Kilkenny castle was built in 1195; it stands dramatically on a strategic height, and overlooks the 'High Town' of Kilkenny City. Over the eight centuries of its existence, many additions and alterations have been made to the fabric of the building, making Kilkenny Castle today a complex structure of various architectural styles.

The original Anglo-Norman stone castle was built for William Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke (c.1146-1219) during the first decade of the thirteenth century.

Kilkenny Castle later became the principal Irish residence of the powerful Butler family for almost 600 years.

Kilkenny Castle is situated in the centre of the city and is only a 15 minute walk from Mc Donagh railway station.
Kilkenny city is the capital of County, Kilkenny it is situated in the Nore Valley on both banks of the River Nore.
Kilkenny is 123 km from Dublin 146 km from Cork and 211 km from Galway.

Kilkenny is a very busy city and is one of Irelands most visited towns for short breaks. It has an abundance of top quality restaurants and cafes.
It is also known for having some of Irelands best pubs and there are lots of traditional Irish music "sessions" to be enjoyed nightly.

There is a restaurant on site that is run by one of Kilkennys best Caterers, Langtons Bar and Restaurant.

The restaurant is located in the Victorian Castle Kitchen, and serves local grown produce, cooked and presented, to the highest of standards.

There is a car park on site, and toilets for visitors with disabilities, are available on request.
Cathedral church of St. Canice can also be found in Kilkenny city, and it is an essential part of the structural heritage of medieval Kilkenny.

There are guided tours of the Castle or visitors can tour by themselves. Guide books are available in a range of languages and guided tours take approximately 50 minutes.

There is a free Audio Visual Presentation, in English, and this takes 12 minutes. This takes place in the Medieval Room, in the Castle.

Please note that during the summer the Castle is very busy and visitors may experience some delays.