atmosphere, trad music most nights. It's best known as the home of Alice Kyteler, who in 1324 was among the first in Europe to be accused of witchcraft - most persecutions came 300 years later. She was the daughter of Flemish merchants, and her husbands kept dying on her, while her wealth mysteriously grew. However those accusations of foul play came way down the charge sheet, which listed all sort of diabolical hocus-pocus. The most shocking involved a manifestation of the devil called Robin Artisson, quendam demonem incubum concubuisse cum ea, which you can really only get away with in Gomorrah or Galway. She may have been a pawn in a power struggle between secular and church jurisdiction, which the church won by torturing her servant Petronella to confess. Kyteler fled to England and disappeared, so (not to waste a good confession) Petronella was burnt at the stake instead.

   Daily noon-11PM

4. See Not mapped

   Medieval Mile Museum

   Modern museum within the former St Mary's Church, built 1205, displaying medieval / Renaissance sculpture and tombs.

   Daily 9:30AM-5PM·Adult €7, conc €6, child €3

5. See Not mapped

   National Design & Craft Centre

   DCCI Gallery

   Craft gallery within the elegant former stables of the castle, built 1800. Rotating exhibitions, they don't have a permanent collection. The stables block also houses a food hall and restaurant.

   Tue-Sat 10AM-5:30PM·Free

6. Eat Not mapped

   Rinuccini

   Swish Italian restaurant opposite the castle, pricey but glowing reviews for what you get.

   Mon-Sat 12:30-2:30PM, 5-9PM, Sun 12:30-8:30PM

7. See Not mapped

   Rothe House

   Tudor merchant's home built between 1594 and 1610. It comprises three houses, three cobbled courtyards and a half-acre restored Tudor garden. It stands on a "burgage plot," a long narrow strip of rented land, and houses Kilkenny Archaeological Society's history museum and archive library.

   May-Sep daily, Oct-Apr Tue-Sun 10AM-6PM·Self tour adult €8.50, conc €7.50, child €4

8. See Not mapped

   Smithwick's Experience

   Guided tour of the former brewery. It may have been Ireland's first, as Franciscan monks brewed here from 1221 to 1537 when the monastery was dissolved (no, not in the beer). John Smithwick founded his brewery here in 1705, but his ownership had to be kept quiet until 1782 when Catholics were again allowed to own property. It remained a family firm until 1964 then was taken over by Guinness, now part of Diageo, and other beers in their range were for a time brewed here. The brewery closed in 2013 and became the council offices and courtrooms, but a small part of it has been turned into this visitor centre. Smithwick's Ales are nowadays brewed in Dublin.

   Daily Mar-Oct 10AM-6PM, Nov-Feb 11AM-5PM·Adult €20, child €10

9. See Not mapped

   St Canice's Cathedral & Round Tower

   This was built as a catholic cathedral, caved in and was rebuilt in the 13th century, but the 9th-century Round Tower indicates its much longer history. It's Ireland's second-largest church, surpassed only by Dublin's St Patrick's, of similar date and style. Cromwell trashed it through force of habit and used it as stables for his horses, but it was rebuilt from the 19th century, retaining many medieval features, and is nowadays Anglican. The tower, outside in the graveyard, can be ascended by adults up steep ladders.

   Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM plus May-Sep Sun 1-6PM·Tower adult €16

10. See Not mapped

    St John's Priory

    The abbey or priory was founded in 1220 by the Augustinians, with the Lady Chapel added in 1290. They must have been a colourful bunch, experiencing jail, excommunication and structural collapse long before the Dissolution. The priory fell derelict in the 18th century, and much of it was demolished in 1780, with the stone re-cycled into a barracks. The Church of Ireland (Protestant) took over the site in 1817, re-roofed the Lady Chapel and created a parish church, which remains active. In the grounds are the ruins of the 13th century former chapel, with tombs and carvings.

11. See Not mapped

    St Mary's Cathedral

    This is the Roman Catholic cathedral for the city, built 1842-57 in limestone in English Gothic style. It's at the highest point in the city so its tower is a prominent landmark.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kilkenny (CC BY-SA 4.0).