County Kilkenny: See
Heritage Ireland manage five sites in the county. In 2026 a Heritage Card valid nationwide for one year costs adult €40, senior citizen €30, student or child €10, family (2+5) €90. Since the standard adult fee is €5, you need to visit eight sites to break even, and several are free to visit anyhow.
- Jerpoint Abbey is a fine Cistercian ruin in Thomastown.
- Kilkenny Castle is the imposing Norman Castle dominating Kilkenny.
- Dunmore Cave is 11 km north of Kilkenny.
- St Mary's Church in Gowran, 11 km east of Kilkenny, is 13th century.
- Kells Priory 15 km south of Kilkenny is a remarkable fortified monastery.
Ancient churches also include St Canice Cathedral and Black Abbey in Kilkenny, Duiske Abbey at Graignamanach, and Ballylarkin Abbey at Freshford.
Coal mining was never common in Ireland, nevertheless its few seams were exploited since the Middle Ages, and Castlecomer has a mining museum. The Republic's only other example is up north at Arigna Mines near Drumshanbo.
Gardens: Woodstock near Inistioge has the finest. Jenkinstown Park 10 km north of Kilkenny is an attractive forest park, carpeted by bluebells in April.