OPW re-opens heritage sites in Kilkenny for the summer season

All over Kilkenny, doors are opening. But which one will you step through?

Locals and visitors alike are invited to 'step into our story' as a number of the national landmarks across Kilkenny that the OPW holds in trust for the nation reopen for the season.

Will you step inside Jerpoint Abbey, one of the best examples of a medieval Cistercian Abbey in Ireland and renowned for its detailed stone sculptures found throughout the monastery?

Or maybe you will avail of the extended seasonal opening hours at Kilkenny Castle, jewel in the crown of the medieval city?

Across the country, 70 historical and heritage sites are open for you to explore. All you have to do is step inside.

Visitors will be able to enjoy more than 6,000 years of history at one of our many ancient and enchanting sites across Ireland and in Kilkenny, including Kilkenny Castle and, from June, Kells Priory, Ireland’s largest enclosed ecclesiastical site.

Breda Lynch, Supervisor Guide with the OPW at Jerpoint Abbey said:  “We are thrilled to reopen Jerpoint Abbey. It is a fantastic site to visit for the whole family. Children of all ages love our treasure hunt which gives them the opportunity to search the abbey to discover saints, patrons, knights, exotic animals and mythological creatures.”

Welcoming the re-opening of the OPW Heritage sites for the summer season, Minister for the OPW Patrick O’Donovan T.D. said: “I am delighted to see so many of Ireland’s tourism attractions re-open for the summer season, just in time for Easter weekend, offering a renewed opportunity to explore the treasures which the OPW holds in trust for the Nation.

“The heritage landmarks re-opening, as well as those open all year, significantly contribute to the local sense of place, the local economy and are great places for all the family to enjoy.

“The OPW is working hard to safeguard our national landmarks and the preservation of these heritage sites shows the clear investment by the State in our heritage portfolio.”

On the first Wednesday of every month, visitors and families can enjoy free admission to Jerpoint Abbey.

The OPW Heritage Card also offers visitors unlimited access to the over 45 historic sites and visitor attractions for a year, offering great savings and value for money to anyone wanting to learn about Ireland’s cultural heritage.

The most recently compiled figures showed almost 13 million visitors stepped through the doors of OPW heritage sites in 2021.  The heritage estate is growing in importance and scale of activity, with the OPW investing significantly in the protection and preservation of Ireland’s heritage site, with its team of dedicated experts.