Kilkenny is a hive of activity, with activities for people of all ages and abilities. Rain, hail or shine-we’ve got you covered! From thrills to spills and everything in between, we’ll show you what we have to offer in The Marble County!
For the Thrillseekers
Want to live your Formula 1 fantasy and get on the podium? Check out Kiltorcan Raceway– one of Ireland’s best go-kart circuits, where you can battle it out against friends and family for fastest lap!
Or maybe heights are more your thing, soaring on the longest zipline over water in Ireland at Castlecomer Discovery Park! With a ranger of activities from Axe Throwing to the Skywalk, you can spend the day among the trees, living your best fantasy.
For the Brave
Saunas and cold plunges are all the rage this year and we’re lucky to have The Hot Box Sauna in Graiguenamanagh. Relax and unwind in the sauna before having a dunk in the cold water to reset your body and mind!
If cold water isn’t for you, pop out to Kilkenny Activity Centre and get your full body workout in with activities like Bubble Soccer, Paintball or even their military assault course, Hell’s Kitchen. Good Luck!
Who wants to hold a snake? Put on a brave face and discover the awesome alligators and creepy crawlies in the National Reptile Zoo. Learn about the importance of spiders and lizards while getting up close and personal with them.
Swap snakes for birds at Hawkeye Falconry and learn the ‘Ancient Sport of Kings’ where you will get a chance to handle some magnificent creatures, letting them fly to and from your gloved hand. Falconry classes are suitable for children over the age of 7 years.
Channel your inner Robin Hood at Countryside Activity Centre, where you can become an archery pro (or at least be better than your mates!). Try your hand at Clay Pigeon Shooting at their purpose built shooting facilities. Get your goggles on and PULL!
For the Sporty Ones
Kilkenny holds the national record for most All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship wins with 36 wins, so you can’t blame us for wanting to teach you our tricks! Jab lift, roll lift and OVER THE BAR! Take a walk in The Cats’ shoes in Nowlan Park with The Kilkenny Way, Hurling Tours Ireland or Malzard’s Hurling Experience and learn the tricks of the 3000 year old game.
“Aannd we’re on the home straight!” Be part of the action at Gowran Park Racecourse. Located just 12 km from the city centre, their excellent hospitality facilities make Gowran Park the perfect location for a great racing day experience. Whether it be Ladies’ Day, The Goffs Thyestes Chase or a family day out.
Home to the famous Kilkenny Cats and named after the longest serving GAA President, Nowlan Park is a multi-purpose venue and has seen some famous faces arrive through the door. From ‘The Boss’ Bruce Springsteen and Dolly Parton to T.J Reid and team. The stadium gives patrons the perfect view of sliotars being pucked through the air and into the back of the net!
For the Waterbabies
Keep the Kilkenny competitive energy alive in the water with Pure Adventure River Activities. Hop on the stand-up paddle boards and tighten those core muscles! Or cruise down the River Barrow in a canoe and laugh at your mates falling in – what are friends for?
Get your cardio in with Kilkenny Hydrobikes, a fun and unique way to exercise while getting some fresh air and reconnecting with nature. Swap the stationary bike for the river bike!
Want to see Kilkenny from a different perspective? Paddle Your Own Canoe offers multiple camping packages, where you can travel the River Barrow and see the county from the water. Visit towns like Graiguenamanagh and Goresbridge, where you can camp under the stars and have a relaxing trip in the great outdoors.
Dive in! The Watershed is a great day out for all the family. Get the kiddies some swimming lessons while parents can head to a workout class. They also have facilities for birthday parties, where you can rent a bouncy castle and have fun in all weathers!
Go cruising with Roger and his crew at River Bend Adventures. They provide Kilkenny City Tours via the River Nore. A unique way to experience the medieval city! The fearless can choose to Stand Up Paddle-Board and the more timid ones can sit back and relax in the canoes.
Is there any Whitewater River Rafting in Kilkenny, you ask? With Go with the Flow River Adventures, choose from river rafting, relaxing canoe tours or gather up your workmates and head for a team building exercise. You’re guaranteed to have a good laugh, no matter what the weather is like!
For the Families
Want something both exciting and educational for the kiddies? How about Jurassic Newpark in Newpark Hotel, where dinosaurs come alive! They’ve got Triceratops to Velociraptors and everything in between. Come face-to-face with some of our most magnificent beasts from the past, with 17 roar-some dinosaurs!
Unleash your inner child with KBowl Kilkenny and compete against friends or family in the 10-pin bowling alley! Located at the front of MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, close to the city centre, so you can let loose in the arcade after a long day of exploring Kilkenny. Try out their new VR Arena and be transported to a new dimension!
“They’ll sleep tonight!” is what you’ll say after a day of fun at The Playstation. With slides and ball pits for the little kids, a hurling tunnel for the bigger kids and a coffee area for the parents, it’s your one-stop-shop for a family day out. They offer packages for birthday parties, school tours as well as providing the opportunity to meet others at the Parent and Toddler Mornings held Mon-Fri, 10am-12pm during school term.
Reconnect with nature and animals at Nore Valley Park and enjoy the peace of the countryside. Located 12km outside the city centre, they have camping facilities and plenty of outdoor activities to keep screen times down (for kids and parents alike!). Feed baby goats and lambs, play crazy golf or head for a wander along the 3km river walk.
