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National Heritage Week 2025 Events at the Medieval Mile Museum

Post author By mariemedieval
Post date August 21, 2025
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National Heritage Week 2025 – Free Events at Medieval Mile Museum

August 16 – 24 | Exploring Our Foundations

Every August, National Heritage Week invites us to slow down, look closer, and reconnect with the traditions, places, and people that shaped Ireland. This year’s theme, Exploring Our Foundations, is about discovering the stories beneath our feet, from the stones of ancient churches to the words of storytellers and the creativity passed from one generation to the next.

At the heart of Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile, the Medieval Mile Museum will once again be a hub of activity for National Heritage Week 2025. Families, history lovers, and curious explorers are invited to step inside this historic landmark and take part in a series of special events designed to bring Kilkenny’s past to life in exciting, memorable ways.

Whether it’s uncovering myths during story time, hunting for LEGO figures, or tracing the artistry of Kilkenny’s tombstones, each event offers a different lens through which to explore our heritage.

Story Time at the Museum

Daily on 20^th, & 22^nd August | 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | Free but Booking Required

Start the day with a little magic inside the museum walls. Our 30-minute storytelling sessions will whisk families into a world of local legends, quirky tales, and Kilkenny myths. Specially created for younger audiences, this engaging event is all about sparking imaginations and helping children connect with the heritage around them.

From knights to curious characters of the past, each tale weaves a thread between history and imagination, giving young listeners a fresh way to understand the city’s medieval story.

LEGO Heritage Hunt

Daily on August 20^th, 21^st & 22^nd | Drop-in from 09:45 – 16:45 | Kids Go Free

For those who like their history hands-on, the LEGO Heritage Hunt is a playful way to connect with the past. Hidden throughout the museum are mini LEGO figures, each connected to a real piece of Kilkenny’s history. Armed with an activity sheet, young explorers will set off on an adventure to match characters with their historical stories.

Along the way, families will discover tales of kings, knights, and medieval life-proving that even the smallest brick can build big connections to the past.

No booking is required, just drop in and get hunting.

Lunchtime Tombstone Tours

August 20^th, 21^st & 23^rd | 1:00 PM | Free but Booking Required

Step outside and take a walk through St. Mary’s Graveyard, where centuries of Kilkenny’s history are etched in stone. These guided lunchtime tours, led by expert museum guides, uncover the artistry, symbolism, and hidden stories carved into the city’s tombstones.

Over the course of 45 minutes, you’ll:

Trace the evolution of grave markers from medieval to modern.
Hear stories of prominent Kilkenny families buried on site.
Discover religious and cultural shifts reflected in burial practices.
Learn about the skills of local stonemasons whose work still endures today.

It’s a chance to reflect on Kilkenny’s built heritage, while gaining a new appreciation for the craftsmanship and memory woven into the graveyard’s stones.

Why Visit During Heritage Week?

Heritage Week is not just about looking back, it’s about making the past part of the present. At the Medieval Mile Museum, families can experience history in ways that are interactive, creative, and fun. From early morning story time to afternoon hunts and reflective tours, there’s something for every age group to enjoy.

And because these events are free to attend, they’re a perfect way for both locals and visitors to celebrate Kilkenny’s role in Ireland’s heritage.

So, this August, gather your family, bring your curiosity, and step inside Kilkenny’s stories. National Heritage Week 2025 promises to be a celebration of the foundations we all share, and the Medieval Mile Museum is the perfect place to begin.

Tags History Museum, Irelands Ancient East, Kilkenny, Kilkenny Museum, things to do

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The Ahenny High Crosses, Preserving Ireland’s Early Medieval Craftsmanship

Post author By mariemedieval
Post date July 28, 2025
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Planning a visit to Kilkenny? Make sure the Medieval Mile Museum is top of your list. Located in the heart of this historic city, the museum is home to some of Ireland’s most remarkable artefacts, including the stunning Ahenny High Crosses, masterful replicas of 8th and 9th century Christian stonework that offer a rare glimpse into our early medieval past.

The Ahenny High Crosses on display at the Medieval Mile Museum date to the 8th / 9th Century.
In 1906, the Director of the National Museum of Ireland, concerned about the deterioration of the original stonework due to exposure to the elements, commissioned Signor Orlandi to create detailed casts of the crosses.
These faithful replicas serve as a testament to the exceptional artistry and craftsmanship of early medieval stone carvers, preserving intricate designs that might otherwise have been lost to time.

Today, visitors can admire these crosses up close, experiencing the beauty and symbolism of one of Ireland’s most iconic Christian art forms without damaging the precious originals still standing in Ahenny, County Tipperary.

While you’re here, be sure to explore the rest of the Medieval Mile Museum. Take a guided tour through the centuries, marvel at ancient tombs beneath your feet, and uncover stories etched into stone. Whether you’re a history lover, a curious traveller, or simply enjoying a day out in Kilkenny, the Medieval Mile Museum offers a truly unforgettable experience that brings Ireland’s medieval past to life.

For more information on the Museum, please don’t hesitate to get in touch directly at info@medievalmilemuseum.ie

By Curator : Sharon Kavanagh

Tags History Museum, Irelands Ancient East, Kilkenny, Kilkenny Museum, Museum, things to do

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International Museum Day May 18th 2022

Post author By sgoss@kilkennycivictrust.ie
Post date May 18, 2022
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800 years of history under one roof…

It’s International Museum Day and we wanted to give you a little background information on the Medieval Mile Museum, Kilkenny.

The History of the Building

Following an award-winning restoration by McCullough Mulvin Architects, the former St Mary’s Church has been converted into a modern museum. Designed to enrich the cultural life of the city and provide a new international standard attraction for visitors the museum has several functions: as the starting point for understanding Kilkenny’s medieval history, to display Kilkenny’s Civic Treasures and replicas of some of Ossory High Crosses and to provide a space for temporary exhibitions and cultural events.

The Museum Today

We are delighted to be among the many fantastic attractions along Irelands Medieval Mile. As the starting point of the Medieval Mile trail, the Museum brings to life Kilkenny’s history as Ireland’s premier medieval city.

Visitors to the museum will marvel not only at some of Ireland’s finest examples of medieval sculpture, but also the country’s largest collection of Renaissance tombs. Stepping into the Rothe Chapel you will find the best surviving example of a medieval chantry chapel in Ireland.

Stories of power and wealth written and preserved in magnificent stone carvings – Our High Cross exhibition introduces the High Kings of Ossory and the foundation of the monastery of Kilkenny by St Canice. The displays describe how Kilkenny has the finest stone sculptural tradition in Ireland extending from the Neolithic period of 5,000 years ago to the modern era.

Books, Letters, Petitions, Leases… Kilkenny holds a unique set of civic records, tracing the city’s history right back to the 1200s. The ancient papers and treasures tell fascinating stories about daily life in a medieval city governed by wealthy merchants and are on display in the Kilkenny Room along with the Liber Primus – Kilkenny’s extraordinary town book.

Our cutting-edge exhibition, 3 lives, 3 deaths, One life unlived welcomes the return of three skeletons that were excavated at the main gate of the museum in 2016. We have learned a lot about these individuals’ lives through scientific analysis and historical research.

The atmospheric medieval graveyard – A place of rest for the great and good of Kilkenny for 800 years, the graveyard is now an oasis for wildlife in the centre of the city. Bats, butterflies and bees have made their homes here as well as a variety of plants.

Our wonderful, expert storytelling Tour Guides give visitors a wonderful introduction with Guided Tours and a Medieval Mile Trail City Walking Tour running daily. We also offer an Interactive Audio Tour allowing visitors to explore the Museum at their own pace.

Education

The Museum’s education and outreach programmes for schools and the wider community are central to its operational strategy and are a key priority. We offer a range of engaging educational experiences tailored to each group. Our School Tours and Workshops link closely with the primary and secondary curricula. We also offer tours for Third-Level and Language School Students.

Events

Ideally located in the heart of the city centre the Medieval Mile Museum also provides a stunning, atmospheric backdrop for a private function or corporate event striking the perfect balance of traditional and contemporary features. We have hosted many great local festivals and events, most recently Kilkenny Tradfest and April Sounds, along with beautiful, unique wedding ceremonies.

For more information on the Museum, please don’t hesitate to get in touch directly at info@medievalmilemuseum.ie

Tags History Museum, International Museum Day, Irelands Ancient East, Kilkenny, Museum

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What Made Kilkenny a City?

Post author By granitewordpress
Post date March 29, 2022
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The city charter in 1609 on 11th April is written on animal skin. The power of symbolism reflects in the image of the lion of England, the unicorn of Scotland and the fleur de lys of France. Not in colour as the 1608 charter with its brilliantly decorative illumination, but yet poignant in written script.

The charter is an updated version of the first charter which concentrates on power, law and the council members. The ecclesiastical centres are mentioned and a description of Kilkenny and it’s wishes of it to be a ‘city of peace to the terror and fear of the wicked’. The charter gives power and rights to the people of Kilkenny and makes for a development of early city organization of its areas. The merchant class were now on the up.

Edward Shee was elected Mayor. Three weekly markets were permitted and three yearly fairs on the holy days of St Canice, St Patrick and John the Baptist.