Made in Kilkenny: The Ultimate Guide to Authentic Irish Crafts & Shopping

For many American travelers, the search for the "perfect souvenir" is a source of anxiety. You want something that genuinely represents Ireland—a piece of pottery, a woolen throw, or hand-blown glass—but you are constantly bombarded by "Paddywhackery": mass-produced, neon-green plastic imported from overseas.

If you are serious about bringing home a piece of true Irish artistry, you have come to the right county. Kilkenny is the Craft Capital of Ireland. It is the headquarters of the Design & Crafts Council Ireland, and the county is dotted with studios where 6th-generation artisans are still working by hand.

This guide will help you navigate the best of Kilkenny design, distinguishing the convenient city shops from the rural studios that offer a life-changing "meet the maker" experience.

1. The City Center Hub: Kilkenny Design Centre

If you are staying in the city and strictly walking the Medieval Mile, your best option is the Kilkenny Design Centre.

Located directly across the street from Kilkenny Castle in the beautifully restored 18th-century castle stables, this is more than a gift shop. It is a curated gallery of the best Irish design. The Centre was established in the 1960s to improve the standard of Irish design, and that legacy holds true today.

• What to buy: High-end knitwear, contemporary jewelry, and curated selections of pottery.
• The Experience: It’s convenient and high quality, but it is a retail experience. To see the process, you need to leave the city walls.

2. The Pottery Trail: Nicholas Mosse

To understand why Kilkenny clay is famous, you must travel about 15 minutes south of the city to the village of Bennettsbridge.

Here, in an old flour mill on the banks of the River Nore, you will find Nicholas Mosse Pottery. Since 1976, Nicholas Mosse has been producing distinctive "spongeware" pottery.

• The Style: The pottery is famous for its intricate, repetitive floral and animal patterns applied by hand using cut sponges. It is incredibly popular in US households for its rustic, farmhouse aesthetic.
• The Experience: Visitors can watch the potters at work through glass viewing walls, seeing the clay being thrown, fired, and decorated. The on-site cafe (The Miller’s Café) is legendary for its cakes, served, naturally, on Mosse pottery.

3. The Glass Blowers: Jerpoint Glass Studio

Continue further south to the village of Stoneyford, and you will find Jerpoint Glass.

Established by Keith and Kathleen Leadbetter in 1979, this family-run studio creates hand-blown glass that is famous for its weight, clarity, and bold use of color. Unlike factory glass, every piece here is unique.

• The Spectacle: Glassblowing is a performance art. At Jerpoint, you can stand in the viewing gallery and watch the blowers wrestle with molten glass from the furnace, shaping it with wooden blocks and wet newspaper (an ancient technique).
• The Connection: It is rare to visit a studio where the family is so accessible. You aren't just buying a wine glass; you are buying a story about the specific color mix used that day.

4. The Woollen Mills: Cushendale

For the ultimate textile history, you must travel east to the picturesque village of Graignamanagh. Here stands Cushendale Woollen Mills.

This is one of the few authentic woolen mills remaining in Ireland. The Cushen family has been producing textiles here for six generations.

• The History: The mill sits on a site that has been used for wool production since the Cistercian monks founded Duiske Abbey in 1204.
• The Product: They are famous for their Galway Sheep wool (from a protected heritage breed) and their use of Mohair. The colors are vibrant and dyed on-site, a rarity in modern manufacturing. Buying a throw here means owning a piece of Irish agricultural history.

Practical Logistics: The VAT Refund

For American shoppers, Irish crafts come with a bonus: The Tax Refund.

Ireland has a Value Added Tax (VAT) included in the price of goods (often 23%). Non-EU residents are entitled to claim this back on significant purchases.

• How it works: Look for the "Tax-Free Shopping" sign in the studios listed above.
• The Card: Most use a "Fexco" or "Horizon" card system. You swipe the card at the point of purchase, and then swipe it again at a kiosk in Dublin or Shannon Airport before you fly home to process your refund.
• Tip: Always carry your passport (or a photo of it) when shopping, as the store may need your details to set up the tax-free form.

The Transport Problem (and Solution)

Here is the catch: Nicholas Mosse, Jerpoint Glass, and Cushendale Mills are not in Kilkenny City. They are in rural villages with limited or non-existent public transport links.

Driving a rental car to these spots involves navigating narrow, winding country roads (often with hedges tight to the edge) and managing complex roundabouts. For many US travelers, this stress ruins the shopping experience.

Why a Driver-Guide is Essential for Shoppers

Hiring a private driver-guide for a "Craft & Design Day" is the smartest investment for the serious shopper:

1. Safety & Comfort: You relax in a spacious vehicle while a local handles the narrow roads and parking.
2. Storage: You don't have to carry heavy pottery or fragile glass on a train or bus. The driver keeps your purchases safe in the trunk until you get back to your hotel.
3. Shipping: If you buy too much to carry home (a common problem at Cushendale!), your driver-guide can help you arrange international shipping directly from the studio, ensuring your heirlooms arrive in the US in one piece.
4. Hidden Gems: A driver knows the smaller, one-person studios (like goldsmiths or leatherworkers) that don't have big signs but produce incredible work.

Skip the Rental Car Stress

Want to explore the Kilkenny countryside and fill your suitcase with authentic crafts without the anxiety of driving on the "wrong" side of the road?

Our directory connects you with friendly local driver-guides who know every twist and turn of the county. Relax, enjoy the scenery (and the shopping), and let a local handle the logistics.

Find a Private Driver-Guide in Kilkenny Now →