Kilkenny

Kilkenny keeps its medieval street plan, so most of the city half of this list is walkable between the castle and St Canice's without getting into a car. Outside the city the county is abbeys, high crosses and the Nore. These are the ten we would start with, with ten more underneath them.

Castle · Kilkenny cityKilkenny CastleThe Norman castle stands over the Nore in the middle of the city, with the long gallery inside it and fifty acres of parkland behind.

Cathedral · Kilkenny citySt Canice's Cathedral and Round TowerThe 13th century cathedral is at the top of the city, and the thirty metre round tower beside it is open to climb.

Abbey · ThomastownJerpoint AbbeyA Cistercian abbey of the 12th century near Thomastown. The carved figures along the cloister arcade are the reason to go.

1. Kells PrioryMonastic site · StoneyfordAbout three acres are walled in behind seven towers, beside the King's River at Kells.
2. Dunmore CaveCave · CastlecomerStairs from the visitor centre take you down into a limestone cave north of the city, and a tall calcite column is what everyone comes out talking about.
3. Woodstock Gardens and ArboretumGarden · InistiogeThe Victorian estate garden sits on the hill above Inistioge, with a monkey puzzle avenue, a noble fir walk and a walled garden.
4. Rothe House and GardenHouse and gardens · Kilkenny cityThree buildings around two courtyards on Parliament Street, put up by a merchant in 1594, with an orchard garden restored behind them.
5. MMMedieval Mile MuseumMuseum · Kilkenny citySt Mary's Church on High Street is no longer a church. It holds the carved merchant tombs of the city instead.
6. Kilfane Glen and WaterfallWaterfall · ThomastownThe wooded ravine near Thomastown was laid out in the 1790s, with a thatched cottage orne sitting beside a made waterfall.
7. Smithwick's ExperienceDistillery or brewery · Kilkenny cityThe brewery visitor centre on Parliament Street stands on the St Francis Abbey site, where brewing ran from 1710.

1. Ballyrafton WoodPark · BallyfoyleBallyrafton Wood is a public wood about half way between Kilkenny and Castlecomer, in County Kilkenny.
2. Eden Hall EstateCastle or historic house · BallyraggetEden Hall Estate, Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, dates from circa 1761.
3. Nore Valley Park Pet FarmVisitor farm · BennettsbridgeEnjoy hands on activities such as bottle feeding lambs or marvel at newly hatched chicks, a delightful experience for the entire family.
4. Gáirdín an GhortaGarden · DunnamagganGáirdín an Ghorta is a garden of remembrance for the Great Famine.
5. St Mary's Church GowranAbbey or church · GowranSt Mary’s Church in Gowran, County Kilkenny, was constructed in the late 13th century on the site of an earlier monastery, and part of the stone structure remains in use as a Protestant church.
6. Duiske AbbeyAbbey or church · GraiguenamanaghDuiske Abbey, is an early Cistercian (1204) Catholic parish church where guests can view the remains of the 13th-century Cistercian monastery that it formerly belonged to.
7. Black AbbeyAbbey or church · Kilkenny CityThe Black Abbey was established as a Dominican friary in 1225.
8. Butler GalleryMuseum · Kilkenny CityButler Gallery is one of Ireland's leading contemporary art galleries and museums with a permanent collection.
9. Geraldine Walsh ArtGallery · Kilkenny CityGeraldine Walsh Art provides original Irish landscape paintings, fine art prints, and inspiring painting workshops in the heart of Kilkenny City.
10. Kilkenny Design CentreCastle or historic house · Kilkenny CityKilkenny Design Centre offers an unrivalled selection of Irish handcrafted gifts.
11. Newpark Fen and Eco-ParkNature and wildlife · Kilkenny CityThe Newpark Marsh Eco-Park is an award-winning game and bird sanctuary, and one of Kilkenny City's most important natural habitats.
12. St Johns PrioryAbbey or church · Kilkenny CityThe Augustinians established St John’s Priory in Kilkenny City in the 1200s.
13. Coille an Fhaltaigh Millennium ForestPark · KilmanaghCoille an Fhaltaigh Millennium Forests is the largest of the 16 Millennium Forests that were planted in Ireland in the late 90's.
14. Shankill Castle and GardensCastle or historic house · PaulstownVisit the castle to learn the history of the Butler and Aylward families, who transformed the castle over centuries from a medieval tower house to a Queen Anne historic house.
15. Kilfane ChurchAbbey or church · ThomastownThe 13th century church of Kilfane, now lies in ruins.
16. Edmund Rice Heritage CentreCastle or historic house · KilkennyThe founder of the Christian Brothers, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice came from the small town of Callan in County Kilkenny where he was born on 1 June 1762.
17. Granagh CastleAncient site · KilkennyGranagh or Granny Castle overlooks the River Suir, close to Waterford.
18. Highbank Organic OrchardsMuseum · KilkennyDiscover Highbank Organic Orchards, County Kilkenny, and check out the rich, fertile soils which produce their delicious apples.
19. Kilkenny Library Local StudiesLiterary site · KilkennyKilkenny Library Local Studies is a reference and research service dedicated to preserving and enhancing the collective memory of Kilkenny City and county.
20. Kilkieran High CrossAbbey or church · KilkennyAt Kikieran, near Carrick-on-Suir, County Kilkenny, visitors can find three sandstone crosses and the fragments of another high cross.
21. Kilree High CrossAbbey or church · KilkennyKilree High Cross is a weathered 8th/9th Century sandstone cross standing at 2.75m high near Kells County Kilkenny.
22. Knockroe Passage TombAbbey or church · KilkennyThe Knockroe passage tomb in County Kilkenny is one of the lesser known of its kind, having really only been excavated since 1990.
23. Leac an Scail - Kilmogue Dolmen - Harristown DolmenAbbey or church · KilkennyA substantial portal dolmen, of which the capstone is, uniquely, cantilevered.
24. Mayfair Library Kilkenny CityLiterary site · KilkennyThe Mayfair Library in Kilkenny City is on Parliament Street.
25. Saint Marys CathedralAbbey or church · KilkennySt Mary’s is a gothic revival-style Catholic cathedral that dominates the skyline of Kilkenny City.
26. The Hole In The WallCastle or historic house · KilkennyThe Hole in the Wall, Kilkenny City, is one of Ireland’s oldest surviving Elizabethan townhouses, which now houses an intimate tavern and a venue for gigs and events throughout the year.
27. The National Design & Craft GalleryGallery · KilkennyThe National Design & Craft Gallery was established by the Crafts Council of Ireland in 2000 and is Ireland's leading centre for contemporary craft and design.
28. The National Reptile ZooZoo or aquarium · KilkennyWant to know what a snake really feels like or how a chameleon catches its prey?
29. Tullaherin Round TowerAbbey or church · KilkennyTullaherin Round Tower, located near Dungarvan, County Kilkenny, stands at almost 22.5m high.

• LaoisLaois
• CarlowCeatharlach
• WexfordLoch Garman
• WaterfordPort Láirge
• TipperaryTiobraid Árann