Freshford is a village in County Kilkenny, 15 km northwest of Kilkenny town, with a population of 600 in 2022. In Irish it's called Achadh Úr, "fresh field", and its main sight is the ruin of the 14th century Ballylarkin Church.
Get in
[edit]
By road from Dublin take M8 to Junction 4 at Urlingford then follow R693 east. From Kilkenny take R693 northwest, 14 km.
JJ Kavanagh Bus 871 runs twice M-Sa from Kilkenny to Freshford (25 min), Johnstown and Urlingford. It connects at Urlingford with Bus 812 from Roscrea via Thurles, on the Dublin-Cork railway.
Get around
[edit]You can easily walk between village and Ballylarkin Church. You need wheels to explore the surrounding countryside.
See
[edit]- 1 St Lachtain's Church, Church St, Freshford R95 XA31. Sa Su 1-2PM. This is Church of Ireland, built in 1731, incorporating the Romanesque porch and doorway from a church of 1100. That in turn replaced the first church of 622 AD, destroyed by the Vikings.
- Freshford Cross on the village green was first erected behind Uppercourt Manor in 1622. Only the little ziggurat of its base remains, moved here in 1790 when the mansion was rebuilt. Hence Bohercrussia Street: Bothar na Croise, "Base of the Cross."
- Millennium Park is a pleasant green space north end of the village.
- 2 Ballylarkin Church. 24 hours. Ruin of a church built in 1350, sometimes called an abbey though it's not clear that it was ever so. It has fine Gothic carvings and architectural features, including a triple sedilia, where the priest and assistants sat. The Sheila-na-Gig has been removed to the National Archaeology Museum in Dublin. Free.
- Three castles - medieval turrets - stand in the fields further west along R693. Clomantagh and Tubrid may be available for holiday rental, Balief is derelict. Don't go to the village of Threecastles east towards Kilkenny, as it's notable for its lack of castles.
- Foulkscourt Castle is another turret northwest of Johnstown. It's tumbledown and inaccessible.
- 3 Ballyragget is a village 9 km northeast of Freshford, with an attractive central square, 19th-century church and the 15th-century turret of Ormonde Castle.
Do
[edit]- Freshford Loop is an 8 km walking circuit through the fields southwest of the village. No dogs.
- Nuenna Farm Equestrian Centre, Kilkenny Rd R95 XF79 (1 km from village on R693), ☏ +353 56 883 2614. Family run equestrian centre.
Buy
[edit]
- Lynch's Mace is open daily 7AM-10PM and has fuel.
Eat
[edit]- Loop Cafe at 21 Bohercrussia St is open M-Sa 9:30AM-4PM.
- The pubs have bar food. Mace store also has a small cafe.
Drink
[edit]- The village pubs are McGrath's, J Kavanagh's and O'Farrell's.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Tess's Guest House, Tobernapeastia, Freshford R95 K6N1, ☏ +353 87 339 5978. Pleasant B&B west edge of village.
- 2 Kate's Rest B&B, Barna E41 N6C4, ☏ +353 86 358 2920. Smart welcoming guest house.
- 3 Cradóg, Tubrid, Woodsgift E41 HW25, ☏ +353 56 883 5224. Welcoming B&B on a beef farm.
Connect
[edit]As of April 2026, Freshford and its approach roads have 4G from Eir and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.
Go next
[edit]- Kilkenny is a lively small city with a medieval heritage.
- Castlecomer to the northeast has the Discovery Park and a coal-mining museum.
- Thurles in County Tipperary has a fine cathedral; near town is Holy Cross Abbey.