Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ireland's loveliest inland city, Kilkenny gives you a feel for salt-of-the-earth Ireland. Its
castle and cathedral stand like historic bookends on a higgledy-piggledy High Street of
colorful shops and medieval facades. It's nicknamed the “Marble City” for its nearby
quarry (actually black limestone, not marble), and you can see the white seashells fos-
silized within the black stone steps around town. While a small town today (fewer
than 10,000 residents), Kilkenny has a big history. It used to be an important cen-
ter—occasionally even the capital of Ireland in the Middle Ages. And of vital interest to
contemporary women is the fact that actor George Clooney traces his roots to Kilkenny.
Kilkenny is a good overnight for drivers wanting to break the journey from Dublin to
Dingle (necessary if you want to spend time at Powerscourt and Glendalough on the way
