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Events in Kilkenny

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Kilkenny is home to some of the best festivals in the world, from mega music events and epic live performances to extraordinary stand up shows, with a schedule that’s ever growing and always changing but for now we must STOP and stay safe.

The safety of visitors to Kilkenny is of the utmost importance to us. Kilkenny Tourism are following the advice from government officials for the reopening of Tourism sectors in the county. Below you can see some of the many festivals that will return to Kilkenny bigger and better than ever before in a new world of social distancing.

For now you can dream from home of better days to come!

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March 2018

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The Breadwinner Exhibition

County Wide

12th March - 29th July

The Butler Gallery is pleased to present a multimedia exhibition by New York-based artists Mary Reid. The Breadwinner Exhibition: Children's Storytelling

May 2018

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The Kilkenny Cat Laughs

County Wide

31st May - 4th June

The June Bank Holiday brings the hilarious Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, a world class comedy festival featuring the very best in Irish and international talent.

June 2018

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Abhainn Ri Festival

Callan

29th June - 8th July

Welcome to our eigth Annual Abhainn Rí Festival of Participation and Inclusion. We pool together the creative, social and civic resources of the town to make this special festival happen.

July 2018

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Kilkenny Craft Beer Festival 2018

City Centre

5th - 7th July

A celebration of beer brought to you by Costellos Brewing Company.

Gowran Festival of Speed

Gowran

15th July

New festival for the southeast: Group B Class Cars; Celebrity Rally Drivers Displays; Demos; World Rally Cars of the 80s plus food, carnival, entertainment

August 2018

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Kilkenomics

City Centre

3rd August

Europe’s first economics festival – which brings together some of the world’s leading economists, financial analysts and media commentators with some of our funniest, sharpest standup comedians.

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Kilkenny Roots Festival

City Centre

3rd August

Audiences wind their way through the medieval streets sampling the huge range of music in the 30 plus venues, hosting over 40 Irish and international acts, with over 90 ticketed and free shows from early afternoon until late into the night.

Iverk Show

Piltown County Kilkenny

3rd August

The Iverk Show is Ireland’s Oldest Agricultural Show and is now one of the country’s premier one day family events with attendance close to 25,000.

StormFest 18

City Centre

10th - 19th August

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Ireland Newfoundland Festival 2018

City Centre

20th - 23rd August

We have some great Newfoundland & Irish music lined up for the evening. These performers have been selected to travel to Ireland with us for Gathering 2018 in Ireland!

September 2018

JJ Reddy Danesfort Run

County Wide

13th September

Annual JJ Reddy Danesfort Run - Half Marathon, 10k and 5k - #DanesfortRun

October 2018

Reign of Terror

Kells

13th October

Reign of Terror is a mud run with challenges like no other. Set in the spectacular surroundings of the medieval village of kells, County Kilkenny

Savour Kilkenny

City Centre

26th - 29th October

Savour Kilkenny returns to the medieval city for four days of foodie heaven over the Halloween Bank Holiday Weekend, 25th – 29th October 2018!

November 2018

Patrick Rafter & Michael McHale in concert

kilkenny city

25th November

Join Patrick Rafter on violin and Michael McHale, pianist in concert at 4pm St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on Sunday November 25th. 

Tickets on sale at the door from 3.15 pm onwards: €15.00, €10.00 (concession), €5.00 (students & children). 

December 2018

Nathan Sherman & Alex Petcu

kilkenny city

2nd December

Join Nathan Sherman - viola and Alex Petcu - percussion at 4 pm Chapter House, St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, December 2nd. 

Tickets on sale at the door from 3.15 pm onwards: €15.00, €10.00 (concession), €5.00 (students & children)

Tonos in St Mary’s Cathedral

kilkenny city

9th December

Join Tonos at 4 pm Chapter House, St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, December 9th. Mid-Winter is a time that resonates deeply with people across many traditions and cultures and the musical duo with Music in Kilkenny will present, WinterSong. 

The Kilkenny Choir – Ceremony of Carols

St. John’s Church

9th December

A very special Choral treat awaits on December 9th in St. John’s Church on the Dublin Road. The Kilkenny Choir, conducted by Thomas Kehoe, joined by Anne-Marie O’Farrell Harpist and accompanied by Eoin O’ Callaghan Piano present Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and other seasonal favourites.

January 2019

39th Annual Castlecomer Wellie Race 2019

Castlecomer

1st January

Now the less said about the amount of alcohol that had been consumed prior to this momentous decision the better but the history books will record that Paddy Phelan became the winner of the first ever Wellington race.

February 2019

Music in Kilkenny

Butler Gallery

24th February

Sunday 24 March 4pm Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle
Concert 3 Of A Special Concert Series To Celebrate 50 Years Of Kilkenny Castle In The Care Of The Office Of Public Works.

March 2019

Kilkenny Tradfest 2020

City Centre

12th - 17th March

Trad and Folk music, workshops, outdoor entertainment, dance and more!

Poulaphouca: New Paintings & Works on Paper

Butler Gallery

16th March - 12th May

Poulaphouca: New Paintings & Works on Paper, 16 March – 12 May 2019.
The Butler Gallery is delighted to present the first solo exhibition in Ireland by the Wicklow-based American artist Sam Reveles. This exhibition will include new paintings and drawings that are imbued with great intricacy and detail.

April 2019

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Showtime: Songs from Stage & Screen

Kilkenny Castle,

20th April

Start: 22 May 2019 End: 22 May 2019 Location: Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny
Event Description
Taste the Island
'A celebration of Ireland’s food and drink'

Invitation to industry workshops

May 2019

Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival

City Centre

3rd - 6th May

Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival celebrates its twenty second year with an exciting line-up including Grammy winner Patty Griffin, legendary Mexican-American rock musician, songwriter and singer Alejandro Escovedo, Canadian roots rockers The Sadies, retro country soul band The Delines and bluesy guitarist/vocalist Joey Landreth

July 2019

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Kilkenny Country Music Festival

Gowran

14th July

August 2019

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Kilkenny Outdoor Music Festival

Castlecomer

3rd - 4th August

Kilkenny Outdoor Music Festival 2019

Saturday Tickets €30

Saturday & Sunday Tickets €40 (limited availability) on sale soon.
Stay tuned ?

#hudsontaylor #paddycasey #djwelshy #kilkenny

Kilkenny Arts Festival

Citywide

8th - 18th August

The festival runs from 8-18 August 2019. Since its foundation in 1974, Kilkenny Arts Festival has gathered many of the world’s finest musicians, performers, writers and artists in Ireland’s medieval city each August. For ten days, the city’s historic churches, castle, courtyards, townhouses and gardens offer a magical setting for unique collaborations and intimate encounters between audiences and artists. https://www.kilkennyarts.ie/

Kilkenny Gospel Choir Festival 2019

August 22, 2019 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
St. John’s Church, Dublin Road
Kilkenny, Ireland + Google Map

2019 is the year when the Kilkenny Gospel Choir welcomes International Choirs to Kilkenny from all over the world to join with the Kilkenny Gospel Choir for Concerts and Faith experiences. The Choir was founded in 2000 by Fr. Willie Purcell and has raised over €450,000 for charities.

Find out more »

Graiguenamanagh Town of Books

Graiguenamanagh

23rd - 25th August

At its core the Graiguenamanagh ‘Town of Books’ retains its original vision, to transform Graiguenamanagh, for one weekend only, into a book lovers' paradise where booksellers are matched up with a number of empty spaces in the town.

October 2019

Kilkenny Animated

City Centre

4th - 6th October

Kilkenny-based animation studio, Cartoon Saloon, hosted the first ever Kilkenny Animated Festival in 2018 and it was such an incredible success that Kilkenny Animated returns in September 2019!

Kilkenny GAA

Intermediate Hurling Semi finals

Nowlan Park Kilkenny

12th October

The intermediate county semi finals will decide which clubs contest the County intermediate finals on the October bank holiday weekend

Senior Hurling Semi final

Nowlan Park Kilkenny

13th October

The first of this year’s senior hurling semi finals is preceded by the second of the Junior semi finals.

Kilkenny Senior Hurling Semi Final

Nowlan Park Kilkenny

20th October

Hurling is Ireland’s national sport. An amateur game, clubs from all over Kilkenny compete for the coveted county championships.
All Ireland club champions Ballyhale Shamrocks compete with O’Loughlin Gaels to qualify for the county final.

Savour Kilkenny Food Festival

Citywide

24th - 28th October

One of Ireland’s largest and most popular food festivals, Savour Kilkenny, is celebrating its 13th year this October bank holiday weekend. Showcasing local food, culture and produce, Savour Kilkenny will welcome a host of the most innovative celebrities and opinion makers in the world of food, to the medieval city in Ireland’s Ancient East.

Kilkenny Senior Hurling Final

Nowlan Park Kilkenny

27th October

The senior hurling championship is the pinnacle of the hurling year, deciding the best club team in Kilkenny. This year’s final features All Ireland Club Champions Ballyhale Shamrocks and James Stephens ( The Village) from Kilkenny City. The senior final will be preceded by the Intermediate Final between Tullaroan and Thomastown, who will compete not only for the intermediate championship but for the right to qualify as a senior club in 2020.

November 2019

Kilkenomics Festival

kilkenny city

7th - 10th November

The tenth edition of Kilkenomics – the world’s first economics festival – brings together some of the world’s leading economists, financial analysts and media commentators with some of the current funniest, sharpest standup comedians. Often referred to as Davos with jokes!
yulefest logo Kilkenny

Yulefest Kilkenny

kilkenny city

22nd November - 6th January

Yulefest Kilkenny is back! Yulefest Kilkenny is a curated and inclusive Christmas festival that invites visitors and locals to enjoy a wide range of free and affordable seasonal events in Kilkenny City and County throughout December.

January 2020

Kilkenny Senior Hurling final

Kilkenny Senior Hurling final

UPMC Nowlan Park Kilkenny

26th January

Hurling is Ireland’s national sport. An amateur game, county teams compete for the National Hurling League title. Kilkenny, runners up in the 2019 All Ireland championship welcome Dublin to Nowlan Park in the first round of the 2020 National Hurling League.

February 2020

Kilkenny Hurling with Clare

Allianz Hurling League Kilkenny V Clare

UPMC Nowlan Park Kilkenny

23rd February

Hurling is Ireland’s national sport. An amateur game, county teams compete for the National Hurling League title. Kilkenny, runners up in the 2019 All Ireland championship welcome Dublin to Nowlan Park in the first round of the 2020 National Hurling League.

March 2020

Rive Gauche Wine Pairing Evening Kilkenny

Wine Pairing Dinner

Rive Gauche

12th March

Experience French wines in Rive Gauche! ''Journey through Rhone valley of France'' Dinner & Wine Pairing Event takes place on Thursday 12th of March @7pm. The night will entail of a 5 course meal, carefully prepared by our Head Chef Danny, Paired alongside 5 glasses of wine. The event will be Hosted by Tindal Wine Merchants.
Kilkenny Whiskey Guild

Roe & Co. at The Dylan Whiskey Bar March 2020

The Dylan Whiskey Bar

12th March

Join the Kilkenny Whiskey Guild in association with The Dylan Whisky Bar for an evening of Irish Whiskey Tasting with all things ROE & Co.
Hosted by Alan Mulvihill, Roe & Co.’s European Brand Ambassador Extraordinaire.
KILKENNY TRADFEST 2020

Kilkenny Tradfest

City Centre

13th - 17th March

Kilkenny will resonate this March with a spectacular line up of talent performing during Kilkenny's Tradfest 2019. From Altan to the Kilfenora Ceili Band to Iarla O'Lionaird, this festival is a feast for traditional music lovers throughout the weekend of our national holiday when we celebrate our native language, sport and particularly our music. A truly great celebration!

2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

Mount Juliet Estate

31st March

Mount Juliet Estate, the luxury five-star resort in County Kilkenny, is the host venue for the 2020 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, the second Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai which takes place from May 28-31. “The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open is one of the great sporting events in the Irish calendar so it's a very special moment for Mount Juliet Estate, and a true testament to the superb condition of the Estate's facilities and the golf course in particular.” - Damien Gaffney, owner of Mount Juliet Estate

May 2020

SMITHWICK’S KILKENNY ROOTS FESTIVAL 2020

SMITHWICK’S KILKENNY ROOTS FESTIVAL

City Centre

1st - 4th May

**CANCELLED** We regret, that following discussions between organisers and sponsors, we have had to cancel Smithwick’s Kilkenny Roots Festival 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic is still far from reaching its peak and we feel that to safeguard audiences, venue workers, technical crews, volunteers and artists this is the only option open to us.
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny v Laois

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny v Laois

UPMC Nowlan Park Kilkenny

17th May

**Postponed until further notice following recommendations of the HSE Ireland to ensure the safety of our staff, players and spectators. **

Kilkenny, runners up in the 2019 All Ireland championship welcome neighbours Laois to Nowlan Park in the second round of the 2020 Leinster Hurling Championship. Hurling is Ireland’s national sport. An amateur game, county teams compete for the National Hurling League title.

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

County Wide

29th May - 1st June

**Postponed until further notice following recommendations of the HSE Ireland to ensure the safety for all. **

Kilkenny Cat Laughs festival is Ireland’s annual craic pilgrimage and has been heralding the start of the summer season since 1995. This June Bank Holiday, festival is legendary.
www.thecatlaughs.com
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