Kilkenny Arts & Culture

The Historical Harp Society of Ireland brings to life a lost sound world. Founded in 2002, it leads a rediscovery of Ireland’s illustrious medieval musical instrument, depicted in the national emblem: the early Irish harp. Join us for our annual summer festival in Kilkenny, Ireland and live online to rediscover, and immerse yourself, in the music and traditions of Gaeldom's exquisite, ancient harp.

Visit irishharp.org for information on all of our events and resources.

Barnstorm is passionate about creating inspirational and transformative theatre for children, young people, and adults. We produce a comprehensive programme of professional productions for young Kilkenny and national audiences and arts participation programmes for Kilkenny’s youth and community sectors.

Our Kilkenny Youth Theatre is open to all teens from 10 – 18.

Enjoy a light-hearted evening of songs & stories from Irish folklore by the talented Ollie Grace in Bollards Bar in Kilkenny City centre.

Shows will run every Thursday evening in Bollards Bar until the end of September. 

Ollie is a native of County Kilkenny with a deep passion for music and folklore. He has extensive experience performing shows on his own and with others across the world. He is a registered Irish National Tour Guide with more than 20 years experience working in tourism and heritage. Ollie's previous show ran for over 14 years in the Brazen Head Pub in Dublin and he has been consistently rated on Trip Advisor as one of the top evening entertainments in Dublin.

Now, back in Kilkenny Ollie's show "The Hidden Folklore of Ireland" is one not to be missed.

Explore:

• Our earliest customs and beliefs from our Celtic past
• The world of the imagination, the spiritual, the mysterious, the unseen and including of course the world of The Irish Fairies
• How our people lived their daily lives, the houses they lived in and the crucial importance of the potato to their survival
• Our songs and story-telling which still have such joy, meaning and importance for us
• The lightness and laughter that shaped us as a people and helped us to survive and thrive down through many difficult centuries

The show will have particular emphasis on our rich heritage of songs and music. This will involve a degree of spirited audience participation!

The Book & Coffee Shop is located on William Street in the heart of Kilkenny City. They specialise in quality second hand books, literary gifts, home made cakes and coffee. The look forward to welcoming visitors to browse through their selection of books and gifts for sale.

They accept online payment by credit, debit card or Paypal. They also have a call and collect service.

Book and Coffee shop tokens available for any amount. Valid for all time. Can be exchanged for books, gifts, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cakes etc. 

Click Here for a 360 Tour of The Book & Coffee Shop.

Music in Kilkenny brings international and Irish artists of exceptional quality to perform in beautiful and historic venues of this medieval City and County.

Music in Kilkenny, in existence for more than twenty years, presents two seasons of concerts annually from September to May. They provide a performance platform for world class artists from Ireland and abroad. Their diverse programming includes classical music in all its forms: from medieval to contemporary, traditional Irish music, world music and Jazz. They benefit from the many beautiful venues throughout Kilkenny City and County.

Shankill Castle has been home to the Cope family since 1991. They have opened up their vibrant house and gardens for visitors to experience the history behind the castle.

Take a stroll through the gardens which are deeply soaked in Victorian history. There are remnants of 18th-century lime alles and 19th-century laurel lawns which give you an idea how long the land dates back.

The Coach House Cafe in the gardens aim is to share seasonal, local and organic food prepared from scratch in their kitchen, using the bounty of the walled garden and organic farm. The simple, wholesome menu covers light lunch, weekend brunch, artisan tea, organic coffee and a spread of homemade cakes and treats. Keep an eye on their What’s On page for special pop-up food events as they are always worth experiencing. As well as using their own produce, Shankill works closely with local suppliers to bring you the best local produce that can be found on their simple, wholesome menu.

Shankill Castle is home to Elizabeth Cope, whose work fills and colours the walls of the house and café. Elizabeth’s energy and creativity infuses everything they do at Shankill. Studio visits can be arranged by appointment which we highly recommend looking into.

Shankill Gardens and Coach House café open Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Located in the lush Barrow river valley Cushendale is the oldest woollen mill in Ireland, with a heritage dating back to when the monks of Duiske Abbey first established a mill on this site in 1204.  Today, Cushendale is one of only two remaining vertical mills in Ireland where every stage, from fleece to fabric, is completed on site at this historic woollen mill.  A six generation family business, Cushendale creates lifelong yarns and textiles, rich in provenance, craftsmanship and sustainability.

Visit the mill shop where authentic Irish products in Irish wool, lambswool and mohair are showcased against the backdrop of this historic working mill.

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Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:30

Saturday: 10:30 - 17:30

Closed daily 12.30-13.30

Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays

Click here to Shop Online Now 

The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) is the national agency for the commercial development of Irish designers and makers, stimulating innovation, championing design thinking and informing Government policy. DCCoI's activities are funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland.

Kilkenny Design Craft Centre offers an unrivalled selection of Irish handcrafted gifts. While it has many imitators, the Centre remains Ireland’s most prestigious source of Irish gifts of exceptional quality, all chosen with a discerning eye for quality, uniqueness and style.

The Centre’s unequalled supplier list, drawn from Ireland’s most eminent craftspeople and designers, gives visitors a uniquely special shopping experience, allowing them to purchase the best of Irish crafts and design under one roof. Visitors from outside of the EU can avail of highly attractive tax free shopping.

Kilkenny is steeped in theatrical history. From the time the Duke of Ormonde (1698) brought the first Strollers Theatre group to Kilkenny, to the present day, Kilkenny has been synonymous with the world of theatre.

Located in the heart of Kilkenny City, the Watergate Theatre have been keeping audiences entertained since 1993 with local, national and international productions, live music, dance, comedy and much more.

Butler Gallery is one of Ireland's leading contemporary art galleries and museum's with a permanent collection. They are located in Kilkenny City Centre at the heart of Ireland's Ancient East. Offering a unique blend of art and history they aim to inspire you. Explore their significant collection of 20^th century Irish art, discover contemporary work by living artists, take part in family friendly art activities, and find out about a heritage spanning 800 years in their historic building and walled gardens.

Relax and enjoy breakfast, lunch or a delicious treat in the café, MUSE coffee + food. Butler Gallery is open six days per week (closed on Mondays except bank holidays).

FREE ENTRY. All are welcome. 

Join their mailing list here to receive all the latest Butler Gallery news, including event and exhibition updates.    

Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon is an Academy Award®-nominated animation studio formed by Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey in 1999. From award-winning short films such as From Darkness, Cúilín Dualach/Backwards Boy, Old Fangs, The Ledge End Of Phil, and Somewhere Down the Line, to TV series like Skunk FU! and now Puffin Rock (launched on RTEjr in Jan 2015 and to be broadcast worldwide later this year), Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international animation industry.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the largest group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music. They are a non-profit cultural movement with hundreds of local branches around the world, and  they’ve been working for the cause of Irish music since the middle of the last century (1951 to be precise). Their efforts continue with increasing zeal as the movement launches itself into the 21st century.

The Comhaltas movement is organised into local branches, where most activities and classes take place. Branches are organised into regions (counties, in Ireland), and regions into provinces. Comhaltas Regional Resource Centres also provide additional services and facilities in their areas.

Craobh Osraí Marble City Branch of Comhaltas in Kilkenny was formed in 1987. Music classes for all ages and levels are thought through the winter months in a fantastic array of instruments. Follow their Facebook Page @OsraiComhaltas  to stay informed on all activities including concerts and session happening in the County of Kilkenny that has involvement from Craobh Osraí Marble City Branch of Comhaltas in Kilkenny.

Go back in time to a 12th Century castle, remodelled and restored and set in 1830's splendour and extensive parklands: includes art gallery and playground. Publications are also on sale.

Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny Castle. Founded soon after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances and uses over a period of 800 years.

Today, Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round and is largely a Victorian remodelling of the thirteenth century defensive Castle. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to see this grand country house and walk through its 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, which were added in the nineteenth century. There is also a tearoom, playground and several orienteering trails for visitors to enjoy.

Please note that free admission on the first Wednesday of each month is not applicable at Kilkenny Castle.

Access for visitors with disabilities to ground floor and the gardens only.

The beautiful Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum are located overlooking the River Nore Valley and the picturesque village of Inistioge. The gardens date to the 1740's with the main development taking place in the 1800's. A period of disrepair followed during the 1900's following the burning of Woodstock House, however in 1999, Kilkenny County Council undertook an ambitious programme of garden restoration which is now well advanced. Features include a walled garden, rose garden, rockery garden, a recreated Turner Conservatory, a collection of rare and exotic trees in the arboretum and much more including many tranquil woodland walks.

Kilkenny City Tours' tourist train was established in 2011, as a convenient way for visitors to see all the wonderful sights of Kilkenny city. Since its inception it has since grown to become one of the most sought after things to do in Kilkenny city. Rated as the number 1 Tour it has also been awarded the "Certificate of Excellence" by Tripadvisor.com, which is awarded based on consistently earning great reviews from travellers!

The Kilkenny City Tour is a wonderful way to see all the historical sites and points of interest in Kilkenny city. Departing from Kilkenny Castle you will be taken on a historical and fascinating tour with a full commentary of detailed insights, facts, and folklore of the medieval city.

Book your tickets today https://kilkennycitytours.com/