Kilkenny Castle

Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny Castle. Founded soon after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances and uses over a period of 800 years.

Today, Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round and is largely a Victorian remodelling of the thirteenth century defensive Castle. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to see this grand country house and walk through its fifty acres of rolling parkland with mature trees and an abundance of wildlife. Other features include a formal terraced rose garden, woodlands and a man-made lake, which were added in the nineteenth century. There is also a tearoom, playground and several orienteering trails for visitors to enjoy.

Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Castle

Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny Castle. Founded soon after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances and uses over a period of 800 years.

Today, Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round and is largely a Victorian remodelling of the thirteenth century defensive Castle. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to see this grand country house and walk through its fifty acres of rolling parkland with mature trees and an abundance of wildlife. Other features include a formal terraced rose garden, woodlands and a man-made lake, which were added in the nineteenth century. There is also a tearoom, playground and several orienteering trails for visitors to enjoy.

Saint Mary's Cathedral

A leisurely  5 minute stroll from Abbeylodge B&B will take visitors to the imposing Neo-gothic St. Mary’s Cathedral.

The cathedral, designed by William Deane Butler, dates from 1843. Its impressive landmark tower rises to a height of 56 meters and is visible across the city.

The altar is one of the cathedral’s most impressive attractions. It is made of Italian marble, and relics of Saints Cosmas, Damian, Clement, and Victoria are found here.

After wandering around the grounds, satisfy your hunger craving at the on-site tearoom, a pleasant space serving coffee, tea, cakes, and snacks.

St. Mary's Cathedral Kilkenny

Saint Mary's Cathedral

A leisurely  5 minute stroll from Abbeylodge B&B will take visitors to the imposing Neo-gothic St. Mary’s Cathedral.

The cathedral, designed by William Deane Butler, dates from 1843. Its impressive landmark tower rises to a height of 56 meters and is visible across the city.

The altar is one of the cathedral’s most impressive attractions. It is made of Italian marble, and relics of Saints Cosmas, Damian, Clement, and Victoria are found here.

After wandering around the grounds, satisfy your hunger craving at the on-site tearoom, a pleasant space serving coffee, tea, cakes, and snacks.

Medieval Mile Museum

Located in the heart of Kilkenny, on the site of 13th-century St Mary’s church and graveyard, the Medieval Mile Museum represents an immense treasure trove of artefacts encompassing more than 800 years of history.

The museum displays Kilkenny’s civic treasures, showcasing high crosses, magnificent stone carved tombs and significant artefacts unearthed during the restoration of the church and surrounding graveyard.

Highlights of the visit include the ornate Rothe Chapel with tombs belonging to the medieval merchant Rothe family and the High Cross Exhibition which introduces the High Kings of Ossory and the foundation of the monastery of Kilkenny by St Canice.

Medieval Mile Museum

Located in the heart of Kilkenny, on the site of 13th-century St Mary’s church and graveyard, the Medieval Mile Museum represents an immense treasure trove of artefacts encompassing more than 800 years of history.

The museum displays Kilkenny’s civic treasures, showcasing high crosses, magnificent stone carved tombs and significant artefacts unearthed during the restoration of the church and surrounding graveyard.

Highlights of the visit include the ornate Rothe Chapel with tombs belonging to the medieval merchant Rothe family and the High Cross Exhibition which introduces the High Kings of Ossory and the foundation of the monastery of Kilkenny by St Canice.

Rothe House

Rothe House is a unique, early 17th-century, Irish merchant’s townhouse and garden, set in the centre of Kilkenny City. It is also the base of genealogical research on Kilkenny ancestry.

The house and garden are privately owned by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society and are open to the public throughout the year. Rothe House is also home to the society’s vast collection of artefacts relating to life in Kilkenny, as well as its library. This contains a full collection of local newspapers, maps, family archives and books of local and national historic interest. Exhibitions frequently rotate to display the collection of artefacts.

The Garden, which opened to the public in 2008, is a reconstruction of an early 17th-century Irish town garden, and includes a large orchard of fruit trees, complemented by a large vegetable and herb garden.

Rothe House

Rothe House

Rothe House is a unique, early 17th-century, Irish merchant’s townhouse and garden, set in the centre of Kilkenny City. It is also the base of genealogical research on Kilkenny ancestry.

The house and garden are privately owned by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society and are open to the public throughout the year. Rothe House is also home to the society’s vast collection of artefacts relating to life in Kilkenny, as well as its library. This contains a full collection of local newspapers, maps, family archives and books of local and national historic interest. Exhibitions frequently rotate to display the collection of artefacts.

The Garden, which opened to the public in 2008, is a reconstruction of an early 17th-century Irish town garden, and includes a large orchard of fruit trees, complemented by a large vegetable and herb garden.

St. Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower

St Canice’s Cathedral in the Irishtown area of Kilkenny is an impressive structure that dates back to 1285. Explore the cathedral and climb to the top of the magnificent 30 metre high round tower.

St Canice’s Cathedral is a hidden gem on Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile. Kilkenny is even named after this magnificent Cathedral, which has been a site of Christian worship since the 6th century and was known as the last stronghold of the druids before that. Each stone of this 12th century gothic cathedral tells a story.

With characters from knights to shoemakers memorialised in the largest collection of burial monuments in Ireland. Look into the faces of Countesses and witch hunters with St Canice’s breath taking effigies. Or see St Kieran’s chair, the bishop of Ossory’s throne since the 5th Century. Bask in the serenity of Ireland’s second largest Cathedral.

St. Canices Cathedral

St. Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower

St Canice’s Cathedral in the Irishtown area of Kilkenny is an impressive structure that dates back to 1285. Explore the cathedral and climb to the top of the magnificent 30 metre high round tower.

St Canice’s Cathedral is a hidden gem on Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile. Kilkenny is even named after this magnificent Cathedral, which has been a site of Christian worship since the 6th century and was known as the last stronghold of the druids before that. Each stone of this 12th century gothic cathedral tells a story.

With characters from knights to shoemakers memorialised in the largest collection of burial monuments in Ireland. Look into the faces of Countesses and witch hunters with St Canice’s breath taking effigies. Or see St Kieran’s chair, the bishop of Ossory’s throne since the 5th Century. Bask in the serenity of Ireland’s second largest Cathedral.

The Black Abbey

The Black Abbey was established as a Dominican friary in 1225. It was considered a tranquil spot, as it fell outside the walls of Kilkenny City. After many turbulent years, the abbey was restored and opened as a public place of worship in the 1800s.

Located just outside the original walls of Kilkenny City and only a few minutes walk from our Bed & Breakfast,  The Black Abbey was a peaceful place and home to a group of Dominican friars when it was founded in the 1220s. The County Kilkenny property is believed to have taken its name from the black cappa that the friars wore over their white habits during the middle ages.

Today, visitors can view the buildings, which date from the 13th to the 16th Century. Among the highlights are sepulchral slabs, stone carvings and sculptures, including a unique figure of the Blessed Trinity. It is the only known surviving statue of St Dominic in Ireland. Also of note is the great rosary window, depicting the fifteen mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

The Black Abbey

The Black Abbey

The Black Abbey was established as a Dominican friary in 1225. It was considered a tranquil spot, as it fell outside the walls of Kilkenny City. After many turbulent years, the abbey was restored and opened as a public place of worship in the 1800s.

Located just outside the original walls of Kilkenny City and only a few minutes walk from our Bed & Breakfast,  The Black Abbey was a peaceful place and home to a group of Dominican friars when it was founded in the 1220s. The County Kilkenny property is believed to have taken its name from the black cappa that the friars wore over their white habits during the middle ages.

Today, visitors can view the buildings, which date from the 13th to the 16th Century. Among the highlights are sepulchral slabs, stone carvings and sculptures, including a unique figure of the Blessed Trinity. It is the only known surviving statue of St Dominic in Ireland. Also of note is the great rosary window, depicting the fifteen mysteries of the Holy Rosary.