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Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel

Kilkenny · Tipperary · Ireland

Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel

Kilkenny, the medieval city of the Butler castle and St Canice cathedral, linked by the Medieval Mile, and, about an hour away, the Rock of Cashel, the hill of the kings of Munster crowned with ruins.

Leinster

In the photo: Rock of Cashel

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Kilkenny is in southeast Ireland, on the banks of the River Nore, about 125 km from Dublin. The name comes from the Irish Cill Chainnigh, the church of Canice, the monk who founded a monastery there in the 6th century. In the Middle Ages it was one of the island's most important cities, seat of a confederate parliament in the 17th century, and it preserves the layout of narrow streets, stone alleys called slips and buildings from the 13th to the 17th centuries.

The centre is explored on foot via the Medieval Mile, the roughly 1.6 km route between Kilkenny Castle, on the Nore's bank, and St Canice Cathedral, with its 9th-century round tower. Midway are the Medieval Mile Museum, in the former St Mary church, Rothe House, a merchant's house from 1594, the Dominican Black Abbey and the old Smithwick's brewery, founded in 1710, now an exhibition.

About 55 km to the west, already in County Tipperary, the Rock of Cashel is a limestone hill rising above the plain, with a group of medieval ruins at the top: the round tower, Cormac's Romanesque chapel, the roofless Gothic cathedral and the vicars' hall. It was the seat of the kings of Munster until 1101, when it was handed over to the Church. In the fields just below are the ruins of Hore Abbey, a 13th-century Cistercian monastery.

Both can be done as day trips from Dublin, but an overnight in Kilkenny makes the centre calmer. It can rain at any time, and in winter it gets dark around 4:30 pm.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Kilkenny, Cashel.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel is
KilkennyCashel

Contornos: © Tailte Éireann, National Statutory Boundaries 2026, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel

✈ Aeroporto de Dublin (Dublin Airport) (DUB), in Dublin · 140 km to Kilkenny

Confirm before booking. The most used airport is Dublin, about 140 km away. The train from Dublin Heuston reaches Kilkenny in about 1h30, and buses link the two cities. Cashel has no train: the Dublin–Cork bus stops in the town.

Suggested arrival point: Kilkenny

The local experience

Things to do in Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel

Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny · Kilkenny · Castle

Kilkenny Castle

Norman castle from 1213 on the banks of the rio Nore, seat of the Butler family for over 500 years, with rooms restored in Victorian style, the Long Gallery and about 20 hectares of parkland.

Rock of Cashel
Cashel · Tipperary · Archaeological site

Rock of Cashel

Limestone hill that was the seat of the kings of Munster, given to the Church in 1101, with the round tower, Cormac's Romanesque chapel from 1134, the 13th-century Gothic cathedral and the Hall of the Vicars.

Hore Abbey
Cashel · Tipperary · Monastery

Hore Abbey

Ruins of a Cistercian monastery founded in 1272 in a field just below the Rock of Cashel, with the church, the tower and the view of the Rock high on the hill.

St Canice's Cathedral
Kilkenny · Kilkenny · Church

St Canice's Cathedral

A 13th-century Gothic cathedral, the second longest in Ireland, with carved stone tombs of the Butler family and, beside it, a 9th-century round tower that can be climbed by internal stairs.

See 3 more places in Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel
Medieval Mile Museum
Kilkenny · Kilkenny · Museum

Medieval Mile Museum

Museum housed in the church of St Mary, from the 13th century, in the middle of the Medieval Mile, with stone tombs, medieval objects and the history of Kilkenny from its founding to the 17th century.

Rothe House
Kilkenny · Kilkenny · Museum

Rothe House

Merchant's house from 1594 on Parliament Street, with three buildings around courtyards, period rooms, a collection of city objects and a recreated 17th-century garden at the back.

Kilkenny · Kilkenny · Museum

Smithwick's Experience

Exhibition in the former Smithwick's brewery, founded in 1710 beside the ruins of St Francis Abbey, about the history of Kilkenny's red ale and the monks who brewed beer there.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September the days are long and the castle gardens are at their best. In August the Kilkenny Arts Festival usually takes place, and the city is busy. April and October tend to be quieter. In winter attractions operate on reduced hours and it gets dark early. Rain can fall at any time.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

A full day covers Kilkenny's castle, the Medieval Mile and the cathedral. Cashel needs half a day, including Hore Abbey. With two days and a car, do Kilkenny on the first day and Cashel on the second, then continue to Cork or Kerry.

Which city to stay in

In Kilkenny the centre, between the castle, High Street and Parliament Street, leaves everything within walking distance, with hotels, guesthouses and pubs; the streets near John Street, on the other side of the river, are close to the station. Cashel is small and has hotels and guesthouses in the centre and on the road to the Rock, for those who want to see it lit up at night.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel

Can Kilkenny be visited as a day trip from Dublin?

Yes. The train takes about 1h30 and there are buses. A day covers the castle, the Medieval Mile and the cathedral. One night in town makes the visit more relaxed and allows for the pubs at night.

How long is it from Kilkenny to the Rock of Cashel?

It's about 55 km, roughly 50 minutes by car. Without a car the connection is more difficult: the simplest route is the Dublin–Cork bus, which stops in Cashel.

Do I need a car?

Not for Kilkenny, which has a train and is walkable. To combine it with Cashel in the same day, a car helps. In Ireland you drive on the left.

What's the best time to visit?

From May to September, with long days. In August Kilkenny's arts festival usually takes place. It can rain in any month.

Is Cashel on the way from Dublin to Cork?

Yes. The M8 motorway passes beside Cashel, and the Rock can be seen from the road. It's a common stop on the journey.

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