Explore

The former St Mary’s Church has been converted into a modern museum and will also be a venue for select events and exhibitions. 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.

As the starting point of the Medieval Mile trail, it brings to life Kilkenny’s history as Ireland’s premier medieval city.

Discover the once-hidden history of this stunning building in the St. Mary’s room through our animated timeline. Through the glass floors, you can catch a glimpse of the foundations of a massive tower that loomed over the city. This room is also home to the amazing artefacts and human remains unearthed during the restoration of the building.

Discover the Kilkenny Room with its magnificent glass window overlooking the city. As you make your way, you will catch a glimpse of external tombs dedicated to other wealthy Kilkenny families. 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.
Find the Liber Primus – Kilkenny’s extraordinary medieval town book.

Wander through the atmospheric medieval graveyard where buried secrets of powerful patrons lie, awaiting discovery. 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.