Private Kilkenny Tour: Medieval History & Local Insights
Description
Step into the story of Kilkenny on a private walking tour that brings 800 years of Irish history vividly to life. Beginning beside the majestic Kilkenny Castle, we trace the city’s evolution from Norman stronghold to thriving modern Irish city. Stroll along the Medieval Mile, stand in the shadow of St Canice's Cathedral, and uncover tales of merchants, monks, rebels and reformers who shaped the streets beneath your feet. Led by a nationally qualified, multilingual guide, this owner-operated experience is personal, story-driven and easy to follow. It’s the perfect introduction to Kilkenny before you explore further — engaging, authentic, and rich in human stories.
Tour Options
Itinerary
From outside the building, a description will be given about the fascinating history of this 800 year old church.
Learn about what became of the priory, and how the site became transformed into the Butler Gallery.
This site has served many functions over the years.
Except for Sunday, you can enter this wonderful church and admire the stained glass windows.
See the last standing of Kilkenny's original gates.
Probably the most famous product to come from Kilkenny.
See one of the most historic houses in Ireland, which keeps it's original Tudor period facade.
Learn about the most notorious inhabitant in Kilkenny's history.
Is it really as slippy as butter?
The dead centre of KIlkenny
What was the benefit of building a house for poor people?
The most famous building in Kilkenny's history. The tour ends here.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(37)
It is only a walk along a shopping street with a few stops at a road construction dig A stop at a Dominican Abbey and the bridge Guide knows everyone along the way But isn’t a very upbeat guide
Thank you for your feedback. I'm sorry the tour wasn't what you were hoping for. During your visit I adapted the route to accommodate mobility requirements, which meant taking a different route than I would normally use. One of the stops included an active archaeological excavation, which I felt offered an interesting opportunity to discuss Kilkenny's medieval past and the discoveries being made in the city today. My tours focus on local stories, history and insights rather than entering attractions, and I appreciate that this style may not suit every traveller. I wish you both the very best for the rest of your travels.
Kilkenny is a beautiful town with great history and beautiful little shops. Our guide John was absolutely amazing. He is a local and the history and his knowledge of the area is fascinating. Part of my family couldn’t walk that fast and John was very patient and kind. Highly recommend this tour. Thanks John.
Hi Jean, Thank you for taking the time to write this great review. They weren't that slow. The route is planned with wheelchair users in mind, and it is not supposed to be difficult. Thank you for mentioning it. I hope that you had a great time in Ireland. Kind regards John
John was timely,knowledgeable and funny. He took us on a very entertaining tour of Kilkenny city, and gave some wonderful recomendations
Hi Harry, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this great review, and for adding the photos, they look great. It was a pleasure to welcome you to Kilkenny today, I am delighted that you enjoyed the tour. I hope that you got to the concert this evening, and enjoyed it too. Have a safe journey home. Kind regards John
Great discovery of the city of Kilkenny and its history, thank you again John Britton, a fantastic cultural moment
Bonjour Philippe, Merci d'avoir pris le temps pour écrire ce très bon avis. C'était un plaisir de vous accueillir à Kilkenny. N'hésitez pas à me contacter si vous revenir à Kilkenny. Je vous souhaite des très bonnes vacances avec votre famille en Irlande. Cordialement John
Several stations with much worth knowing and history of the last 900 years. Very good German-speaking Irish with contacts to Lake Constance
Servus, Ich danke Ihnen wirklich sehr herzlich, dass Sie diese Bewertung schreiben haben. Es war eine besondere Freude, hier eine Gruppe aus Vorarlberg zu begrüßen. Ich wünsche Sie eine gute Heimreise. Mit freundlichen Grüßen John
We had a great time with John on our private French tour of the city of Kilkenny. We were with our daughter of almost 3 years in stroller: the circuit in the city is passable. We learned a lot of very interesting things. This tour allowed us to see as many things as possible in a limited time. Thank you for this great time.
Bonjour Aline, Merci beaucoup pour ce très bon avis. C'était un plaisir de vous accueillir à Kilkenny. Oui, j'ai choisi le circuit parce que c'est accessible par les utilisateurs de fauteuils roulants. Je suis très heureux que vous ayez passé un bon moment à Kilkenny et je vous souhaite une très bonne fin à votre séjour en Irlande. Cordialement John
We had a great time with John about the history of Kilkenny and Ireland. He took the time to answer and show us the different monuments.
Bonjour David, Je vous remercie pour ces mots sympas. C'était un plaisir de vous accueillir à Kilkenny et que vous avez passé un bon moment ici. Je vous souhaite un très agréable séjour en Irlande. Cordialement John
John was a great tour guide and you could tell how passionate he was about the history of Kilkenny. He gave great recommendations at the end including this little wine bar that you never 100% will be open. Depends on the owner. We came back later and were delighted to find it open and had a great time.
Hi, Thanks so much for taking the time to write this great review. I do love the hole in the wall, and I am delighted that you enjoyed it too. Kind regards John
Great walking tour of Kilkenny with lots of unique and funny stories. Tailored the review to the group including teens and children and made it very interactive and interesting. Highly recommend, thanks very much John!
Hi Caroline, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this great review. It was a pleasure to welcome your family to Kilkenny today. I wish you all a great weekend, and I will say a few prayers in the Black Abbey for the rain to stay away. Kind regards John
John was a superb guide. Informative,funny and able to answer every question ( except where to buy pork pies!). A real pleasure to spend 2 hours learning so much about Kilkenny. We even watched the hurling semi final when we returned home to Germany. The cursed statue strikes again. Thank you John, (we eventually found work pies in a Marks & Spencer shop near Dublin.)
Hi Arnie, Thank you for taking the time to write this fabulous review. I still have not found where to find a proper pork pie, I will have the answer when you come back. I am delighted that you managed to get some kind of pork pie here. If you help me shift that statue, I will buy you a proper pork pie. Thank you so much for everything, and it was a pleasure to show you around my home city. Kind regards John
