Festival Trail
Gather a group of intrepid explorers to discover Kilkenny on foot, following our ‘treasure hunt’ style Festival Trail
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David Donohue
The Parade Tower
The bestselling author and backwards-speller extraordinaire rides into town to talk about his backwards-spelling hero, Walter Speazlebud

Bookbinding with Rachel Hazell
The National Craft Gallery
Join bookbinder and artist Rachel Hazell for interactive bookbinding activities based on the 1911 Kilkenny Census

Solas Supreme Workshop
Butler Gallery
Come along to these outdoor children's workshops using household objects to create fantastical sculptures

Paper Craft Laboratory
The National Craft Gallery
Explore the art of bookmaking, shadow puppetry, jewellery-making and more in the Crafts Council's free paper art workshops for children

Star Boy
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
Joe Brennan presents this delightful early years theatre performance, telling the tale of a small boy who just loves to explore

Holy Mary
The Watergate Theatre
A magical and hilarious new play by Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series, that takes an honest look at life through the eyes of eight-year-old Majella Barnes

Birdsong Workshop
Gallery 3G Castle Yard
Workshops by musician Laoise O'Brien and visual artist Lorna Donlon.

The Amazing Few
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
This exciting, interactive show will really get the kids jumping!

Festival Trail
Gather a group of intrepid explorers to discover Kilkenny on foot, following our ‘treasure hunt’ style Festival Trail
![]()
David Donohue
The Parade Tower
The bestselling author and backwards-speller extraordinaire rides into town to talk about his backwards-spelling hero, Walter Speazlebud

Bookbinding with Rachel Hazell
The National Craft Gallery
Join bookbinder and artist Rachel Hazell for interactive bookbinding activities based on the 1911 Kilkenny Census

Solas Supreme Workshop
Butler Gallery
Come along to these outdoor children's workshops using household objects to create fantastical sculptures

Paper Craft Laboratory
The National Craft Gallery
Explore the art of bookmaking, shadow puppetry, jewellery-making and more in the Crafts Council's free paper art workshops for children

Star Boy
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
Joe Brennan presents this delightful early years theatre performance, telling the tale of a small boy who just loves to explore

Holy Mary
The Watergate Theatre
A magical and hilarious new play by Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series, that takes an honest look at life through the eyes of eight-year-old Majella Barnes

Birdsong Workshop
Gallery 3G Castle Yard
Workshops by musician Laoise O'Brien and visual artist Lorna Donlon.

The Amazing Few
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
This exciting, interactive show will really get the kids jumping!

Birdsong Workshop
Gallery 3G Castle Yard
Workshops by musician Laoise O'Brien and visual artist Lorna Donlon.

Bookbinding with Rachel Hazell
The National Craft Gallery
Join bookbinder and artist Rachel Hazell for interactive bookbinding activities based on the 1911 Kilkenny Census

David Donohue
The Parade Tower
The bestselling author and backwards-speller extraordinaire rides into town to talk about his backwards-spelling hero, Walter Speazlebud

Festival Trail
Gather a group of intrepid explorers to discover Kilkenny on foot, following our ‘treasure hunt’ style Festival Trail
![]()
Holy Mary
The Watergate Theatre
A magical and hilarious new play by Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series, that takes an honest look at life through the eyes of eight-year-old Majella Barnes

Paper Craft Laboratory
The National Craft Gallery
Explore the art of bookmaking, shadow puppetry, jewellery-making and more in the Crafts Council's free paper art workshops for children

Solas Supreme Workshop
Butler Gallery
Come along to these outdoor children's workshops using household objects to create fantastical sculptures

Star Boy
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
Joe Brennan presents this delightful early years theatre performance, telling the tale of a small boy who just loves to explore

The Amazing Few
Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - Kilbride Suite
This exciting, interactive show will really get the kids jumping!

Help me Choose
Every year the Kilkenny Arts Festival brings so many amazing events to our city that its almost impossible to make sure you find all the events that may appeal to you. So we've put on our thinking caps and come up with this simple reference to suggest events you may not have considered.
My First Festival
This is my first time at an arts festival. I want to see what this festival is all about. I haven't heard of a lot of these names before and I'd like suggestions on what might be great to see.
My Inspiring Festival
I want to think. I want to get out of my comfort zone and confront the world head on. I don't want to be spoon fed. I want to be blown away. I want to argue.
My Surprising Festival
I want to find those hidden gems - things I may not have heard of but once I've experienced I will never forget.
My Alternative Festival
I want to see edgier, grittier more experimental stuff. I want to dance, have some fun. I want to stay up late.














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