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Dunbrody famine ship
Kilkenny & Waterford
An easy two-hour drive from Dublin, this region often skipped by travelers warrants some attention. Kilkenny, with one of Ireland's finest castles and a rich medieval history, maintains a workaday, livable vibe despite the tourists. Nearby Waterford provides an enjoyable few hours of sightseeing, from its famous crystal factory demonstrations to a group of thoughtfully presented museums ringing its cathedral. The adjacent countryside has quite a few worthwhile sights, including a poignant replica "famine ship," a famous lighthouse, and the ancestral home of the Kennedy clan.
At a Glance
▲▲ Kilkenny Castle Historic castle, later converted into an opulent château.
▲▲ Jerpoint Abbey Informatively presented abbey ruins with carvings, bringing to life a monastic culture from the 12th century.
▲▲ Kells Priory Deserted, monastic ruins of a vast complex, with tower houses bordering a huge courtyard, and rock walls that once supported a church, a cloister, and more.
▲▲ Dunbrody Famine Ship Replica of a typical famine ship that brought emigrants to America.
▲▲ Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre Popular tour of glass factory with live demos and glittering sales shop.
▲ Rothe House and Garden Sprawling 17th-century merchant’s townhouse complex displaying upper-crust Elizabethan life.
Plan
Photos
Watch
Read
- Best of South Ireland
- The Amazing Life of Waterford’s Favorite Son