The Smithwicks Kilkenny Roots Festival will return in 2016 during the May Bank Holiday.
Friday 29th April to Monday 2nd May.
Audiences wind their way through the medieval streets sampling the huge range of music in the 30 plus venues, hosting over 40 Irish and international acts, with over 90 ticketed and free shows from early afternoon until late into the night.
There’s a mixture of old and new acts on the free pub gig trail and all styles are catered for, from swing to bluegrass, rockabilly to cajun, folk, blues and beyond.
2016 lineup includes:
Hayes Carll, Barna Howard,John Blek and The Rats, The Delta Saints, The Weather Station, Teddy Thomas and Kelly Jones, TV Jones y Los Gatos, Tim V Smyth and The Sky at Night, Malojian, Cale Tyson Band, David Corley, Ryley Walker, Fernando Viciconte, Richmond Fontaine, Lewis and Leigh.
Gulliver's Travels author, Jonathan Swift, attended Kilkenny College in the late 17th century, and a building at the college was named after him in 2007. Swift's fellow students included playwright William Congreve and the philosopher George Berkeley – after whom California’s Berkeley College is named.
Kilkenny have only met neighbours Carlow once in the hurling championship. That was in 1993 when Kilkenny won 5-19 to 16 points. Kilkenny have met Lancashire more times – twice(1905, 1913) .
Kilkenny's most one sided All-Ireland finals win was in 2008 when they beat Waterford by 23 points with a scoreline of Kilkenny 3-30 to 1-13 Waterford
"To understand Kilkenny's unique character one should retire from the busy streets to the lovely Castle Park and, standing within the shadow of the ancient pile, contemplate the great jumble of roof-tops, old and young, which tumble down to the quiet-flowing river beneath. Here dove-grey spires and battlemented towers proclaim a city old in Christian living and wise in human experience. One can feel the heartbeat of an ancient civilised community."
Katherine M Lanigan, Gerald Tyler, 'Kilkenny, Its Architecture & History', Appletree Press 1977
The gravestone of Daniel O’Connell in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin is made from Kilkenny black marble, and the stone was also used in the construction of Cobh Cathedral in Cork
In 1922, the Butler family - namely Lord and Lady Ossory - were residents of the castle. The Irish Civil war, raged around them. Lord Ossory memorably wrote that he was woken at the "unreasonable hour of 5.30am" by his butler, who brought the news that Republican forces had seized and occupied his castle.
Kilkenny’s visitor experiences and attractions must be allowed re-open their doors under Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions to access the lifeline of a summer domestic tourism season.
A new festival in May will celebrate Johnstown’s 250th anniversary.
Funding’s been approved for a festival in the North KIlkenny town on the 24th of May.
Yulefest Kilkenny Christmas festival returns to celebrate its fourth year and in 2019 is offering a bumper six week festival running from 22nd November 2019 to 6th January 2020.