Kilkenny is a treasure trove for gorgeous giftware, handmade crafts, incredible experiences and more which make fantastic Christmas gifts.
In this Kilkenny Christmas Gift Guide, discover the variety of traditional craftsmanship, pottery, jewellery, textiles, glassware, art and more available to purchase in-store or online from the comfort of your own home. With so many talented local craftspeople, food producers, activity providers and more in Kilkenny, you are bound to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your shopping list this Christmas.
FOR THE FOODIES
Kilkenny is one of Ireland’s top foodie destinations, and it’s easy to see why! Our wonderful local producers create exceptional award-winning products. Ballykeefe Distillery crafts smooth bottles of Spiced Irish Moonshine, a perfect flavour for the holiday season. Treat them to a box of delicious apple goodies with Highbank Orchards’ Hamper, featuring a selection of their multi-award-winning products. Give your Christmas appetisers a boost using the freshest smoked trout from Goatsbridge Trout Farm. Become a Master of Ale and learn to pour the perfect pint at the Smithwick’s Experience. Give the gift of luxurious fairtrade chocolate truffles from The Truffle Fairy. Learn to concoct mouthwatering treats with Cakeface’s cookery school. Whiskey lovers rejoice with a membership for the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, who have regular tasting events. Choose from a range of wine varieties or build a hamper for that special someone at The Wine Centre. Stop in to The Chocolate Garden of Ireland café for sweet stocking stuffers or for a rich hot chocolate treat to end a day full of shopping! Head for a tour of all things food and drink in Kilkenny with Brewery Hops and meet our talented food producers!
We’re not forgetting the wide selection of cafés, gastropubs and restaurants across County Kilkenny, a dining voucher is a fantastic gift option.
FOR THE JEWELLERY & TRINKET COLLECTORS
Gift something shiny and sentimental or treat yourself to a beautiful new piece of jewellery. Rudolf Heltzel Goldsmith creates handmade jewellery in precious metals and gemstones creating a gift that will last generations. Nolan Jewellers stock a range of designer jewellery brands and have a goldsmith and watchmaker in-store for repairs. Call in to the Murphy Jewellers’ team, who will help you choose the perfect ring for that special someone this holiday season!
Butterslip Shop is home to colourful giftware and trinkets covering everything from stationery and accessories to cosmetics and hampers. The Book & Coffee Shop is a haven for bookworms as it stocks secondhand books and book-themed gifts. Bridie’s General Store has a number of wonderful Irish products on their shelves that make great stocking fillers like candles, gift boxes and jewellery. Newbridge Silverware stocks a range of giftware and is a popular choice for beautiful Christmas decorations for brightening up your home.
FOR THE CRAFT LOVERS
For those who want to bring a little sparkle to their home, there are many talented local craftspeople that create stunning pieces no matter your taste and budget. Kilkenny was named a World Crafts Council Craft City and Region – one of only four regions to achieve this recognition in Europe – so it is no wonder that we have such a wealth of wonderful crafts to offer. Choose from beautiful blankets and textiles from Cushendale Woollen Mills, glassware from Duiske Glass and Jerpoint Glass, decorative pieces from Kilkenny Crystal and hand-painted tableware from Nicholas Mosse Pottery. Treat yourself to some quality alpaca yarn from Zwartbles to create the softest handmade gifts.
Support the master craftspeople in Kilkenny this Christmas and buy Irish. Visit the MADE in Kilkenny pop-up shop at 75/76 John Street from the 30th of November -24th of December and snap up your one-of-a-kind Kilkenny craft gifts.
FOR THE CULTURE LOVERS
Kilkenny is a key Irish cultural destination, so you’ll find events, festivals and shows running year-round across the county. Find tickets for fans of the theatre and gigs of all sorts at venues such as The Watergate Theatre, Ballykeefe Amphitheatre and Set Theatre. Give the gift of art by becoming a friend of Butler Gallery which includes priority access to exhibitions, invites to events and more. Gift them an immerse tour and book a behind-the-scenes tour of the Oscar-nominated studio, Cartoon Saloon.
FOR THE FASHIONISTA
Gift the style icon in your life some fresh new threads. Frank Walls Mans Shop carries a range of mens clothing with everything from stylish everyday outfits to smart occasionwear. Goods of Kilkenny focuses on fashion, lingerie, cosmetics, footwear and accessories for stylish women of all ages. Connolly’s Red Mills Store stocks quality clothing, accessories, giftware, homeware and even pet care. If you know someone who loves to shop ‘til they drop, Market Cross and MacDonagh Junction shopping centres are an ideal spot for a day of retail therapy. Searching for their signature scent? Valley Of Roses has over 400 perfumes and aftershaves to choose from. For a more hands-on experience, book a fragrance workshop to create your own perfect mix!
FOR THE FAMILY FUN DAYS
There is tons of family fun to be had in the Marble County, so a gift voucher or pre-booked activity is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Paddle down the River Nore with Pure Adventure and Paddle Your Own Canoe, head for a fun-filled tour of Kilkenny from a different angle with River Bend Adventures or opt for a relaxed boat tour with BoatTrips.ie, swing through the trees on high ropes courses and zip-lines at Castlecomer Discovery Park and pop your visors down for some high-octane action at Kiltorcan Raceway. Rain, hail or shine, the indoor activity centre at KBowl Kilkenny is perfect for a family day out with bowling, kids indoor play area, arcade and more. Meet all farmyard friends fluffy and feathered at Nore Valley Park Open Farm with loads of activities to delight both little ones and parents.
FOR THE ANIMAL LOVER
Meet all farmyard friends fluffy and feathered at Nore Valley Park Open Farm with loads of activities to delight both little ones and parents. Become a zookeeper for the day with the National Reptile Zoo’s amazing zookeeper experience so that you can get up close and personal with the snakes, geckos, lizards and more with hands-on experience alongside their experts. For a unique experience with magnificent birds of prey, gift a Hawk Walk with Hawkeye School of Falconry. Step back in time with passes to Jurassic Newpark to wander through the park full of life-size animatronic dinosaurs!
FOR THE SPORTS FANATIC
Kilkenny is the home of hurling, so there is no better place to experience the gaelic game for sports fans. With a selection of hurling experience to choose from such as Hurling Tours Ireland, Malzard’s Hurling Experience and The Kilkenny Way Hurling Experience, beginners and seasoned professionals are sure to have fun learning about the game and brushing up on their puck out skills. Match day tickets to Nowlan Park are certain to be a hit with any fan of the Kilkenny Cats! Golfers will be delighted to receive membership at any of Kilkenny’s wonderful golf courses, plus Gowran Park racing membership gives them a 25% discount on green fees at Gowran Park golf course. New Year, New You! Start 2025 off with a gym and swim membership at The Watershed. At the end of your sports-filled day, head to The Hot Box sauna to decompress and take a cold plunge in the River Barrow.
FOR THE AVID TRAVELLER
Treat that special person in your life to a stay in one of Kilkenny’s top-class hotels with a hotel gift voucher and they can cross the thresholds of our castles, explore our medieval streets, browse in our boutiques and sample our legendary food offering on a future visit. Experience all that our hotels have to offer from afternoon tea and delicious meals to spa treatments and leisure club access. There are also plenty of fantastic guesthouses, B&Bs and glamping options to choose from if they prefer a getaway with a difference.
SHOP LOCAL
Wanting to support local and buy Kilkenny this festive season? Give them a gift they can use in their favourite boutiques or hotels.
The Kilkenny Gift Card from Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce makes a great gift for friends and family alike to give them the gift of all things Kilkenny
With over 100 outlets across the county accepting the gift card, they can decide where to redeem it!
Prefer to shop in person to find the perfect gift? Drop by the Yulefest Kilkenny Christmas Markets and Mountain View Christmas Markets where you’ll find many stunning Irish craft and design gifts to put a smile on that special someone’s face.
There are so many amazing local businesses to support throughout this Kilkenny Christmas Gift Guide, so start browsing and remember to shop small, shop Irish and support local during the festive season!
For all of the yuletide fun in Kilkenny this festive season, check out Yulefest Kilkenny and keep an eye on our events guide which is regularly updated with lots of exciting festivals, events, shows, concerts and more!
Visit Kilkenny this Christmas
