Hurling Hurling is an outdoor team sport of Irish origin, rooted in a long tradition. Players compete with passion, wielding a stick, called a "hurley", made of ash wood 75 to 90 centimetres long, to hit a ball called a "sliotar", weighing around 100 grams. When hit by the stick, the sliotar can reach speeds of up to 110km/h. In addition to these 2 pieces of equipment, hurlers have been required to wear a helmet since 2010. A hurling team comprises 15 players, including a goalkeeper, 6 defenders, 2 midfielders and 6 forwards. This dynamic sport is often compared to a form of soule à crosse, where speed and skill are essential. There are many similarities between hurling and Gaelic soccer, including the pitch, the number of players, the scoring method and some of the terminology used. The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) is the governing body for the sport, organizing major competitions in Ireland and around the world. Hurling is also played by women, known as "Camogie". Hurling history Hurling has been practiced in Ireland for thousands of years, with the earliest written records dating back to the 7th-8th century, thanks to the monks who recorded the oral traditions of the Gaels. However, due to its brutality, it was banned from the 16th to 18th centuries. In the 19th century, hurling underwent a revival, giving rise to two variants: Iomaint in the south of the island and Camànacht in Dublin. Camànacht eventually evolved into field field hockey, while Iomaint became the basis of modern hurling. It is generally believed that hurling first appeared in Ireland before Christianity, probably brought by the Celtic peoples who settled the island. Teams representing neighboring villages would compete in games that could bring together several hundred players and last for several hours or even days. Hurling has been part of Irish culture for almost 2,000 years, making it as old as the earliest written records of Irish history. Its earliest written mention dates back to the 5th century, in the Laws of Brehon. It is considered a relative of the shinty played in Scotland, the Cammag of the Isle of Man and the Bandy of England and Wales. Legends such as the Táin Bó Cuailgne and tales involving legendary figures such as Cúchulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhaill refer to hurling. Mention of hurling can also be found in other historical texts, such as the 13th-century Statutes of Kilkenny and a 15th-century engraved slab. The 18th century is often considered the golden age of hurling in Ireland. Members of the Anglo-Norman gentry created hurling teams on their estates and challenged each other to entertain their tenant farmers and farmhands. Today, hurling remains the third most popular sport in Ireland, with over 100,000 members. In recognition of its cultural importance, hurling has been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since November 29, 2018. How is hurling played? The aim of hurling is simple: to score points by placing the ball in the opponent's goal over a period of 2 x 35 minutes. However, it's not easy because the ball can't be picked up by hand! Once picked up, the ball can be distributed by hand, cleared with the stick (only on the tip), played with the foot and cannot be kept more than 4 steps in the hand or on the stick for a solo-run, consisting of running with the ball balanced on the tip of the stick. Because of the use of the stick and the feet, hurling is considered a brutal and violent sport. It can easily be likened to rugby, where confrontations between players can be ferocious, leaving a few players injured when they shoulder their opponents (known as Body Check)...To limit the damage, elbowing, hip thrusting, kicking and punching have been banned and penalized. Generally speaking, a hurling match is officiated by a main referee, 2 touch referees and four goal referees. It is necessary to have as many referees as possible, as hurling is played at high speed, and the ball sometimes reaches dizzying speeds, making refereeing difficult.

During your trip, would you like to eat Irish food at affordable prices? With prices ranging from €5 to €40, you're sure to find what you're looking for. These 5 restaurants, located in the center of Kilkenny, all offer excellent Irish dishes : - Petronella: Irish and European cuisine / Vegetarians welcome, Vegan options, Gluten-free dishes: €5-€30 - Langton's: Steakhouse, Irish and European cuisine / Vegetarians welcome, Vegan options, Gluten-free dishes. This restaurant also serves as a bar and pub: €7-€24 - Matt the Millers: Irish cuisine / Vegetarians welcome, Vegan options, Gluten-free dishes. This restaurant also serves as a bar and pub: €9-€29 - Kyteler's Inn: Irish and European cuisine / Vegetarians welcome, Vegan options, Gluten-free dishes. This restaurant also serves as a bar and pub: €12-€26 - Butcher: Steakhouse, Irish and European cuisine / Vegetarians welcome, Gluten-free dishes: €10-€40

Welcome to Kilkenny, a city in the south of Ireland that combines medieval charm and contemporary atmosphere. With its rich history,  beautiful architecture, and a lot of hospitality, Kilkenny is one of the most must-visit destination for travelers seeking an authentic Irish experience. And here is the many reasons of why we just said that!   First of all, Kilkenny is a lovely place to walk through time! By stroling in the streets, you will lose the notion of time and will be impressed by walking in Kilkenny's Medieval Street's. The city is full with medieval monument to visit just as the Kilkenny Castle, a magnificent fortress that dates back to the 12th century. A great spot to have a picnic in the huge and impressive gardens of the Castle before going inside it and delicately savor the decorations. For more curious, I can also recommand you the St. Canice's or St. Mary's Cathedral, the ancient Rothe House, and the Black Abbey to visit.    More of that, Kilkenny is also a great place if you want to have a typical Irish brunch. We recommand the Fig Tree Restaurant Kilkenny, where you can find a complete Irish breakfast with eggs, some of bacon, sausages, pudding and also sugar tastes with jam, yogurt, butter and fruits.  I also recommand the Sullivan's Pub, where you can eat some burgers and pizzas or drink cider, Irish beer as Guiness, or some local beer from Kikenny such as the Smithwick's. If you luck with the weather's, you can eat in terrace and enjoy a Hurling Game in one of the Sullivan's TV's.    Kilkenny, with its cultural richness and natural beauty, offers a large amount of opportunity to rest, have a good time, speak english with local persons, and connect quickly with many people.   Kilkenny Tourist Hostel can be a good place in the center of the town to stay for visiting Kilkenny. It has lovely employees who will be pleasured to welcome and talk with you during your stay. For the most curious of you who want to immerse themself in Kilkenny and who don't know what to do during an evening at the hostel, you can watch the cartoon Wolfwalkers, a lovely film which features the contrast between thr city of Kilkenny and the forest through a story for children.    So if you're not too chilly and you support the rain,  Kilkenny is the place made for you! We look forward to welcoming you to our extraordinary city !

Hostels are remarked for being budget-friendly accomodations, offering a landscape to meet fellow intrepid travelers. Though, they are also spots to build special memories cooking food in a shared kitchen and eating at an actual dining table, a rarity when traveling. The extra place settings for the solo adventurers on their version of an Eat Pray Love journey, the soon-to-be working professionals on their last (or first) hurrah, the backpacking families, the novelists, and the many musicians are all to be desired in just another dimension of the hostel experience. Below are photos from the Kilkenny Tourist Hostel, where sharing tea, baking cookies, and indulging on a cone are commonplace.

Kilkenny's center of town has a mix of food options, for every diet, appetite, and taste. Though, these three have extra punch : Kytelers Inn : This pub checks all the boxes plus more for anyone looking to get the complete "pub" experience. It serves traditional Irish foods until late and is a great spot to listen to traditional Irish Music. For people strolling through town, it is not uncommon to hear hits from the likes of Johnny Cash, Dire, Straits, and Avicii playing from musical guests inside. Not to mention, the decor and ambiance reflect the "medieval tavern" image you'd hope to see in a town like Kilkenny. (St Kieran's St, Gardens, Kilkenny) Kyoto : A little further up the street is Kyoto, a restaurant specializing in Asian street food. Not only does it have a delicious spread of Asian dishes, it is also open until 10pm Sunday through Saturday. It's a bit hidden on the street, potentially missed by nightlife fiends who graviate to the neighboring tunes coming from The Field Bar or Left Bank. But, Kyoto's charm is in its unsuspecting front and then wow with its cuisine. (101-102 High St, Gardens, Kilkenny) The Cutting Vedge : This deli has a menu packed full of options for people with even the most restricted diets. It offers a mix of delicious hot and cold foods and a great outdoor seating area for when the weather cooperates. While The Cutting Vedge is especially appealing for plant-based individuals and people who like puns, it is also perfect for foodies on a budget ! See the link for a list of all the dietary restrictions they can accommodate. (4 Ormonde St, Gardens, Kilkenny)

About the exhibition  From 15 April to 28 May 2023, the Butler Gallery presents the project by Ellen Harvey, a renowned contemporary artist, entitled « The Disapointed Tourist », exhibiting over 260 paintings in a large mural of revisited places. These places were requested by respondents to an online questionnaire about places they would like to visit or revisit that no longer exist. At the request of the public, this mapped project traces ecological disasters, traumatic events, memories, victims of gentrification, technological transformations. "The Disappointed Tourist" repairs what has been destroyed to allow visitors to recall memories. The places we know and love dissolve with time and tragic events. Her paintings bring these places back to light so that they are not forgotten. She is inspired on the one hand by old postcards and on the other hand by the tradition of tourist painting. Harvey painted three lost sites in Kilkenny: the Regent Cinema, the O.K. House and the Tholsel Bar. Butler Gallery : butlergallery.ie/news/butler-gallery-presents-ellen-harvey-the-disappointed-tourist   About Ellen Harvey Ellen Harvey, born in 1967 in Reading, UK, is a British-American contemporary artist living in New York. She is particularly renowned for her artistic practice, which includes painting, site-specific installations, video, engraved mirrors, mosaics and glass. She explores themes of architecture, public space and history. Harvey had the opportunity to exhibit his personal work in many venues : aux Biennales de Whitneyn de Prague et de Kwangju, au Turner Contemporary, au Musée Aldrich d’Art Contemporain, au Whitney Museum, au Corcoran Museum of Art, au Groeninge Museum Ellen Harvey’s Instagram : instagram.com/ellenharveystudio/

Alice was born to wealthy Norman parents in 1263.   ​ Her first husband was William Outlawe, a local banker and they had a son, also called William, who was to figure prominently in the saga of his life.  Her husband fell ill and died suddenly a few years after their marriage.   Shortly after William Outlawe's death, Alice married her wealthy second husband, Adam de Blund of Cullen, who also died suddenly and mysteriously.   Alice was now much wealthier and married Richard de Valle and the pattern continued with her early, sudden and mysterious death.   ​ It was, however, the fourth husband of the "Merry Widow" of Kilkenny who unwittingly set off a series of events that would lead to Alice's conviction for witchcraft in an ecclesiastical court.  A few years after his marriage to Alice, landowner Monsieur.  John de Poer showed signs of illness.  His hair and fingernails fell out and he became weak and sickly.  Shortly before he died, he changed his will to benefit Alice and her son William, an act that caused anger and resentment from other members of his family.  Armed with rumors (which may have been untrue and inspired by local jealousy), they brought charges of witchcraft against Alice before the English-born Franciscan Bishop of Ossory, Richard de Lederede.  They claimed Alice had "bewitched" her husband and forced him to change his will.  His Lordship summoned a court of inquisition which included five knights and several nobles who heard evidence that Alice led a clan of witches and had sex with a demon called Artissen, who is sometimes depicted as Aethiops, the founder  mythical of Ethiopia.   ​ What followed next was a legal and political battle in which Bishop Lederede attempted, but failed, to get the Temporal Authority to arrest and convict Alice, her son William Outlawe, and many of her friends and servants.  The Bishop was himself arrested and imprisoned in Kilkenny Prison, but on his release he continued his campaign, demanding that Alice appear before him.  She wisely refused and soon left for England, returning a year later to Dublin where she urged the Archbishop to condemn the Bishop of Ossory for unlawfully excommunicating her.  A confrontation between the Commissioner and Bishop Lederede took place in Dublin and ended with the Bishop returning to Kilkenny from where he demanded that Alice be arrested.   ​ Alice was held in the dungeons of Kilkenny Castle where, in medieval times, being convicted of witchcraft was a most serious offense and punishable by death.  Dame Alice and her followers were condemned to be whipped through the streets, tied to the back of a horse and cart, after which Alice, as high priestess and instigator, would be burned at the stake.   But by the political power of the Chancellor of All Ireland, his former brother-in-law Roger Outlawe, his escape was engineered.  Her guards were beaten for no reason and Lady Alice was freed from the dungeons below Kilkenny Castle and freed from the death sentence hanging over her.   ​  The Kilkenny Witchcraft Trials did, however, take place.  William Outlawe was condemned and ordered by Bishop Lederede to attend three masses each day and give alms to the poor.  He was also forced to repair the roof of St. Canice's Cathedral as punishment.  This light sentence was in stark contrast to the torture inflicted on Alice's less wealthy friends, including her maid Petronella who was tortured, whipped and finally burned at the stake before a large crowd outside the Tholsel on 3 November 1324.   ​  Alice disappeared from history after her second escape to England in 1324.

My favorite place in Kilkenny would be the castle’s park. It is a very nice place to have a walk on sunny days, or just relax and watch the youngest playing hurling on the grass. Once you are in the park, you almost forget you are in the center of one of Ireland’s biggest city. There’s grass and trees everywhere, a very nice pond where you’ll see loads of birds and ducks, and of course, an amazing view on the castle. There is also a big play park that your children will most certainly enjoy. Pierre   In Kilkenny there are a lot of pubs, around 60, so everyone can find a bar to suit your taste. My favorite pub is the Ryan's Bar. I like the friendly atmosphere inside and you can meet local people as well as tourists. It’s a classical Irish pop rock pub. On the ceiling, we can see many pictures taken by customers . The staff members are kind and the Guinness tastes good ! But most importantly, there is great live music that makes you want to join in and dance !  Every Thursday, Sean Maher, a guitarist and singer,  gives an amazing pop rock concert, not to be missed ! Victorine

Would you like to discover Irish specialities? You are on the right page! Let's take a look at how to enjoy Ireland! Irish Stew Irish stew in English or stobhach Gaelach in Irish is an Irish specialty made from lamb and served with potatoes, onions and carrots. Originally, this stew was made with mutton but nowadays it is made with lamb or beef. A stew simmered in a sauce made with Guinness or another Irish beer. It is a traditional dish for St. Patrick's Day. You can accompany this with a delicious local beer. Enjoy this speciality in a traditional Irish pub.   Here is a list of some restaurants serving Irish Stew in Kilkenny Kytelers Inn : St Kieran's St, Gardens, Kilkenny Lanigans Bar & Hostel : 29 Rose Inn St, Gardens, Kilkenny Cat and The Fiddle gastropub Kilkenny : 10 Irishtown, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 DH32 Fish and chips Fish and chips and Ireland... Much more than a simple dish: it's a real love story for the Irish! Very popular with the population, this legendary course is part of the local culinary heritage. In addition to being tasty, it is known to be a quick, family-friendly, universal and convivial course. It is a speciality based on fresh fish, caught the same day, which is rolled in breadcrumbs, fried, served with home fries and a portion of vegetables. Typically, this may be coleslaw (a salad made with cabbage and light mayonnaise), or mashed split peas. Finally, fish and chips are usually served with a sauce. Fish and chips is a good alternative for take-away.   Restaurants offering fish and chips to take away in Kilkenny: Joe's Takeaway : Saint Canice's Court, 3 Dean St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 E868 Ceasar's Fish & Chippers : Golf Links Rd, Pennefatherslot, Kilkenny Mario's Diner : The Smithland Centre, 3 Waterford Rd, Archerstreet Lot, Kilkenny, R95 RH27 Seafood Chowder Seafood Chowder is a soup based on seafood and seasoned vegetables.Very nutritious and particularly balanced, this soup is a traditional course often served in Irish pubs or guesthouses. This soup is cooked with the caught fish of the day, and served with a cold Stout (Irish beer), butter, and Brown Bread, a kind of Irish bread with a generous crumb, which is then soaked in the soup... A delight! The fish usually used for the Seafood Chowder are salmon, haddock, or hake, and are often accompanied by mussels, prawns, or other seafood popular with the Irish. The fish usually used for the Seafood Chowder are salmon, haddock, or hake, and are often accompanied by mussels, prawns, or other seafood popular with the Irish.   Restaurants serving Seafood Chowder in Kilkenny : Matt The Millers Bar & Restaurant : 1 John Street Lower, Collegepark, Kilkenny, R95 PY7D Breathnach's : 23-24 John Street Upper, Kilkenny, R95 AXC9 Cleere's Bar & Theatre : 28 Parliament St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 YR61 Shepherd's pie Shepherd's pie is a typical Irish speciality! Made with potatoes, beef, carrots and peas. It is gratinated with a layer of meat and vegetables followed by a layer of cheese and breadcrumbs. A delicious treat, to be eaten with a good green salad and a pint of Irish beer: it's a great classic!   Visit here : The Field Bar & Restaurant : 2 High St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 W429 The Playwright : 39-34 St Kieran's St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 EY84 Colcannon If there's one thing you can't fault Irish food for, it's being nutritious. As a result of historical tradition, many recipes are literally held in the body. So is colcannon, a thick mash made from potatoes, kale, milk and onions. Some variations include ham or even bacon. This is the traditional Halloween dish: you hide a coin, a button or a ring in it... Watch out for your teeth! You can find this course in most restaurants. Coddle Better known as the 'Dublin cadal', Coddle is a traditional Dublin dish of sausage, bacon, onions and potatoes, all stewed in chicken stock. While the description may sound surprising, it's a real treat. It is usually served on Saturday evenings with a few beers. If you're heading to Dublin soon, which is only an hour and a half away from Kilkenny, you know what you have to do.   Some restaurants in Dublin to enjoy: John Kavanagh The Gravediggers : 1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin, D09 CF72 The Hairy Lemon : Stephen Street Lower, Dublin 2 Gallaghers Boxty House : 20-21, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 ET66 After a good meal, why not a cheese or dessert? For cheese, not far from Kilkenny, the town of Cashel offers an exceptional cheese : Cashel Blue ! Almost the only blue cheese in the whole of Ireland, this cheese is a little wonder of the Irish soil, and more precisely of County Tipperary. Cashel is a town only 50 minutes from Kilkenny where you can visit the famous Rock of Cashel.   For dessert : Irish cheesecake The key to Irish cheesecake is the use of fresh local cheese. It must be said that the Irish excel in the production of cow's and goat's milk, which allows them to obtain high quality local products! Typically, Irish cheesecake is made with cream cheese, chocolate and Bailey's, a local spirit made from cream whiskey. The result is a tasty, airy, gourmet and slightly vanilla flavored product that should delight most gourmets!   Sticky Toffee Pudding Food lovers can't resist it! Sticky toffee pudding is an Irish cake made with dates and melting toffee. The Irish love to eat it as a dessert or as a snack with vanilla ice cream. You can find them in most local restaurants serving Irish food, but you can also find them in bakeries. The taste of the dates is a perfect match for the caramel. The texture is soft and melting.   Irish Coffee  Irish Coffee is a cocktail consisting of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, stirred, and topped with cream. The coffee is drunk through the cream. Irish whiskey and at least one level teaspoon of sugar are poured over black coffee and stirred in until fully dissolved. Thick cream is carefully poured over the back of a spoon initially held just above the surface of the coffee and gradually raised a little until the entire layer is floated.   Scones  Scones are cakes that are very popular with the Irish. They are most often eaten plain, or with sultanas, and decorated with cream, jam, or honey to make them more delicious… The taste of these buns is a bit dense and hearty, and they go perfectly with Irish tea or hot chocolate !   A few bakeries in Kilkenny : Tess's Homestyle Bakery : 93 High St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 CC64 Cakeface Patisserie : 16 Irishtown, Gardens, Kilkenny The Drinks !   In Kilkenny, the famous Smithwick's Smithwick's is an Irish red ale-style beer It is the most consumed ale in Ireland. Smithwick's brewery was founded in Kilkenny in 1710 by John Smithwick and run by the Smithwick family of Kilkenny until 1965 when it was acquired by Guinness, now part of Diageo. The Kilkenny brewery was shut down in 2013 and production of all Smithwick's and Kilkenny branded beers moved to Dublin; parts of the old brewery were later converted into a "visitor experience."   Kilkenny Beer Kilkenny is a nitrogenated Irish cream ale from the makers of Guinness, which originated in Kilkenny, Ireland. The 'Kilkenny' name was originally used during the 1980s and 1990s to market a stronger version of Smithwick's for the European and Canadian markets due to difficulty in pronunciation of the word 'Smithwick's'. It now refers to a similar yet distinct beer. Kilkenny was brewed in St. Francis Abbey Brewery in Kilkenny, which was the oldest operating brewery in Ireland until its closure in 2013. It is now brewed at St. James's Gate brewery, Dublin.   Enjoy Kilkenny's traditional bars  O Riada’s : 25 Parliament St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 CH79 Daniel W Bollard, Wine & Spirit Merchant : 31 St Kieran's St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 HY76 Billy Byrnes Gastro Bar & Venue : 39 John Street Upper, Highhays, Kilkenny, R95 K091 And for the next day nothing better than an Irish Breakfast ! A full Irish breakfast is the traditional cooked breakfast of Ireland. All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes. There will also be toast, butter, marmalade, and lots of tea to drink. What distinguishes this from a full British breakfast is the inclusion of black or white pudding, which is also known as drisheen. The bread served will also often be Irish soda bread. And, you may also find fried potato farl (quadrant-shaped flatbread) or boxty (Irish potato pancake) as an alternative to brown soda bread.   Some addresses : The 'Rafter' Dempsey's : 4 Friary St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 VY62 The Fig Tree Restaurant Kilkenny : 20 High St, Gardens, Kilkenny, R95 XW22

The origins of Halloween  Halloween has its origins in a Celtic ritual festival known as "Samhain". Samhain symbolises the end of summer and the beginning of winter for the Celts. On that occasion, a feast was celebrated in honour of the coming new year. Among the Celts, the year was divided into two periods: Samhain and Beltain. For the Celts, this moment was intended to create connection between the world of the living and that of the dead. Everyone was invited to come to the other side. This festival is accompanied by songs and ritual games, through sacrifices and the setting of the new fire. At the end of the celebrations each family is given an ember to revive the fire in the home. The sacred flame must then be maintained until the following autumn. The Irish Halloween Tales Stingy Jack  A legend says that once upon a time in Ireland there lived a man called Jack. He was very stingy and very mean. One day when he had been drinking heavily, he met the devil who wanted to take him to hell. Jack invited him for a drink, but as he was very cheap he did not want to pay. Jack convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drink. Then the devil turned into a gold coin. As soon as he saw the beautiful coin Jack picked it up and put it in his purse. The devil was his prisoner! Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. After, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.” In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. It was at the time of the Irish migration to America that the turnip became a pumpkin. Taking their traditions and legends to the United States, the Irish passed on their beliefs. However, turnips were very difficult to dig, so the Americans preferred pumpkins, a local and seasonal vegetable. Trick-or-treating appeared in memory of Jacky. Children dress up and go knocking on their neighbours' doors for sweets. The ghosts and witches of Kilkenny Alice Kyteler  The last witch in Ireland was born in Kilkenny. Dame Alice Kyteler was born in 1263 and gained fame during her lifetime through her four marriages and great wealth. She is accused of having poisoned them and of being a witch. She was sentenced but escaped from the country, while her servant and confidante Petronilla of Meath was whipped and sentenced to the stake on 3 November 1324. Today, if you are brave, you can eat at his table... or almost! Dine at Kyteler's Inn, built on the site of his home! Then read "The Stone" , a fictional novel, inspired by his story. Ghost River  Kilkenny is not spared from the supernatural. During a major flood in 1763, John's Bridge collapsed while a crowd was crossing it. 16 people drowned in the river. Since then, locals and visitors have spoken of strange, ghostly figures in the river, clawing at the banks, leaning over the existing structure and awakening with the morning mist. So many stories that make you want to come to Ireland. So get ready to spend the Halloween holidays by booking at Kilkenny Tourist Hostel

Two friends came to the tourist hostel in Kilkenny for their first trip to Ireland. Maelie and Chloé are French and they live in Britannia. They are 23 years old and they came to Ireland for two months. Maelie studies teaching in the university and Chloé wants to become an animal keeper. They met during their studies. We interviewed these French girls to find out how they felt about the hostel and the city of Kilkenny. They chose Kilkenny because it’s the closest city to the port of Rosslare. And they saw a beautiful city on the internet photos. They are very happy with their choice ! They took the boat with their car for a road trip. A French car with the steering wheel on the left to drive on the right in Ireland. It’s a challenge !!! They stay one week in Kilkenny. What did you do in Kilkenny ? We have the attractions in Kilkenny, the Castle and St Canice’s Cathedral. And it’s free ! It’s a very good point for us because we are young and we don't have a lot of money. The Castle is very beautiful and its story is interesting. We liked to walk in the garden, with good weather ! Yes, the weather in Ireland is fine. We saw a lovely house at the bottom of the way. We have a catwalk in Kilkenny. The Kilkenny Catwalk 2021 is a trail of 21 wonderful Kilkenny Cat sculptures which have been decorated by some of our most talented artists, mainly local, for public display in and around Kilkenny City in the second half of 2021. This art project is a partnership project between Kilkenny Civic Trust and Kilkenny County Council. And we walk in the city, to go shopping in MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre. We liked this colourful city. What is your favorite place ? “The Pumphouse for me” : said Maelie !! It’s my favorite place because there are many live music sessions and I like the atmosphere and the beer. We came to Ireland for the beer. And it’s true, there is a very good beer. Good reputation !   “For me it’s the castle, because I like the culture, the nature and the history” : said Chloé.   What do you think of the hostel ? The hostel has a good geographical location in Kilkenny. It is in the center. The staff are very welcoming and hospitable. The Hostel is clean and very cute with a lounge and kitchen. We have a chance to meet many people, and go out with other people. There is a good atmosphere in the hostel. We recommend visiting Johnstown Castle, Thomastown, Dunbroddy Abbey and Carlow.   Thank you very much for your interview. Have a nice trip ! Bye bye