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Kilkenny City is the capital of Kilkenny county in the southern east of Ireland. This city is only about 2 hours by bus from Dublin and it is well serviced by Bus Eireann, which makes it a good weekend break from Dublin. The final bus stop is in the train station which is within walking distance to the city center.

Irleand Travelogue - Weekend in Kilkenny City

Mike Krupel
2006-06-28 21:06:49

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Kilkenny City is the capital of Kilkenny county in the southern east of Ireland. This city is only about 2 hours by bus from Dublin and it is well serviced by Bus Eireann, which makes it a good weekend break from Dublin. The final bus stop is in the train station which is within walking distance to the city center.

The main tourist spot of this medieval city is Kilkenny castle and the surrounding gardens. The castle once the residence of the Butler family is on the south side of River Nore and worth a visit at least from the outside including a stroll in the surrounding gardens. You can do without the inside tour unless you're willing to pay 5.50 Euros and deposit your cameras in the security room. There's nothing special about the interior and you'll get what you'll expect with the usual display of furniture, large rooms and old paintings. Most of it is reconstructed because the castle was badly damaged and the furniture was sold in an auction so I can't see why they don't allow visitors to take photos.

For the first week of June long weekend there was the annual international comedy festival called Cat Laughs and the place was very busy. According to a local taxi driver this is the busiest period after New Year and I experienced it first hand because it was next to impossible to find a bed and breakfast for Saturday night.

View from B&B – Click for larger image After phoning most of the B&B's in the area I managed to get a room at the Newlands Lodge, which is about 4 miles out of the city center. The place was fantastic, with lovely interior décor, large rooms and spacious bathroom in a typical rural Irish setting surrounded by green fields with grazing sheep and cows. The owners' Mairead and her husband were very welcoming, friendly and helpful. A night cost 40 Euros which is a standard rate but considering how well kept and luxurious the rooms are it's almost a bargain. The only drawback of this place is that it's not within walking distance of the center and without a car you have to get a taxi each time. The taxi trip costs roughly 12 euros which at the end going to and fro amounted to quite a sum, but for what it matters I made friends with the taxi driver until the relationship turned sour on our last trip on Saturday night.

River Nore– Click for larger imageThe nightlife in Kilkenny has made a name for itself and for good reason. The center is brimming with pubs all within walking distance making it very easy for a long bar hopping night. The people are friendly and you're more likely to meet a farmer in a Tommy Halfinger shirt here then you are in Dublin.

Probably the best known pub and restaurant is Edward Langton's, and to test the hype that was my Saturday night spot. The place was nice and people were saying the music was good (I still can't distinguish what is good nightclub music and what isn't) but it was extremely overcrowded. I'm not sure whether it's because of the festival going on, but the amount of people makes some major Dublin pubs look empty.