Things to do in County Kilkenny

Celebrating Irish music, culture and creativity with a big festival in a small city!

15th - 18th March 2024

During the St. Patrick’s Festival, Kilkenny city and county come alive with pageantry, craic agus ceol. Centred around the St. Patrick’s Day Parade but stretching across the weekend, visitors can enjoy the thrill of American Marching Bands, a parade of local colour, interactive workshops for all ages and the best in live Irish music at Kilkenny Tradfest. All in a small intimate city that’ll make you feel right at home.

St. Patrick’s Day may be celebrated all around the world but there is nothing quite like celebrating it in Ireland. With a packed St. Patrick’s Festival programme, a wealth of heritage and culture, and so much to do and see, Kilkenny is the perfect place to spend St. Patrick’s 2024!

Festival activities include:
- St. Patrick's Day Parade
- Street Entertainment
- Live Music
- Interactive Workshops
- The Big Wheel
...Plus lots more special events to be announced!

For more information check out the website and social media channels.

Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

Gaelic games form part of the flavour of Kilkenny, from UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny city to each of the 41 clubs, to be found in every parish in the county, from Clooneen in the north to Glenmore in the south.  The GAA represents our national games and there is nowhere quite like Kilkenny to experience it. Kilkenny is known as the home of the hurling thanks to the county's continued success in the sport over the years.

Kilkenny GAA promotes all our gaelic games:

• Hurling
• Gaelic football
• Camogie
• Ladies Gaelic football
• Handball

The Kilkenny Senior Hurling team has, since the turn of the Millennium, been the most successful hurling team ever. This success has been founded upon our club games which are run throughout the spring, summer and autumn culminating in our local championship finals in UPMC Nowlan Park. In recent years, the Kilkenny Senior Camogie team has also been one of the most successful teams in the country, with their success again based on the thriving camogie club competitions in Kilkenny.

While football is not as strong in Kilkenny as in some other counties, our footballers participate in national competitions at the appropriate level. In recent years, our underage club footballers have competed at national level while Kilkenny Ladies Football continues to develop.

Handball flourishes in Kilkenny with many national and international champions representing Kilkenny. Handball alleys can be found throughout the the county. Click here for information on handball fixtures. Wherever you are in Kilkenny, you will find the true flavour of Kilkenny at our Gaelic Games.

Click here for a list of all GAA Clubs

Click here for fixtures and results of GAA matches

Nicholas Mosse Pottery was established by Nicholas Mosse in 1976 after periods of training in England and Japan. His mission was to produce beautiful, functional pottery in the style of Irish Spongeware. Irish spongeware was the traditional pottery of Ireland used in the 18th Century. It was mainly made in simple honest shapes with a decoration applied with a cut sponge.

From their pottery mill in Kilkenny the team at Nicholas Mosse create a range of beautiful pottery for all occasions. Each of the pieces are made by hand and crafted with the greatest care for detail. Inspired by the rural surroundings, the patterns capture the charm of Irish country-living and bring it straight to your home. Visit their Irish Country Shop and Cafe to experience how they make their pottery or buy their best selling pieces and patterns online. 

Idyllically located in the picturesque Irish countryside, just a short drive from Kilkenny City, Avalon House Hotel is an historic manor dating back to the 19th century which has been delicately and beautifully restored. Featuring both old and new world influences, this wonderful and unique food haven is a fabulous option for a quiet getaway or a more elaborate celebration.

This superb Castlecomer venue contains a host of luxurious outlets from the relaxing Lark’s Bar, the gracious splendour of our casual fine dining Lil's restaurant right through to the stunning backdrop of our elegant 250 capacity ballroom. Their ethos is simple. Providing exquisite food in an elegant setting by the vastly experienced team the hotel ensures your visit will be memorable forever. The jewel in the crown of Avalon House Hotel is undoubtedly Lil’s Restaurant.

Situated on the first floor with natural light flooding through the original windows and views of the woodland estate. The eternally cosy, stove-lit, Lark’s bar enjoys a very strong lunch and supper. This comfy backdrop is awash with decorative trinkets and unique features and is a huge hit with both local patrons and in-house guests. Both can often be seen mingling throughout the evening especially on Friday nights when there is live music.

The boutique style lends itself ideally to weddings and Avalon House Hotel is delighted to present both Á La Carte offerings & 3 enticing package options. Wedding couples are encouraged to impose their individuality on their magical day so this Kilkenny hotel have provided opportunities to tailor a bespoke menu as required. 

For reservations and more information visit: www.avalonhousehotel.ie

For Hotel Deals Click Here 

Shenanigans - The Kilkenny City Walk is the fun way to experience historic Kilkenny City, the jewel in the crown of Ireland’s Ancient East. Blending comedy, magic, history, whimsical fun and plenty of Shenanigans our guides will take you on a jolly jaunt tracing Kilkenny City’s fascinating Medieval Mile, regaling you with unique anecdotes, fun facts and a good dollop of irreverent humour, craíc and mischief. Not just a guided tour ... a MIS-guided tour!

The fun, magical, historical & hysterical way to experience Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile.

MADE in Kilkenny is a multidisciplinary craft group organised and run by its members on a voluntary basis with the mission to promote Kilkenny County as the premier destination in Ireland for authentic handmade Irish crafts of exceptional quality. Kilkenny has long had the reputation for being a centre of creativity, and the MADE in Kilkenny collective has actively contributed to this perception over the last decade. The group has striven to bring together the considerable wealth of craft talent found in Kilkenny to a wider audience, to foster excellence in craftsmanship, and to promote the economy and tourism of the county.

Now ten years on, the members of MADE in Kilkenny include a diverse collection of makers. The steady behind the scenes work of all of them, past and present has created a collective with a solid identity and a strong brand name that represents the best in craft.

In 2021, Kilkenny was named a World Crafts Council Craft City and Region - one of only four regions to achieve this recognition in Europe - through the work of MADE in Kilkenny.

Learn more about MADE in Kilkenny and their makers here.

Kilkenny Cycling Tours offers you the opportunity to visit historical and cultural sites around Kilkenny including Kilkenny Castle, The Kilkenny Design Centre, Shee Alms House, The Tholsel, St. Mary’s Church, Rothe House & Gardens, The Courthouse (Grace’s Castle), St. Francis’ Abbey, The Black Abbey and St. Canice’s Cathedral.

Experience Irish hospitality while having an enjoyable easy-paced cycling around the medieval capital of Ireland with photo opportunities and historical information provided at each destination.

Looking to get the family active in outdoor activities – then this is the perfect opportunity for you! Go with The Flow brings you adventurous Canoeing trips in Kilkenny. Our unique experience offers you the chance to explore the beautiful countryside of Kilkenny by taking you into beautiful, unspoilt and exciting waterways. Our charismatic instructors will guide you along exclusive trails and show you how to shoot weirs and ride the rapids. We will pass through dramatic landscapes, mysteries wooded valleys and old navigations once used by the Guinness barges to deliver Ireland’s favourite tipple. Bring a picnic, visit the playground of The Incredible Mr Kavanagh and take a swim in tranquil sheltered waters of our favourite remote pools.