Travel Diaries: Kilkenny, Ireland

Monday’s really are the worst but one way to make it better (if you do have to work today) is to think happy thoughts.  One of my favorite experiences when traveling is to be surprised by a city, museum, or event that I had no expectations of and I want to share one from my Fall trip to Ireland with you today.

On my way down fro Dublin to Waterford when I visited Ireland back in October we stopped in an adorable little town called Kilkenny.   It was so quaint and barely a spec on the map but actually boasts over 120 things to do according to Trip Advisor.   While we spent only four hours in the tiny city we got a really good feel for it, walking everywhere we went, save an adorable trolly tour around the back half of the city. Our first stop was St. John the Evangelist Church which was nearly across the street from the train station where we popped in to take a look around and here all about the festival of flowers before leaving and heading down John Street and across the River Nore. 

 

Then it was on to the main attraction, Kilkenny Castle!  Kilkenny Castle if by far and away the top tourist attraction in this little town and rightly so – this 12th century riverside castle was used from everything from a military headquarters to a hospital over the centuries and it has now been fully restored.  I paid the 7 Euro and took the tour of the interior which was wonderfully re-appointed to it’s 18th century heyday and then strolled around the Killkenny Castle Grounds which are gorgeous and free to the public!

After the castle we got aboard the cutest little tram and explored teh city.  It just so happens that is the time my DSLR decided to die so I have no pictures of the tour but with the speed of the tram and the slight rain I am not so sure they would have come out well (let’s just go with that please, shall we? It makes me feel like I did not miss out as much!)

The statue above is of three men hurling.  It is a very, very popular sport in Southern Ireland that is a cross between field hockey and lacrosse but a lot more violent.  I learned a ton about it while in Kilkenny and must admit, I still don’t know all the rules!  After a lovely morning in the city we headed back to the train station and got on another headed south to Waterford.  You can read all about my afternoon in Waterford. 

Have you ever been to Kilkenny?