Parks, Gardens & Open Farms

Picnic In Kilkenny Castle Parklands

More to Explore in Kilkenny this Summer with a 3 Day Family Itinerary

Castlecomer Discovery Park Kilkenny

Top Family Experiences in Kilkenny this Summer #moretoexplore

TOP ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES IN KILKENNY DURING THE IRISH OPEN

Top Adventure Activities in Kilkenny

Kilkenny Has Picnics Wrapped this Summer!

Beautiful film village of Inistioge

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall, Homestead of the Mosse family

Taking to the High Ropes at Castlecomer

6 Brilliant Free Things To Do in Kilkenny

4 Insta-Perfect Kilkenny Locations

Picnic In Kilkenny Castle Parklands

More to Explore in Kilkenny this Summer with a 3 Day Family Itinerary

Castlecomer Discovery Park Kilkenny

Top Family Experiences in Kilkenny this Summer #moretoexplore

TOP ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES IN KILKENNY DURING THE IRISH OPEN

Top Adventure Activities in Kilkenny

Kilkenny Has Picnics Wrapped this Summer!

Beautiful film village of Inistioge

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall, Homestead of the Mosse family

Taking to the High Ropes at Castlecomer

6 Brilliant Free Things To Do in Kilkenny

4 Insta-Perfect Kilkenny Locations

Picnic In Kilkenny Castle Parklands

More to Explore in Kilkenny this Summer with a 3 Day Family Itinerary

Castlecomer Discovery Park Kilkenny

Top Family Experiences in Kilkenny this Summer #moretoexplore

TOP ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES IN KILKENNY DURING THE IRISH OPEN

Top Adventure Activities in Kilkenny

Kilkenny Has Picnics Wrapped this Summer!

Beautiful film village of Inistioge

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall, Homestead of the Mosse family

Taking to the High Ropes at Castlecomer

6 Brilliant Free Things To Do in Kilkenny

4 Insta-Perfect Kilkenny Locations

Shankill Castle

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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.

Rothe House & Garden

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A visit to Rothe House is high on the list of things to do in the Marble City. 

Rothe House is a unique Tudor merchant’s townhouse, built between 1594 and 1610. The property comprises three houses, three enclosed courtyards and a large garden to the rear. The property is a lot bigger than it looks from the street! To accommodate his growing family, on this long, narrow plot John Rothe Fitzpiers built three houses, one behind the other, with cobbled courtyards in between. To the rear is a half-acre garden that runs all the way back to the City Wall. 

The property is now owned by Kilkenny Archaeological Society and is home to their large collection of artefacts relating to Kilkenny city and county. The garden has been painstakingly reconstructed to reflect the Rothe Family garden and is planted with heritage varieties of vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit; there are even resident ducks!

The house is open to the public and visitors will have the opportunity to make their way through the houses, courtyards and gardens on a self-guided tour. Full guided tours can also be arranged for groups by contacting reception@rothehouse.com.

OPENING HOURS

Tuesday to Sunday
11am to 6pm

*Last entry at 5.15pm

Jerpoint Park

Jerpoint Park

Jerpoint, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny

Tel: 086 6061449

info@jerpointpark.com

jerpointpark.com

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Visit the unique Heritage Site in Jerpoint Park and enjoy a guided tour of the footprints of a deserted 12th Century Medieval town dating back to 1200AD. Your local guide will delve into the history and importance of this once thriving town called Newtown Jerpoint. Take a step back in time and explore the standing remains of St. Nicholas's Church, the domestic tower and the stunning 14th Century Medieval Tomb. Jerpoint Park also offers Angling for wild Salmon and wild brown trout or why not try something completely unique and come watch our Sheep Dog demonstration, showcasing man and dog working together as one. www.jerpointpark.com

 

*Guided Heritage Tours

Unearth the footprints of a 12th Century Medieval Town called Newtown Jerpoint plus the Tomb Effigy of St. Nicholas with a Guided Heritage Tour.
Daily tours: 10.30am & 2.30pm from mid April to mid October.

 

*Sheep dog demonstrations

Sheep dog Demonstrations at Jerpoint Park shows Sheep Dog Demonstrations at Jerpoint Park show a strong bond of respect between man and dog.
Border collie dogs are the preferred dogs used here & is a wonderful event to see man and dog working together as one.

Daily sheep dog demo: 11.30am & 3.30pm from mid April to Mid October

 

*Fishing

Fishing for wild brown trout and wild salmon on the River Nore – rods and bait available for hire.
Fishing Daily: between mid April to end of September. 

If you have any queries about Jerpoint Park please ring Maeve on 086 6061449

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall

3.2km north of Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny

Tel: 056 7727105

susanmosse@nicholasmosse.com

kilfane.com

Kilfane Glen and Waterfall located in Thomastown, Kilkenny is a pristine example of a romantic era garden dating from the 1790s. Untouched for 200 years, it is a picturesque paradise with a waterfall tumbling its way to a rushing stream and woodland paths leading to a cottage orné. Tiny bridges sit among ancient trees, wild fox-gloves, ferns and other historically correct 18th century planting.

The garden is listed as an Irish Heritage garden and was awarded assistance in 1993 by the European Union Cultural Commission. As an amenity it covers about 15 acres of easily accessible natural landscape. Other nearby gardens of historic significance are Altamount, Haywood (Luyteens), Mount Juliet, Woodstock and Ballymaloe Kitchen Gardens.

Kilkenny Castle

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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.

Woodstock Gardens

Woodstock Estate, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny

Tel: 056 7794373

woodstock@kilkennycoco.ie

http://www.woodstock.ie/

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.

Nore Valley Park Open Farm

Nore Valley Park

Nore Valley Park, Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny

Tel: 056 7727229

norevalleypark@eircom.net

http://www.norevalleypark.com/

Come explore and enjoy some fun at the farm or stay in our campsite full of mod cons at the delightfully idyllic Nore Valley. Take time out and stroll around the energetic farm while the children play in an interactive and relaxed setting. Bottle feed lambs or goats and feed the ducks and turkeys as well as learning a great deal of knowledge about your Irish heritage of farming. Relax with a cup of tea and home baked scones, biscuits and plenty of other delicious treats while the boys rip up the tracks on our Go-Karting race course. With endless things to do at Nore Valley, there is something for the whole family.

Castlecomer Discovery Park

Castlecomer Discovery Park offers an exciting range of activities around the estate including tree top walks, climbing walls, boating, adventure playgrounds, orienteering and most recently Ireland’s longest zip wire and high ropes challenge. At the hub of the site, there is the Irish Mining Museum, a purpose-built cafe, craft village, and spaces for educational activities.

Castlecomer Discovery Park comprises 80 acres of natural woodland and lakes. It opened to the public in 2007 to commemorate the coal-mining heritage following the closure of the local mines in 1969. It aims to develop rural tourism, generate local employment and regenerate the town.