Kilkenny to Cashel and back

Here's what I found using the Journey Planner on the Bus Eireann site.

OUTBOUND:
Leave Kilkenny at 07:00, connect in Clonmel and Cahir, and arrive in Cashel at 09:35.

Or leave Kilkenny at 10:30, connect in Mitcheltown, and arrive in Cashel at 13:35.

RETURN:
Leave Cashel at 14:50, connect in Mitcheltown and Clonmel, and arrive in Kilkenny at 18:45.

Or leave Cashel at 17:15, connect in Fermoy, and arrive in Kilkenny at 21:40.

I have a friend who works near Kilkenny during summers (for room & board) and she took this trip on one of her weekends off. She said it took an "ungodly" amount of time to get there by bus. Friends picked her up and drove her back to Kilkenny, which cut the driving time in half. But, she did say the destination was worth the mess it took to get there. Even so, it sounds like leaving from Cork would be a better thing. I guess it depends on what you are wanting to do while in Cork.

Here are the first departure times from Cork to Cashel: 08:00, 09:20, 10:00, and 12:00. The 09:20 bus makes the trip in 1hr50min. The others do it in 1hr35min.

Here are afternoon and evening departure times from Cashel to Cork: 14:50, 16:50, 17:15, 18:50, and 20:50. The 17:15 bus makes the trip in 2 hours. The rest make it in 1hr35min.

I wanted to do the same thing when i was in Kilkenny this summer and found it next to impossible to get to Cashel from Kilkenny via bus. It is MUCH easier to get there from Cork - direct bus, just under 1.5hrs.