I was lucky enough to be invited by Fáilte Ireland to discover Kilkenny recently, and spent a blissful weekend there which encompassed many of the delights on offer, from the fantastic food, to excellent nightlife and fabulous shops. Here are a few highlights from the weekend, but it's by no means a comprehensive list of everything this gorgeous historical city has to offer.
Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa Kilkenny
We bedded up for the weekend in the amazing Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa. It's located a mere 1.2 kilometres outside of the city, but has a peaceful countryside setting in 170 acres of mature parkland. The hotel is built around a beautiful 17th century stately home, which has some pretty impressive reception rooms, with a sculpted garden to the rear of the hotel. There are no less than three restaurants in the hotel – Yindees Oriental Restaurant for modern eastern cuisine, La Perla Restaurant for more traditional and classic fare and Tupper's Bar for a casual bite.
On our first night we sampled the Lyrath's Private Screening room, which has 22 seats. After choosing a movie, we relaxed with a bottle of champagne and popcorn. That's my kind of service!
The Lyrath also boasts the fantastic Oasis Spa, offering a great range of beauty treatments to help you unwind. The jewel on the crown of this spa is the outdoor hydrotherapy pool overlooking the gardens, a beautiful setting for whiling away your time on a lazy morning.
Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa, Dublin Road, Kilkenny
Phone: 056 7760088
Website: www.lyrath.com
Twitter: @lyrathestate
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LyrathEstateHotelKilkenny
Highbank Orchards Organic Farm
Biabeag's Keith Bohanna gave us a tour of Highbank Orchards, which was undoubtedly one of our favourite parts of the weekend. We met the farm's owners, Julie and Rod Calder-Potts, who gave us an insight into their business – producing fantastic apple-based products, from juices, to ciders and their award-winning Highbank Orchard Syrup. Their ethos is plain to see - they adhere to strict organic standards and don't use any chemicals on the apples, or herbicides or chemical fertilizers.
After the apples have been harvested, they are then used to produce a variety of products, all of which are made on location at the farm. They have also recently launched Ireland's "smallest legal distillery" where it produces an organic apple liqueur drink, with an apple gin, apple schnapps and orchard spirit to follow this year. After our tour of the farm and distillery, we settled down for a cider tasting in the comfortable environs of the Highbank Café.
They produce four cider catering to a variety of tastes – and all delicious in their own way. The Proper Cider caters for the diehard cider-enthusiast, which has no added sugar, sulphates and is gluten-free. It's a crisp, refreshing treat. The Medieval Honeyed Cider would appeal to a sweeter tooth, while the non-alcoholic Driver's Cider is fanatically thirst quenching. They also have a Vintage Dessert Cider – a strong, sweet cider which is a great after-dinner option.
For stockists visit highbankorchards.com
Twitter: @highbankorchard
Facebook: www.facebook.com/highbankorchards
Horse-riding at Danville House Farm
Danville House Farm in the Noire Valley is located just 1.5 kilometres from Kilkenny on the grounds of an old Georgian farm set across 80 acres of lush countryside. This family run horse-riding business offers visitors a really warm welcome and a lovely way to experience horse riding. You can take a leisurely trek around the fields, or the more experienced horse riders can use the array of cross-country jumps.
Danville House Farm, Kilkenny.
Phone: 0861209210
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Danville-House-Farm/204044793100559
Campagne
Top of my list for any foodies visiting Kilkenny has to be Campagne. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers top quality food and service in a relaxed and comfortable dining area that never feels stuffy. The early bird menu is great value at €32 for three courses – and the food is spectacular. The smoked haddock starter served with mustard hollandaise, leeks and a deep fried egg is one of the most delicious and memorable dishes I've ever eaten. They concentrate on high-quality, seasonal produce, cooked lovingly with French influences. I'll be back!
Campagne, 5 The Arches, Gashouse lane, Kilkenny City
Phone: 056 7772858
Website: www.campagne.ie
Shutterbug
Kilkenny is home to one of the best shops I've ever been to – Shutterbug. I first discovered this little gem a few years back when staying on a hotel on Patrick St, and since then the shop has gone from strength to strength, with a Dublin branch in Temple Bar, and the online shop Folkster.com. Shutterbug stocks the most amazing selection of vintage and carefully curated brands from all over the world. Upon entering the store you're greeted with a barrage of fabulous threads – from sequinned dresses, to fur coats, worn Levis jeans, perfect leather biker jackets and printed silk shirts. They also have a great array of accessories – from leather bags, to glam vintage sunglasses and statement jewellery. Prices are very reasonable and you're sure to walk out of there with something you'll treasure in your wardrobe forever.
Shutterbug owner Blanaid Hennessy
Shutterbug, Provincial House, Patrick St, Kilkenny
Phone: 056 770 3312
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shutterbugshop
Website: http://www.folkster.com/
Kilkenny Castle
No visit to Kilkenny would be complete without a visit to Kilkenny Castle, or at least a stroll around its grounds. You can get a tour of this beautiful 12th century castle for just €7, but if you want to just have a gander at the outside it is free to explore the gardens and parkland and enjoy the views.
Kilkenny Castle, The Parade, Kilkenny City
Phone: 056 770 4100
Website: www.kilkennycastle.ie
Kilkenny National Craft Gallery
After you've finished your stroll around the grounds of Kilkenny Castle, you may want to drop into the National Craft Gallery located in the former stable yard of the castle. It's Ireland's leading centre for contemporary craft and design, and as a bonus, entrance is free. For opening times and to see the latest exhibitions visit their website.
Castle Yard, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny
Phone: 0567796147
info@nationalcraftgallery.ie
www.nationalcraftgallery.ie
The Truffle Fairy
If you're in any way into chocolate then a visit to The Truffle Fairy Café is a must. Mary Teehan is behind this wonderful enterprise – which makes high quality chocolate truffles, bars, fudge, brownies and cakes. Yum. Mary pairs carefully chosen fine chocolate with fresh spices and quality liquors to create wonderfully unique and tasty chocolates, using excellent and organic ingredients. Make sure to try the award-winning Truffle Fairy Chocolate Brownie. The Truffle Fairy Chocolate Shop and Hot Chocolate Café is open Wednesday – Saturday 10am-5pm. You can also sample the Truffle Fairy delights at the Kilkenny Farmers Market every Thursday and at Dun Laoghaire's CoCo Market in People's Park every Sunday.
Truffle Fairy, Thomastown, Kilkenny
Website: trufflefairy.ie
Phone: 0872862634
Email: info@trufflefairy.ie
Tynan's Bridge House Bar
After a day of exploring Kilkenny what better way to relax than with a pint of Guinness in Tynan's Bridge House Bar, a classic Irish old mans pub which has been in business since 1703. It has live music every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights – and the ambience that many pubs try to create but just can't achieve. Well worth a visit.
Address: 2 John's Bridge, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Phone: 056 772 1291
Langtons
If you're looking for a more raucous night out on the tiles, the Langton Club in the Langton Hotel is just the ticket. It's one of Kilkenny's most popular night clubs and it's not hard to see why. If you want to dance your socks off get to Langtons, open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10pm till late!
Langton House Hotel, 69 John Street, Kilkenny
Website: www.langtons.ie
Phone: 056 7765133
For further information on everything Kilkenny has to offer, visit www.discoverireland.ie #thisisLIVING
Sarah McIntyre
