Things to see and do...

Blackstairs Courtyard is an ideal centre for touring, but it’s so peaceful that it’s tempting to stay home and simply unwind. There’s a table in the courtyard if you want to eat outside, or you can take deck-chairs into the garden or swing in the orchard hammock. Star-watching is a joy on clear nights. Because it’s so quiet there is wildlife everywhere, if you know where to look. There are countless birds, including ravens on the Blackstairs, and foxes have been known to wander across the yard. You can find blackberries, fraughans (bilberries), mushrooms and sloes (for sloe gin – ask us for the recipe) in season.

There is plenty to do in the immediate vicinity, from hill-walking in the Blackstairs, walking ‘the line’ (Barrow tow-path) and swimming in the Barrow to a visit to the ancient monastic complex, Norman motte and holy well at St Mullins or the 12th century Cistercian abbey at Graiguenamanagh. There are also local festivals, such as the St Mullins Pattern (end of July), the Graiguenamanagh Festival of Books (third week in September) and many more.

Further afield (36km) is the ancient and beautiful city of Kilkenny, with its great Ormonde Butler castle commanding the crossing of the Nore; Kilkenny Design Centre is housed in the castle’s impressive stable-yard, with theatre, cinema, shops and restaurants a short walk away. The Norman town of New Ross, where the Barrow and Nore enter Waterford harbour, is 18km away; home to the Dunbrody Famine ship, and the great tapestries made to commemorate the towns 800th anniversary, its steep streets, theatre and quayside warehouses retain an old-fashioned charm, despite the development of modern shops and restaurants. The port town of Wexford (40km), home of the Wexford Opera festival, is a delight at any time of year, and the old Viking city of Waterford is also well worth a visit.

Inistioge on the Nore, one of the prettiest villages in Ireland, is about 20 minutes drive away. Near Thomastown (20 mins), home to the great music pub Carroll’s, are the spectacular ruins of Jerpoint Abbey a few km down the road. Altamont Gardens (40 mins) are among Ireland’s finest, the Wexford Slobs attract bird-watchers from all over the world and there are long, sandy beaches along the Wexford coast, which are almost empty for much of the year. There are par 3 golf courses in St Mullins and Borris, riding-stables and fishing on the Barrow.

This is an area of outstanding natural beauty with the sunniest climate in Ireland, but there is plenty to do on rainy days, with theatres and cinemas in Kilkenny Wexford and Waterford and a cinema in Carlow. There are restaurants ranging from fine dining to take away, museums, galleries and festivals

Major Festivals in the South East

Eigse (Carlow’s Arts Festival) June
The Cat Laughs (Kilkenny’s comedy festival) June
Kilkenny Arts Festival August
Wexford Opera Festival October
Waterford Spraoi (August holiday weekend)

There’s also racing at Gowran, 25 minutes away, the County Carlow Walking Festival in October, and Carlow’s Garden Festival in August.