Freshford (County Kilkenny)

Freshford is a village in County Kilkenny in southeast Ireland; in Irish it's Achadh Úr, "fresh field". Its main sight is the remains of the 14th century Ballylarkin Abbey, incorporated into a later church.

Get in
Bernard Kavanagh Bus 10 runs twice M-Sa from Kilkenny to Freshford (20 min), Johnstown and Urlingford. At Urlingford there's a connection with Bus 8 from Roscrea via Thurles, on the main Dublin-Cork railway.

By road from Dublin take M8 to Junction 4 at Urlingford then follow R693 east. From Kilkenny take R693 northwest, 14 km.

Get around
You can easily walk between village and abbey. You'll need wheels to explore the surrounding countryside.

See

 * 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.
 * 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: it's notable for its lack of castles.
 * Foulkscourt Castle is another turret northwest of Johnstown. It's tumbledown and inaccessible.
 * is a village 9 km northeast of Freshford, with an attractive central square, 19th century church and the 15th century turret of Ormonde Castle.
 * 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: it's notable for its lack of castles.
 * Foulkscourt Castle is another turret northwest of Johnstown. It's tumbledown and inaccessible.
 * 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

 * Freshford Loop is an 8 km walking circuit through the fields southwest of the village. No dogs.
 * There's occasional talk of reviving the Odeon Cinema, but it's hard to see it prospering in such a small place. So all you get to see here is the Art Deco exterior.
 * There's occasional talk of reviving the Odeon Cinema, but it's hard to see it prospering in such a small place. So all you get to see here is the Art Deco exterior.

Buy

 * Lynch's Mace is open daily 07:00-22:00.

Eat

 * Bar food in the pubs is your best bet. Mace store also has a small cafe.

Drink

 * The village pubs are J Kavanagh's, Killeens and O'Farrell's.

Sleep

 * There's no camping or caravan site in this area.

Connect
As of March 2021, Freshford has 5G from Three and mobile coverage from Eir, but no signal from Vodafone.

Go next

 * 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.