Walking Tours of Kilkenny with John Comerford
Description
Discover Kilkenny’s rich history, stunning architecture, and hidden gems on a relaxed, flexible walking tour with John – your knowledgeable, qualified guide. Whether you're a history enthusiast or just looking for a memorable stroll, your tours offer something for everyone. Born and raised in Gowran in the heart of County Kilkenny, John has spent years immersing himself in Kilkenny’s unique history and culture. John has always been passionate about storytelling and sharing the hidden tales and well-known landmarks that make Kilkenny truly special. John is happy to offer private or custom tours for groups, families, or individuals. Contact John to find out more!
Tour Options
Itinerary
St. Canice's Cathedral, a striking example of 13th-century Gothic architecture, is one of Ireland’s best-preserved medieval churches. On a quick visit, you’ll be struck by its grand stone structure, beautiful stained glass windows, and the peaceful atmosphere.
On a 15-minute visit to the Black Abbey, you'll experience a remarkable blend of medieval architecture and spiritual ambiance. Founded in 1225 by the Dominican Order, this historic church is renowned for its Gothic design and rich history. Hear about the Rosary Window and Marvel at the magnificence of Ireland's largest stained glass window.
Rothe House is a late 16th-century merchant's townhouse complex located in the city of Kilkenny, Ireland. The complex was built by John Rothe Fitz-Piers between 1594 and 1610 and is made up of three houses and as a museum it is also accessible to the public.
Explore the history of Ireland's oldest ale, the rich heritage of Smithwick's brewing process and the Smithwick family's role in its evolution in Kilkenny.
Located on the 13th century site of St Mary's cruciform church and graveyard. Hear about the history of the church and its new lease of life.
Kilkenny Castle is a castle in Kilkenny, Ireland, built in 1260 to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways. john will tell you about the history of the building and grounds.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(48)
Absolutely great guy, loads of good anecdotes and really easy to deal with. Walked at a nice pace and lots of interesting stops.
Thank you for Taking time out to write a review. It was a pleasure to guide you through the medieval streets of Kilkenny. I am glad you enjoyed the tour
What an excellent tour of Kilkenny!! John was a wonderful tour guide full of stories around every corner of the city. He starts his tours at the foot of St Canace’s because as he explains, St Canace is really how Kilkenny got its start. He took us through lanes and byways we never would have found on our own and gave us a terrific understanding of this amazing city. We love history and this was truly an amazing tour including St Canace’s, Black Abbey (gorgeous inside), the history of the breweries, Rothe House, Kyteler’s, Butter Slip, and so much more. Our tour ended after a stroll through the beautiful grounds of Kilkenny Castle, the stables, and Butler House and Gardens. John was clearly known and loved about town as demonstrated by the smiling faces who greeted him at our stops and along the way. A great tour guide and a wonderful tour filled with history and beauty in this amazing town. We highly recommend John for your tour if you are lucky enough to book with him!
Thank you Dawn for taking the time to write a review. It was a pleasure walking with you and Ronald through the streets of Kilkenny. A walk that gave me great satisfaction
John is extremely friendly and very knowledgeable! I had an amazing time on the tour, and I learned a lot about Kilkenny history. Highly recommend!
Thanks Navya for taking the time to write a review. I am very happy you enjoyed the tour
John was great.He is a Kilkenny local and knew the history in detail.He showed us lots that we would not have come across ourselves .His tour made our time in Kilkenny really enjoyable.He also had recommendations for restaurants,bars and music which were really helpful.
Thank you for your kind review. I am delighted that I made your stay in Kilkenny more enjoyable. It was a delight to show you around Kilkenny
Myself and my husband did a walking tour of Kilkenny city with John Comerford last Tuesday and it was excellent. John brought us through the city at a pace which meant we could stop and chat and look in detail at the various sites. John is an asbolute gentleman, knows all that is relevant and interesting about Kilkenny, we thoroughly recommend John as a tour guide.
Thanks Barbara for going to the trouble of writing a review. I delighted you enjoyed the tour. It was a pleasure showing you and your husband around the medieval city of Kilkenny
Great very small group tour for 2 hours with John who has an encyclopedic knowledge of town but packages it in a user-friendly way. Hit all the key spots in town, castles, churches, abbeys, history of the founders and builders, etc. Shared interesting stories of people who lived there in past centuries. Most charming was that so many of the people we passed in town would give him a shout out and hello- so well known there.
Thanks Holly for taking the time to write a review. I am delighted you enjoyed the tour. It was a pleasure walking with you around the streets of Kilkenny
We really enjoyed our walking tour with John. What he doesn't know about Kilkenny isn't worth knowing. Just the right amount of detail, walking distance was perfect and the tour was good value for money. John is well known in the area which adds a very personal touch. We would definitely recommend the tour.
Thanks John for taking time out to write a review. I delighted you enjoyed the tour. It was a pleasure showing you around the streets of Kilkenny.
John the guide did a great tour of the city very informative and very factual. We went around at a leisurely pace . If you want to know about Kilkenny John's your man. Thank you.
Thanks Eleanor, It was a pleasure showing you around Kilkenny
Indepth nfo about the oldest parts of Kilkenney. Saw and heard what we would never found ourselves. John was engaging and very friendly.
Thanks David for taking the time to write a review. I am delighted you enjoyed our wander around Kilkenny
John was an amazing guide! Such a warm person with plenty of knowledge about both the history of Kilkenny and Ireland. He was truly a gem! We had a lot of fun learning and exploring places we otherwise would have missed and felt well looked after throughout the tour. Thank you!
Thanks Elina for taking the time to write a review. It was great showing you and your Mother around Kilkenny. Hope got back to Dublin ok
