Kilkenny is divided by the River Nore and dominated by the Kilkenny Castle. There is a nice walking trail along the river by the castle.
The River:
The River Nore originates in the Devil’s Bit Mountain and flows for 140 kilometers (that’s 87 miles in American English). Along the way it flows through Kilkenny.
The Trail:
Kilkenny Castle:
Located in County Kilkenny, this castle was originally constructed in the 13th century (1204 to 1213) and stood as a symbol of the Norman occupation of Ireland. James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought the castle in 1391. The Butler dynasty ruled the surrounding area for centuries. From the 15th through the 17th centuries, Kilkenny served as the capital of the Ormond lordship.
The castle was extensively remodeled in the 19th century. The Butler family continued to live in the castle until 1935. It was sold to a local castle restoration committee in 1967, refurbished, and opened to visitors. While there are tours through some of the castle, no photography is allowed within the castle. Today, the portion of the castle which is open to the public and its extensive grounds are more like an 18th or 19th century palace than a castle.
The Park:
The area around the castle is a park which is used by both the tourists and the locals.
Ruins:
Walking along the river, several other ruins can be seen.