We stayed at the Club House Hotel recommended in Rick Steves 2017. It was build in 1797. We felt like we were part of the town as in visiting sites there were references to the Club House. We bumped into a Rick Steves tour at the hotel. We are retired people and have time. If you too are a student or retired I recommend that you give yourself some time in Kilkenny. I picked it because we did not have a car and could go by train from Dublin. It is a very walkable town on the Medieval Mile. We stayed three nights. We dined at the restruarnt Langton's recommended by Rick Steven and had a wonderful evening. We could just walk to the castle. We enjoyed a supper down by the river. St Canice's Cathedral is somehow more memorable than grander cathedrals. With its pre-Norman tower to escape the Vikings and then the somewhat stark Norman Gothic cathedral, a real sense of Irish history is experienced. The Rothe house and gardens is a way to experience a prosperous medieval merchant house. The Kilkenny Castle has undergone many changes. It was one of the earliest Norman castles, built by Strongbow's daughter Isabella and her gallant husband Marshall. The castle grounds are now a parkland for the people. The town streets haves shops catering to tourist, but also real stores still, like pharmacies and office supplies and hardware and clothes and shoes. There are real Irish residents going along the streets. We felt it was a
very relaxing yet historic place to stay and enjoy.
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