Welcome to Graiguenamanagh, a picturesque and historic town in Ireland’s Ancient East

Nestled in a fertile valley, Graiguenamanagh is almost entirely surrounded by hills, including Brandon Hill, the tallest summit in Kilkenny. To the east are the striking peaks of the Blackstairs Mountains, while to the south, the fast-flowing waters of the River Barrow rush by. Graiguenamanagh’s story begins over 800 years ago, with the founding of Duiske Abbey by William Marshal, one of the most powerful medieval magnates of the 13th century. Twelve Cistercian monks from Wiltshire settled in the abbey and became some of the town’s earliest inhabitants. In fact, the name Graiguenamanagh, or Gráig na Manach means “village of the Monks” in Irish.

In addition to the abbey, the audio guide provides information on some of the remarkable characters who once called Graiguenamanagh home. They include the high and mighty, like the members of the powerful Butler family; the revolutionaries, like 1798 Rebellion leader Captain Thomas Cheevers; and the ordinary townspeople, like the O’Learys, who were blamed for the Great Chicago Fire. You will also have the chance to visit the castle of Tinnahinch, cross the mighty River Barrow, and squeeze through what might just be the narrowest alley in the world!

Besides its weighty history and fantastic stories, Graiguenamanagh is an excellent place to enjoy the outdoors. You can rent boats and sail along the River Barrow, hike up Mt Brandon or take a nice stroll in Silaire wood. In August, the town hosts the annual Regatta, which sees hundreds of spectators throng the banks to watch local and visiting competitors battle it out in diving competitions, swimming and boat races. This isn’t the only major festival the town hosts; in September, crowds gather for the ‘Town of Books’ Festival, which transforms Graiguenamanagh into an open-air book shop for one weekend.

Our audio guide will help you to discover all the highlights of the town while introducing you to some of the many tales that make Graiguenamanagh such a special place.

The Graiguenamanagh Audio Guide

This audio guide was produced by Abarta Heritage on behalf of Kilkenny County Council. The story was written by Tara Clarke and edited by Damien Shiels. Narration was by Paula Rouse, and recorded at Bluebird Studios with sound engineer Declan Lonergan and producers Tara Clarke and Róisín Burke.