Kilkenny is known for being one of Ireland’s biggest centres for culture with several festivals taking place throughout the year. Aside of the festivals the Marble City is buzzing with activity.
With the launch of our new development Cluain Glasan, our new home agent Shannon Longmore spent a few days in Kilkenny. These are some of the things she would recommend for your next trip!
1: Jurassic Newpark
We stayed overnight in the Newpark hotel which is perfect for a family staycation. Jurassic Newpark is one of Ireland’s only dinosaur themed parks is on the grounds of this hotel and features an interactive walk-through dinosaur experience with life sized robotic dinosaurs that roar and move, a fairy trail, playground, wildlife farm, go kart track and a 50-metre inflatable adventure park with slides, obstacles and more.
You could easily spend hours here as they offer face-painting, educational talks, and food facilities to grab a bit of lunch. Finish up your day at the swimming pool or games room in the hotel.
2: Lyrath Estate
Treat yourself to a 5-star experience and book a stay in the Lyrath Estate. This luxurious hotel has so much to offer you won’t need to leave, which we didn’t! There is a leisure club, pool and multi-award-winning spa with a thermal suite and an array of treatments to choose from. After your spa treatment try your hand at falconry, explore the 170 acres of parkland by bike or on foot and finish off with a bite to eat in one of the onsite bars or restaurants.
I’d highly recommend booking in for a spa treatment and making use of the thermal suite. Afterwards, it was great to take a walk around the beautiful grounds. There are a few areas of interest signposted along the way.
3: Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny
What’s a trip to Kilkenny without the Smithwick’s Experience!
This ale has been brewed in Ireland since 1710 and these guided tours will take you back to how Smithwick’s was first created, let you try your hand to mill the malt, stir the mash and smell the hops and finish it all off with some ale tasting. This interactive tour runs at regular intervals throughout the day and seven days a week. Located in the City, it’s the perfect way to start off your day.
It ended up just being the just the two of us on the tour, we’d a really passionate and informative tour guide, which really added to the overall experience. Afterwards, we continued down High Street to sample the Smithwick’s Lanigan’s & Kyteler’s had to offer.
4: Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round with the option of guided and self-guided tours. The castle, built in 1195 boasts 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.
There is also a tearoom, playground, and several orienteering trails for visitors to enjoy. We opted in for the self-guided tour and took a stroll around the castle and the grounds at our own leisure. A must do when visiting Kilkenny city!
5: Medieval Mile
The Medieval Mile is a discovery trail running through the centre of Kilkenny city linking the 13th-century St Canice’s Cathedral and the Anglo-Norman castle with much more in between.
There are plenty of pubs, boutiques, and restaurants in addition to the galleries, castles & cathedrals. One of the best and unique features of Kilkenny is its compactness, allowing you explore everything it has to offer on foot, just be sure to allow yourself enough time to experience it all!
Cluain Glasan New Development
Cluain Glasan is a new development located in Kilkenny comprising of 2 & 3 bedroom homes by Glenveagh Homes. An ideal development for first time buyers, growing families, and those trading in the area with sizes ranging from approx 73sq.m – 118sq.m within walking distance of schools, public transport, shops and more.
Our New Homes team currently have availability within our Cluain Glasan development in Kilkenny. To discuss this development in further detail contact newhomes@knightfrank.ie / 01 237 4500.
