Top Kilkenny Food & Drink

Learn about the history of Irish whiskey on this tour of the only family farm whiskey distillery in Ireland, Ballykeefe Distillery. Expect to be educated and entertained on this distillery tour, where you can find the answers to all your questions about Irish whiskey's origins and taste the distillery's products.

It’s said the best way to get the measure of a place is to spend time with local people, but meeting and greeting strangers on foreign shores isn’t always easy. On this afternoon or evening homestay experience, visit the welcoming 18th-century home of Richenda and Michael in Kilkenny. Savor a home-cooked meal of traditional Irish dishes, share conversation with like-minded travel-oriented people, and experience the best of Ireland’s famous hospitality.

You will be warmly welcomed by your host Richenda and Michael into their historic home and enjoy a welcome cup of coffee or tea with biscuits or scones in their gorgeous living room. Next, enter Richenda’s kitchen where you will learn to learn to cook an authentic Irish meal with Richenda’s creative touches from recipes that have been passed down through generations of her family. Your cooking demo will involve watching your host prepare 4-5 dishes from scratch. You will watch her prepare an Irish stew the traditional way, brown soda bread (her mother’s recipe) and a soup, or dessert. Your meal might also include a few dishes that Richenda may have prepared in advance. Please note that this is a demonstration, not a hands-on cooking class, and will last about two and a half hours. Enjoy learning about Richenda's secret tips and techniques involved in Irish cooking before you sit down at the table to share the meal together over delightful conversation!