County Kilkenny Travel Guide

About 4 km from Foulksrath Castle, the oldest hostel in Ireland and a really cool place to stay. Driving is easiest to get there, but my friend and I walked from the castle -- if you do that, just watch out as there are no shoulders on the road! There is a nice little café/restaurant in town, just called The Cafe, on The Square, a street just past some shops in town (it's kind of easy to find, it was the only place we saw that served food). There is a grocery store and a convenience store in town too that we shopped at to stock up for the castle. Just kind of a quaint Irish town, nice to be away from more touristy spots, even just compared to nearby Kilkenny city.

14km from Kilkenny city this small town is home of the Irish conker festival every year in October. It is also noted for its romanesque style doorway that is the only reminant of the 12th century church (the rest being 16th century).  There is also the Bishops palace (uppercourt), that for centurys was the seat fo the bishop of the diocese of ossory and held estates around that area.  The outline of the village square is 18th century funded by a quacker, whose house is also nearby.  There are several local pubs and B&B's in the centre of the village.

Kilkenny has an amazing little farmers market that is there during the week.  I recommend asking around about it, we got the best chocolate from Sweden, the best fruit from local farmers and a few other novelty items all within a few feet of each other.  It was right in front of the Kilkenny castle itself.