Full Day Kilkenny Tour

After meeting you at the pier in Waterford at 10. 30 am, your driver/guide will escort you to Kilkenny City, driving through New Ross in County Wexford, the ancestral home of the Kennedy family of Massachusetts. From here, John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather Patrick set sail for the U.S, in 1848, during the height of the Great Famine.

Your tour will continue north through the lush pastures of County Kilkenny, passing through the charming village of Inistioge until you arrive at Jerpoint Abbey, 11 miles southeast of the city of Kilkenny.

You will tour this outstanding Cistercian monastery, founded in the latter half of the 12th century and preserved in a peaceful country setting. The abbey’s highlights include:

• A sculptured cloister arcade.
• A splendid array of artefacts from medieval times.
• Unique stone carvings on 16th-century tombs.
• Romanesque architecture in the abbey church’s north nave.
• An aura of tranquillity

Next, you’re off to Kilkenny City, the medieval capital of Ireland, and Kilkenny Castle, which stands majestically beside the River Nore. Built-in the 12th century and remodelled in Victorian times, the castle was the principal seat of the Butler family, the earls, marquises, and dukes of Ormonde. In 1967, the Irish government gave the castle to be restored to period splendour as an enduring national monument. From its sturdy corner towers to its battlements, Kilkenny Castle retains the imposing lines of an authentic fortress and sets the tone for the entire city. The exquisitely restored interior includes a fine collection of Butler family portraits, some from as far back as the 14th century. The 20-hectare (50-acre) grounds include a riverside walk, extensive gardens, and parkland.

Directly across the road from the castle is the Kilkenny Design Center which is well worth a visit as it houses some of the best craftspeople in the country with retail space and a very nice cafe. You will be dropped at the port at 6:15pm