ancient ruins
Rock of Cashel
Spectacular group of medieval buildings perched on a limestone outcrop in Tipperary, including a round tower, Romanesque chapel and Gothic cathedral.
46 km · about 55 min drive
EuropeIrelandLeinster
Kilkenny
Leinster, Ireland · Europe
About Kilkenny
Kilkenny sits on the route: 30 minutes from Callan, 46km from Rock of Cashel.
Kilkenny is in Leinster, Ireland, with about 22,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Callan, about 15 km away.
Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh [ˌciːl̠ʲ ˈxan̠ʲəj], meaning 'church of Cainnech') is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2022 census gave the population of Kilkenny as 27,184, the thirteenth-largestRead more
urban centre in Ireland.
Kilkenny is a tourist destination, and its environs include historic buildings such as Kilkenny Castle, St Canice's Cathedral and round tower, Rothe House, Shee Alms House, Black Abbey, St. Mary's Cathedral, The Tholsel, St. Francis Abbey, Grace's Castle, and St. John's Priory. Kilkenny is also known for its craft and design workshops, the Watergate Theatre, public gardens and museums. Annual events include Kilkenny Arts Festival, the Cat Laughs comedy festival and music at the Kilkenny Roots Festival.
Kilkenny began with an early 6th-century ecclesiastical foundation within the Kingdom of Ossory. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland, Kilkenny Castle and a series of walls were built to protect the burghers of what became a Norman merchant town. William Marshall, Lord of Leinster, gave Kilkenny a charter as a town in 1207. By the late 13th century, Kilkenny was under Hiberno-Norman control. The Statutes of Kilkenny, passed at Kilkenny in 1367, aimed to curb the decline of the Hiberno-Norman Lordship of Ireland. In 1609, King James I of England granted Kilkenny a Royal Charter, giving it the status of a city. Following the Irish Rebellion of 1641, the Irish Catholic Confederation, also known as the "Confederation of Kilkenny", was based in Kilkenny and lasted until the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649. From 1840 onwards, Kilkenny has not been administered as a city under local government law, but the Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides for "the continued use of the description city".
Kilkenny was a brewing centre from the late 17th century and still houses a number of breweries. The Heritage Council offices are at Church Lane in the former Bishop's Palace. The seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory is at St Mary's Cathedral and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel and Ossory is at St Canice's Cathedral.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kilkenny?
Within an hour or so of Kilkenny: Rock of Cashel (46 km), Dunmore East (59 km), Copper Coast Geopark (59 km).
Are there any good drives near Kilkenny?
The nearest famous roads are Copper Coast Geopark, The Vee and Wicklow Gap.
Where is Kilkenny?
Kilkenny is in Leinster, Ireland, about 15 km from Callan.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 21,589
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Ireland
- Region
- Leinster
- Timezone
- Europe/Dublin
- Coordinates
- 52.6542, -7.2522
Tags
Worth the detour from Kilkenny
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Dunmore East
Picturesque fishing village on the Waterford coast with red sandstone cliffs, sheltered coves and a charming harbour.
59 km · about 70 min drive
coastal drive
Copper Coast Geopark
A UNESCO Global Geopark along the R675 in Waterford, with coves and cliffs formed from old volcanic and mining ground.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Kilkenny
- 59 kmCopper Coast GeoparkA UNESCO Global Geopark along the R675 in Waterford, with coves and cliffs formed from old volcanic and mining ground.
- 64 kmThe VeeV-shaped hairpin pass on the R668 climbing to 610m through the Knockmealdown Gap between Clogheen and Lismore, ablaze with rhododendron in late May. Overlooks Bay Lough and the Golden Vale patchwork below.
- 72 kmWicklow GapHigh mountain pass on the R756 across the Wicklow Mountains between Hollywood and Glendalough, following the medieval pilgrims' route of St Kevin's Road through wild granite moorland.
- 73 kmThe Spinc, GlendaloughA boardwalk ridge walk high above the Upper Lake at Glendalough, climbing beside the Poulanass waterfall.
- 74 kmVale of AvocaA wooded river valley on the R752 in Wicklow at the meeting of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers.
Driving in Ireland
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€2.10/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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