To find out what's going on around town, pick up a copy of the local weekly paper Kilkenny People. Kilkenny is home to the small-but-mighty Watergate Theatre, Parliament Street (tel. 056/776-1674; www.watergatetheatre.com), a 328-seat venue for local talent and visiting troupes in classic and contemporary plays, concerts, and ballets. Ticket prices average €10 to €20.
Across the street from the theater, John Cleere's, 28 Parliament St. (tel. 056/776-2573), is a pub theater that's good for music and local productions.
For 2 weeks every August, the Kilkenny Arts Festival (tel. 056/775-2175; www.kilkennyarts.ie) takes over the town. It is one of Ireland's largest and longest-running arts festivals, covering music, theater, dance, visual arts, literature, and film. There are also a variety of street theater performances on hand, so even if you don't plan to go to any of the scheduled events, you'll likely get caught up in the proceedings at some point. Check out the festival website for specific program details.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
