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Walking Tour of Kilkenny City
Tour Type: One day, walking Distance: About 2.5 miles
Kilkenny is a compact city ideal for a day's gentle walking and with something of interest for just about everyone.
As Ireland's medieval capital it has more than its share of interesting historic buildings and the narrow lanes and streets have many unusual and different shops that deserve exploration.
Kilkenny City Walking Tour
Shee Alms House
Shee Alms HouseFounded by the Shees, a wealthy merchant family "to accommodate twelve poor persons", this building remained a refuge for the poor from 1582 to 1839.
It is one of the few remaining Tudor alms houses in Ireland but now functions as the tourist office, so pick up a map and ask for any information you need while you are there.
Turn left as you come out of the building and cross the road. Proceed up Rose Inn St, turning left and ascending the steps just after the National Irish Bank.
Kilkenny Castle
Entrance, Kilkenny CastleDominating the centre of the city, Kilkenny Castle dates from the 11th century and until the 1960's had been the home of the Butlers of Ormond for more than 600 years.
In addition to a very interesting tour of the interior, the grounds are well worth exploring and there is a good art gallery in the basement.
Leave the Castle via the arched main entrance gate, cross the road.
Kilkenny Design Centre
Housed in the old castle stables, the Design Centre is an excellent place to buy top quality craft work and clothing, much of it locally produced, some in the design workshops on the premises where you can see it being created. 
Butler HouseIt's not a place for cheap souvenirs - this is serious stuff! The restaurant upstairs serves really excellent food - the soups are particularly special and very welcome to those visiting on a cold day.
Pass through the courtyards at the back of the Design Centre and through a gate to reach the garden of Butler House. This was the Dower House of the Castle, the place where the retired Duchess would move when her son took over the title and the Castle. The garden is a very restful place to sit for a while.
Leave the Design Centre, turn left and proceed straight at the traffic lights.
High St and the Tholsel
The Tholsel (Town Hall)High St is the commercial heart of Kilkenny and always busy. It is dominated by the Tholsel, which since the middle ages has served as court house, custom-house, guildhall and is now the town hall. The covered arcade has been used for centuries as a meeting place and a place to sell goods, and this tradition continues.
Watch out for the narrow streets leading off both sides of High St, on the left of the street these are called lanes, the steeply descending ones on the right are known as the 'slips'.
Continue straight up High St, until it becomes Parliament St.
Rothe House
Rothe HouseBuilt by wealthy merchant John Rothe in the late 1500's this house is typical of the type of home a comfortably off family of the time would have enjoyed. It is in fact three houses, linked by internal courtyards.
Now owned by Kilkenny Archaeological Society, the houses have been meticulously restored and incorporate an interesting museum with many displays relating to the local area as well as an excellent clothing exhibition. The building is also the headquarters of the Heritage Council of Ireland.
On leaving Rothe House turn left. Watch out for a lane on the left called New Buildings Lane and turn left into it..
The Black Abbey
Black AbbeyFounded by the Dominican Friars, also known as the Black Friars, in 1225, the Black Abbey is still in daily use for religious services, which may well be in progress when you arrive. It is well worth exploring the interior, especially for the magnificent stained glass windows. Next door to the front of the Abbey there is a brightly coloured townhouse, which is modern and of no special interest except that I once lived there for a few years!
Leave the Abbey, turn left then left again following the Abbey wall. Cross a small bridge, at the next junction cross the and bear right. Take the first turn left up a steep hill.
St Canice's Cathedral
The Cathedral itself dates from the early 13th century, but the round tower beside it is even earlier, probably built around 849. This early settlement gave Kilkenny its name - the Irish version Chill Chainaigh means "Canice's Church".
Burial EffigiesThe interior is fascinating, with many of Kilkenny's prominent citizens over the years buried there, some with very lifelike effigies (left) marking their tombs. The baptismal font is as old as the building - just imagine how many babies have been welcomed into the Church there!
A steep climb up narrow and winding stairs to the top of the tower will reward you with a magnificent view over the city and its surrounding countryside, but it is quite a climb.
Maps
- Holiday Series Ireland East The bottom right of Ireland
- Kilkenny Street Map
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