WELCOMING KILKENNY BACK RESPONSIBLY & SAFELY
As covid restrictions start to lift across the country, Kilkenny is busy preparing to reopen responsibly and safely to ensure the safety and protection of all our visitors. Kilkenny Tourism is working closely with our members and partners to make your stay with us as enjoyable and memorable as possible.
Our first priority is to promote socially responsible tourism. We will demonstrate to our guests, that through the operational changes and precautions taken, that it is safe to enjoy Kilkenny again.
We recognise that these unprecedented challenges require unprecedented and swift actions in order to ensure rigid compliance in the fields of social distancing and enhanced hygienic practices.Industry partners are working together preparing for the reopening of heritage sites, hotels, attractions and restaurants and are looking forward to welcoming guests.
Now that the situation is improving throughout the country, and we can finally start to reopen Kilkenny, we look forward with cautious optimism to the weeks and months ahead. Whilst taking all necessary safety precautions, we can proceed to this important next phase with confidence that the right measures are in place across the city.
So, while we cannot welcome you right now, please use our website for inspiration to plan your next trip!
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know:
Accommodation: Hotels across the County are currently taking bookings for the June 29th re-opening. All our accommodation providers, from 5 star hotels to self-catering businesses and camp sites are implementing Health & Safety protocols in line with HSE and Irish Hotel Federation guidelines to ensure visitors safety is a priority.
Restaurants & Pubs: Kilkenny has one of the finest reputations for dining in the Country, from award winning Michelin Star Restaurants to gastro-pubs it’s no wonder Kilkenny was awarded ‘Foodie Destination of the Year 2018’! As we enter Phase 2 of the government’s road map for reopening the country, Restaurants are due to begin serving customers from late June and pubs are scheduled to begin reopening from June 29th. Both will be adhering to HSE social distancing guidelines. For now, many restaurants and pubs in Kilkenny are offering a Take Out service. With payment over the phone and curb side collection, these fantastic Kilkenny restaurants are working hard to bring you their usual delicious dishes in a safe environment.
“Travel not to find yourself, but to remember who you’ve been all along”, Anonymous
Explore by Foot: Now more than ever, we are all realising the benefits to the ‘great outdoors’, whilst staying safe and adhering to social distancing. There are few cities in Ireland that are as accessible on foot as Kilkenny city is, the compactness of our city alone makes it one of Ireland’s easiest cities to navigate on foot!!
Trails: Recreational walking in the great outdoors is a relatively low-risk activity when it comes to COVID-19. The fresh air and a well-separated population helps to minimise the virus’s ability to spread outdoors. From cycling to walking trails & guided tours, there’s plenty of things to do in Kilkenny to make the most of the great outdoors, while enjoying both nature and the county’s landscapes. When you do come and visit, please adhere to all temporary covid 19 signs on trails and tours. Here is a useful guide: https://www.theirelandwalkingguide.com/covid-19.html
Activities: A cultural city right on the edge of nature, Kilkenny makes it easy to combine a stay-cation with outdoor adventure. From family-friendly fun to thrill-seeking exploits; from zip lining to castle visits, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Kilkenny. Some Kilkenny attractions are opening this week including the Irish National Reptile Zoo, Nore Valley Park and Castlecomer Discovery Park on June 25th. We are working hard to get them reopen safely for your next visit. We would advise visitors to check with individual businesses for re-opening dates and times or visitkilkenny.ie.
“Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets” ~ Oscar Wilde.
What Others Are Saying About ‘Welcoming Back Kilkenny’
Colin Ahern, Chair of Kilkenny Tourism; “As Kilkenny transitions through a phased reopening, we are working on establishing best practices and safety measures for the health and safety of visitors. We are looking forward to our, hotels, attractions and restaurants return to regular business and welcoming guests.
This has been a challenging time for everyone, but through working together as a community and industry, the future is bright for a recovery that allows us to welcome visitors to our great county again.”
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new land, but in having new eyes”… Marcel Proust
Cathaoirleach Peter “Chap” Cleere; “We want to instil confidence to visitors to return to Kilkenny and that is why now more than ever our entire community needs to collaborate on, not only a safe and responsible way to reopen our businesses, but an inclusive way as all of Kilkenny faces this re-opening together.”
We understand that re-opening businesses is not a one size fits all approach. We will have to be strategic with gradually opening and monitoring cases at the same time, ensuring businesses adhere to all safety precautions according to HSE standards.”
Pat Crotty, President of the VFI and owner of Paris Texas Bar & Restaurant; “Kilkenny pubs and restaurants have always had a great tradition of offering wonderful service to all their customers and that will continue as the County re-opens to tourists. Pubs and Restaurants are working hard to re-open as soon as possible. The challenges may be great but the customer is at the heart of what we do and, now more than ever, their safety is our priority.”
‘Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures’ Lovelle Drachman
