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Kilkenny as a Central Spot

Posted by on

Hi all,

A friend and I leave Tuesday for Ireland. We will be in country for 14 days and plan to rent a car and spend our first night in Dun Laoghaire.

The following day, we'll head down to Kilkenny, via the Wicklow Mountains.

My question is this: If we were to stay at Kilkenny for a couple nights, is that a good centralized location to then go down the next day (and come back from) Waterford, and to also do a walking tour of Kilkenny, and go to Rothe House and Kilkenny Castle?

Is it ENOUGH time? Or would it be better to NOT stay there two nights and stay somewhere else?

I was thinking that the day we leave, we can go by way of Rock of Cashel, on our way to Cork/Kinsale.

As it so happens, looking at our timing, we'll be there for the farmer's market in Kilkenny, too.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Posted by
1078 posts

I think that would work out well. We were in Kilkenny last May and enjoyed the tour of the castle and walking down the old town streets and visiting shops and Pubs. A side trip to Waterford would be a great idea if your interested in the crystal factory otherwise there's not a lot to see there. We left and drove on to Killarney and stopped at the Rock Of Cashel and found it rather underwhelming, it is mostly piles of rubble, in fact the only thing I found impressive there was the view around it, looking out over the Tipperary Plain. Killarney is nice, enjoyed Muckross House and the national park tour. Dingle is by far one of my favorite places in Ireland, and Ashford Castle was an amazing experience that we will never forget. I love Ireland, you will have a great time.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you so much, David! This is quite helpful.

I'm wondering; since we'll be in Kilkenny Thursday and Friday, and it's April, will we have any problems with hotel/B&B reservations if we do them that morning or the day before??

Margie

Posted by
346 posts

We really like the entire Kilkenny area. There is plenty to do as day trips from there.

Posted by
317 posts

Greetings from Ireland.

Kilkenny is a nice city, I think one night would be best there though, although if you have the time then stay two nights and explore from there, definitely try and overnight in Kinsale also!

I read earlier in this thread that the Rock of Cashel is mostly "piles of rubble". Thats a little bewildering and also not accurate. I travel to this nationally sacred site every 2 weeks leading Rick Steves groups and it never ceases to impress. There are actually no piles of rubble there. There are certainly ruins (these things happen when Oliver Cromwells army lay siege to it with artillery in the 17th century, then proceed to storm it and massacre hundreds of people on the site). It has a fully preserved 10th century round-tower, a majestic 15th century Cathedral and in 'Cormacs chapel' it has the finest example of hiberno-romanesque architecture in all of Ireland. Beside to stop there, you wont find any rubble, trust me.

Enjoy my beloved Island and all its fine historic sites.
le meas/with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland Tour-Guide
Dingle & Derry

Posted by
2369 posts

I took am very much surprised at the description of the Rock of Cashel as a pile of ruins. Certainly have not been there as much as Stephen but have visited it at least three times and it is really beautiful! Look up the pictures for it on Google and you will see for yourself how wonderful it truly is! I think it is very worthwhile.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you all so much! This was extremely helpful.

We head out tomorrow.

Margie

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