Essentials
- City
- Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland
- Population
- Approx. 26,500
- Internet Speed
- 90-120 Mbps (SIRO fiber widely available in center)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR), 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Fluoridated)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK/Ireland 3-pin)
- SIM Card
- Three, Vodafone, Eir (Prepaid from €20/month for unlimited data)
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut (Irish IBANs), AIB, Bank of Ireland
- Accommodation
- Daft.ie, Airbnb, Boutique Hotels
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless widely accepted in 95% of venues
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com (Average €1,200 - €2,000/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Kilkenny Goldie’s (+353 56 772 1322)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Medieval Mile / City Centre (High Street/Parliament Street)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Loughboy or Village of Bennettsbridge (for longer stays with transit access)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- New Work Junction, Dublin Rd (€20 Day Pass / €150 Month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Cakeface Lab, Irishtown (Great Wi-Fi & high-quality pastries)
- Networking Events
- Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours (Monthly)
- Social Events for Expats
- Meetups at Cleere’s Bar & Theatre, Parliament St
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (Uber exists but calls licensed taxis only)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Kilkenny Cycling Tours, Vicar St (€20/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Tramore Beach, Co. Waterford (approx. 50 mins drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Ryanair (Flying from Dublin Airport, 1.5 hours away)
- Top International Airline
- Aer Lingus
- Highway Access
- M9 motorway connecting to Dublin (North) and Waterford (South)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- MacDonagh Station (Dublin-Waterford line)
- Public Transport Passes
- Leap Card (Saves 30% on regional bus and rail)
- Regional Travel
- JJ Kavanagh & Sons, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- St. Luke's General Hospital, Freshford Rd
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Shala, Lower New St (€15 drop-in)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Watershed, Scanlon Park (includes 25m pool, €10 guest pass)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Basket, Dean St
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- JustEat.ie, Deliveroo (Limited availability), UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Irish Stew or Goatsbridge Trout
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Fig Tree, High St
- Best Dessert Spots
- Murphy’s Ice Cream, High St
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lidl and Aldi at Waterford Road
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.uk (Delivery within 2-3 days), Littlewoods.ie
- Grocery Delivery
- Tesco.ie, SuperValu Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- John Street (Matt The Millers, Langtons)
- Local Brewery
- Smithwick’s Experience (Brewery Tour), Parliament St
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Centre, John St (Retail and tasting)
- Street Food Stalls
- Kilkenny Farmers Market, Parade Square (Every Thursday)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Indique (Indian), Rinuccini (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Kilkenny Castle and The Parade
- Museums & Art Venues
- Butler Gallery (Contemporary Art), Evans' Home
- Historical Sites
- Rothe House and Garden (16th-century merchant house)
- Religious Sites
- St. Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower
- Annual Events
- Kilkenomics (Economics/Comedy festival in November)
- Cultural Districts
- The Medieval Mile
- Theater Venues
- Watergate Theatre, Parliament St
- Local Markets
- Thursday Market at The Parade
- Music Scene
- Rollercoaster Records (Indie), Hole in the Wall (Traditional)
- Street Art
- Graffiti motifs around the Abbey Quarter development
- Cooking Classes
- Ryeland House Cookery School (15 mins from city)
- Art Galleries
- Kilkenny Design Centre (Craft and Design)
- Historic Buildings
- The Tholsel (City Hall), High St
- Local Heritage
- The Black Abbey (13th-century Dominican priory)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Castlecomer Discovery Park (20 mins drive)
- National Parks Nearby
- Wicklow Mountains National Park (approx. 1 hour drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- River Nore Linear Walk
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of St. Canice’s Round Tower (panoramic city views)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Nore River bank near Dunmore
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted in city parks; designated campsites only
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- An Post (Main Office on High St), DPD, DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- The Phone Shop, High St
- Table Tennis Spots
- The Watershed Sports Centre
- Language Classes
- Kilkenny City College (ESOL and community classes)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Kilkenny City Library, Johns Quay
- Community Centers
- Fr. McGrath Community Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- None; some pubs feature retro gaming nights
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- The Library Snooker Club (Gaming area included)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €157,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €112,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €200,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €150,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €285,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €210,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 12.5% (Trading income), 15% for multi-nationals over threshold
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% standard (Subject to tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents and domiciled individuals
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 40% (Plus PRSI and USC Levies)
- VAT
- 23% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in accordance with EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive
- Property Tax
- LPT (Local Property Tax) based on market value bands
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty: 1% on first €1m, 2% thereafter
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) for employees; Non-domiciled status can offer remittance basis for foreign income