You can visit Kilkenny at any time of year and you will find lots to do and see. It is a county and city full of interesting attractions, historical and heritage sites and lots more. If your dates are flexible, why not find out what’s on in Kilkenny in 2018 and plan your visit to coincide with one of the many things to do in Kilkenny you can choose from?
There are numerous Kilkenny events in 2018. Here is our selection of the best of what to do in Kilkenny throughout the year:
Kilkenny TradFest 2018
Venue: Kilkenny City
Dates: 16th to 19th March 2018
This is the 6th Kilkenny Tradfest and it will reverberate throughout the city during St Patrick’s Weekend with live music performances, music and dance workshops fun for all the family.
Some of this year’s performers include Finbar Furey, Moxie, The Bonny Men, Ye Vagabonds, Jiggy, Máirtín O’Connor, Zoë Conway & Dónal Lunny, Scullion and many more.
A great weekend for Traditional Irish Music lovers!
St Patrick’s Festival 2018
Venue: Kilkenny City
Dates: 16th to 19th March 2018
As well as the Tradfest, St Patrick’s Festival 2018 include activities such as the St Patricks Day Parade, Vintage Fairground, Medieval Mile Museum, Live Music and Street Performances and lots of othe fun events.
The High Kings
Venue: The Hub at Cillin Hill, Kilkenny
Dates: 14th April 2018
The High Kings are Internationally acclaimed singers of Irish folk songs. This quartet first arrived on the Irish folk music circuit in 2008. They are highly popular and have sold out hundreds of shows and have had numerous TV engagements. The High Kings are multi-instrumentalists as well as being accomplished singers and will perform from their wide repertoire including songs from ‘DECADE’ which was released in 2017.
The Stunning
Venue: Set Theatre, Kilkenny, Ireland
Dates: Saturday 14 April 2018
The Stunning have been around since 1987 and have had numerous hit singles and albums over the years. After being inactive for ten years, The Stunning reformed and reissued their album ‘Paradise in the Picturehouse’. They have continued to be enormously popular playing to huge audiences and continue to release new material and are on tour again.
Aslan
Venue: The Hub at Cillin Hill, Kilkenny
Dates: Friday 20 April 2018
Aslan are still going strong after all these years despite many trials and setbacks. This is part of their FEEL NO SHAME 30th Anniversary tour.
Kilkenny Roots Festival 2018
Venue: Kilkenny City
Dates: 4th to 7th May 2018 –
The festival of country and folk-roots music festival has grown since it started in 1998 features a mix of Irish and International acts with all styles are catered including swing, bluegrass, rockabilly, cajun, folk, blues and more. There are 20 ticketed shows and over 60 free performances in over 30 venues throughout the City.
This year’s lineup includes Darlingside, Seamus Fogarty, Molly Tuttle, Rachel Baiman, Michael Nau, The Deep Dark Woods, Hillbilly Casino, Peter Oren, Whitney Rose, Bennett, Wilson & Poole, Birds of Chicago, Mary Gauthier, The Blasters and Prinz Grizzley.
Don McLean
Venue: Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny, Ireland
Dates: Wednesday 30 May 2018
This popular singer/songwriter has withstood the test of time having first hit the headlines with American Pie in 1972. He followed up with a tribute to painter Van Gogh with his hit song ‘Vincent’.
His other well known songs include ‘And I Love You So’ and ‘Castles in The Air’
Sister Act
Venue: Watergate Theatre
Dates: 8th Apr — 14th April 2018
Kilkenny Musical Society are staging Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy from 8-14 April. The original film version in 1992 featured Whoopi Goldberg.
Cat Laughs Comedy Festival 2018
Venue: Kilkenny City
Dates: 1st to 4th June 2018
Cat Laughs has been going since 1995 and has grown to be one of the best known international comedy festivals in the world. The festival which showcases the best in Irish & international comedy acts attracts more than 30,000 visitors.
The full Kilkenny Cat Laughs programme will be available shortly.
Kilkenny Arts Festival 2018
Venue: Kilkenny City
Dates: 9th to 19th August 2018
The Kilkenny Arts Festival 2018 is now in its 45th year. Art, music, Literature performances in this polished festival. The city’s churches, castle, courtyards, townhouses and gardens are the settings for numerous performances, readings, recitals and exhibitions.
This year’s programme will be available soon.
Website: https://www.kilkennyarts.ie
Kilkenny Heritage Week 2018
Venue: :Kilkenny
Dates: 18th – 26th August 2018
National Heritage Week is coordinated by The Heritage Council. In 2018, Heritage Week will be a highlight of Ireland’s celebration of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Kilkenny, as usual will have a big programme of events. Details to come later.
Medieval Marathon Kilkenny
Venue: Kilkenny
Dates: 15th September 2018
Kilkenny is staging Ireland’s 3rd Medieval Marathon. Participants will set off from the Parade at 1pm and will run (or walk or crawl) through the most historic sites in the city before proceeding out into country roads and back to Kilkenny to finish on The Parade in the heart of the city. There are four routes, Marathon, 30k, half marathon and 10k.
Information at http://www.medievalmarathonkilkenny.com/
Kilkenomics Festival 2018
Venue: Kilkenny City
Dates: Thurs 8th – Sunday 11th November
Who would have thought that economics could be funny?
Kilkenny has managed to combine the serious business of economics with comedy.
Last year numerous well known contributors included Patrick Honohan, Gerard Stembridge, Yanis Varoufakis, Peter Antonioni, David McWilliams, Sinead Ryan, Andrew Maxwell, and Constantin Gurdgiev who spoke on over 50 topics including:
Brexit One Year On: A Grave Mistake or Enlightened Opportunism?, The End of Work? Does Everyone Have to be an Entrepreneur Now?, Yanis Varoufakis in Conversation with David Mcwilliams, 9:30 pmDoes School Make Us Stupid?, Why Is Ireland So Bloody Expensive?, Bankers in Paradise: Why Only the Little People Pay Tax, Putin and Us – Russianomics, United Ireland: At What Cost?, Ted Talks: The Economics of Father Ted with Liam Delaney, Growing Old Gracefully: How to Spend your Children’s Inheritance!
What will they come up with this year?
Watch this space for more info later.
Subtitle European Film Festival
Venue: Kilkenny City
Dates: 19th – 25th November 2018
The festival showcases European films with subtitles. You won’t find these in the Cinemaplexes and Omniplexes and if you are looking for some movie experience outside of the mainstream this is the festival for you.
Last years festival had new films with 15 Irish premieres including a preview of Aku Louhimies’s epic film UNKNOWN SOLDIER, Valery Todorovsky’s drama, BOLSHOI, Alexei Uchitel’s MATILDA and Tonie Marshall’s new film, NUMBER ONE.
The dates and programme for 2018 are yet to be announced. Watch here for further announcements.
Check here for further information on Things to do in Kilkenny during 2018.