| Kilkenny, Ireland, is the smallest city in Ireland in | | | | buildings and is often called the "Marble City" because |
| terms of both the number of people living there and | | | | of its abundance of marble facades. To construct |
| the land area that it covers. However, small as it is, | | | | these buildings, Black Marble, also called Kilkenny |
| it's the county seat of County Kilkenny, Ireland, and | | | | Marble, was quarried from the area. The marble is |
| a city famous for its history and nightlife. | | | | black with many decorative white fossils. Some of |
| Kilkenny was the capital of Ireland until late into the | | | | the most noted buildings are Kilkenny Castle and |
| 12th century. In 1366 the Statutes of Kilkenny were | | | | Saint Canice's Cathedral. |
| penned and the city, where the Irish Parliament was | | | | Another thing Kilkenny is known for is brewing beer |
| located, lent them its name. These statutes consisted | | | | and ale. Kilkenny is the location of St. Francis Abbey |
| of 19 parts that were essentially meant to keep the | | | | Brewery, which was owned by the Guinness Ireland |
| Irish people from having a "bad influence" on the | | | | Group until the 1960s when it merged with another |
| Normans. They kept the Irish and the Normans from | | | | company to form Diageo. Diageo is the largest |
| marrying one another and sharing the Irish customs | | | | alcoholic beverage business in the world today. |
| and languages. Kilkenny remained the capital of | | | | Other sites that make Kilkenny one of the most |
| Confederate Ireland until the Cromwellian conquest of | | | | popular tourist destinations in Kilkenny are the Black |
| Ireland when it surrendered in 1649. | | | | Abbey, the Canal Walk, St. Canice's Round Tower, |
| Today, Kilkenny is the location of two outstanding | | | | Kytlers Inn, and the Courthouse. |
| schools. Kilkenny College was started in 1538 and, as | | | | Visitors to Kilkenny, Ireland will have a number of |
| such, is among the oldest schools in Ireland. Kilkenny | | | | options for accommodations, including both hotels and |
| College was the alma mater of some very famous | | | | holiday apartments. |
| people, including Jonathan Swift and George Berkeley. | | | | Staying in Kilkenny, Ireland is sure to make you feel |
| In 1782 St. Kieran's College, the first Catholic School in | | | | lucky. The city is beautiful and historic, making it a |
| Ireland, was founded. Today, St. Kieran's is famous | | | | true pleasure to visit. Tourists in Kilkenny will find no |
| for its exceptional hurling team, which has turned out | | | | shortage of charming accommodations with fantastic |
| many famous sports figures. | | | | Irish hospitality. |
| Kilkenny is quite famous for its beautiful medieval | | | | |