Kilkenny is such a beautiful city, and as a relative newbie still to this city, I'm discovering new places to visit, and more so, new places to photograph. It's a blogger thing, you see new buildings in different ways every time you walk past them. As a medieval city it has that old world charm with the most beautifully designed buildings. Kilkenny Castle sits right in the middle of the city and is a place that I photograph more than I care to remember. Its easy to capture pretty pictures when your background looks like this. Ive been on the lookout for a new camera recently, my own DSLR is far too big and love the look of the 4K Compact System Camera Panasonic
Kilkenny is home to beautiful parks, gardens, museums and craft shops and what’s more exciting is that numerous are FREE! Plan a picnic with the kids, sip coffee while you browse through the charming arts and craft or why not take a step back in time and visit the National Art Museum.
KILKENNY CITY
Below I have listed numerous things to do during a visit to Kilkenny and my favourite places to capture.
Kilkenny Castle – Park and Gardens
Situated in the heart of the city, Kilkenny Castle Park offers a uniquely relaxing setting against the hustle and bustle of the city. The park consists of 50 acres of charming and extensive pleasure grounds featuring mature trees and shrubs with an ornamental lake numbered among the many items of interest. To the front of the castle is the Rose Garden which has been designed in the shape of a Celtic High Cross with the castle at its peak.
Kilkenny Castle – Children’s Playground
Located within the park, the playground comprises a Corocord space net, supernova roundabout, a selection of swings and slides, spinner bowls, springers and play panels, one of which teaches the alphabet in braille. All of the equipment is suitable for a variety of ages ranging from 2-14. Wet pour safety surfacing in a variety of colours, shapes and incorporating the use of play elements was installed over the complete area of the playground making it a heaven for children. The Canal Walk Starting at the Canal Square on Rose Inn Street, the Canal walk begins with a new City pavilion with benches overlooking the Rivercourt hotel, in the shadow of the imposing Kilkenny Castle. This romantic walk takes you along the old canal, shaded by tall trees and old mills. The walk will eventually take you for miles into the countryside following the course of the River Nore towards the picturesque town of Inistioge.
Shee Alms House
The Shee Alms House is a Tudor building dating from 1582. It was originally used by the church before lawyer Richard Shee,a wealthy merchant,bought it as a home for the poor. Originally it cared for 12 homeless people and continued in this purpose for 150 years. Today it is the Kilkenny Tourist Office which provides detailed information on accommodation, places of interest, festivals, events and activities nationwide. The building by its own merits is an attraction in itself and is well worth a visit.
Black Abbey
One of the oldest churches in Kilkenny is the Black Abbey, which has served the community for the last 760 years. Formally known as the “Abbey of The Most Holy Trinity” its name alteration can be attributed to the Dominicans, who also became known as Black Friars, from the black cloak worn over the white habit, thus lending there name to the church. Items of interest at the church include a pre-reformation statue of St Dominic, a glass case beside the Altar with a sculpture in alabaster of the Most Holy Trinity, to whom the Abbey is consecrated, the great Rose window and 10 stone 13th or 14th century coffins found at the entrance way. The church is wheelchair accessible from the beautiful cobbled Abbey St laneway which borders the city wall and passes through the last remaining gateway.
Rothe House, is a late 16th century merchant's townhouse complex located in the city of Kilkenny.[The complex was built by John Rothe Fitz-Piers between 1594–1610 and is made up of three houses, three enclosed courtyards, and a large reconstructed garden with orchard.Rothe House is the only remaining example of it's type in Ireland,and considered to be nationally significant because of the range of original post-medieval features which survive.
Smithwck Store House
Smithwicks Ale dates from 1710, though the Kilkenny brewery is a dab hand at technology, too. Lonely Planet listed this as one of its hottest attractions for 2015, and guided tours take you through the brand story and brewing process with the help of holographic monks
The big surprise? Smithwick is older than Guinness – though Franciscan monks were brewing on the site as long ago as 1680.
Many cities would be happy with a handful of medieval buildings – even one or two old ruins that withstood the test of time (and 20th century development).
Kilkenny, however, boasts a whole mile of medieval marvels. Stretching from its iconic castle to St. Canice’s Cathedral, highlights include the atmospheric alleys and lanes (try the Butter Slip, once lined with 17th-century butter sellers) as well as the terrific time capsule that is Rothe House (1594).
Kilkenny has its big hits, but it also has its hidden gems.
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T, A & H xxxxxx
* A collaboration post with Pansonic