Kilkenny Design Centre

Lonely Planet review

Across the Parade from Kilkenny Castle are the elegant former castle stables (1760), which have been extensively renovated. Besides the National Craft Gallery, the buildings are home to a number of local craftspeople, such as the voluble A Byrne, a silversmith. The front building holds gallerylike shops of the Kilkenny Design Centre , where you can find all manner of top-end Irish crafts and art work for sale.

From County Kilkenny, look for the spongeware pottery of Nicholas Moss, the hand-blown crystal of Jerpoint Glass, the luscious leather bags of Chesneau Leathers and the handmade beads of All That Glistens. Overall there are at least 130 fulltime craftspeople and artists working commercially in the county, one of the highest concentrations in Ireland. Reasons for this vary, but the nexus of culture afforded by high-brow Kilkenny is a major factor. Bennettsbridge and Thomastown are two other good places for top quality crafts.