Graiguenamanagh Guide - Ballyogan House B and B

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Recommended in Alistair Sawday's guide 'Special Places to Stay in Ireland'

Ballyogan House

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©Ballyoganhouse 2009

Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny is one of the most attractive and unspoiled small towns in the South-East of Ireland. Nestling under Brandon Hill on a bend in the River Barrow, the town, like the river, has meandered its way through the centuries since it's origin as a Cistercian abbey in the early 13th century. The town is off the beaten track but is still readily accessible from all the major entry points to Ireland -two hours drive from the airport or Ferry ports in Dublin and only 45 minutes drive from Rosslare Ferryport.

History

Duiske Abbey was founded in the year 1204 and built by Cistercian monks from Wiltshire in England. From that day on, the town of Graiguenamanagh has grown up in the shadow of Brandon Hill and has seen the best of times and the worst of times. The town name comes from the Irish words 'Graig-na-managh' meaning the grange or church of the monks. Indeed it was the monks that gave Graiguenamanagh such a good start and by all accounts they were a very industrious lot. The monks at Graigue were managing huge flocks of sheep and had their own woollen mill from where they exported wool to Italy as early as the 13th century. They also built fish traps on the river and harvested Salmon and Eels in great numbers.

The legacy of the monks lives on today as there is still a woollen mill in operation on the original mill site of the monks and a local company is still harvesting Eels for export to continental Europe.

A visit to the Abbey is a must for all who come to Graiguenamanagh. Beautifully restored to operate as the local parish church many of the original features remain. Of particular interest are the remains of the original 13th Century tiled floor, still visible four feet below the present day floor. In the grounds of the Abbey stand the Aghakiltawn and Ballyogan High Crosses which date back to the 8th and 9th century respectively. They were moved to Graiguenamanagh from outlying parishes in the 1800's.

Natural Amenities

The natural amenities found in Graiguenamanagh area are unsurpassed in the whole of Ireland. The river Barrow is the obvious focus being Ireland's second largest river, flowing through a picturesque valley to reach tidal waters only a few miles downstream at St. Mullins. The river captures the imagination and also the enthusiasm of a wide range of people engaged in outdoor pursuits.

Graiguenamanagh Ballyoganhouse, Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, Bed and Breakfast

Barges cruise up and down the Barrow navigation while canoeists, swimmers and divers also make use of this superb natural facility. There are low and high diving boards installed on the quay during the summer months.

The River Barrow is also an excellent destination for both game and coarse fishermen. Game fishermen concentrate on Trout and Salmon while the coarse fishing enthusiasts patiently wait for specimen Bream, Perch, Pike, Dace, Roach and Hybrids. Our fishing visitors return year after year to our pleasant towpath.

The Barrow Towpath, Brandon Hill and the Blackstairs Mountain are the big draw for increasing numbers of enthusiastic hillwalkers, and these folk always make Graiguenamanagh base camp for their daily treks, returning each evening for fine food, comfortable lodgings and some great pub atmosphere in the local hostelries. One of Ireland's way-marked trails, The South Leinster Way, also passes through Graiguenamanagh adding an extra option for the growing number of walking enthusiasts.

Crafts

Kilkenny, as a county, is renowned for the great concentration of craftworkers found in the area and Graiguenamanagh is no exception to this. Local craftsmen are obviously inspired by the surrounding hills and the majestic river Barrow. All of these local craft enterprises welcome visitors and have small shops at their premises. In most cases you can pick up excellent craft goods at 'factory' prices. Cushendale Woollen Mills, Bernard Kavanagh Pottery and Duiske Glass are the best known of the local Graigue craft businesses.

Food and Drink

The pubs of Graiguenamanagh are legendary and certainly there is no shortage of them. With almost a dozen pubs to cater for a population of only 1300 we are always glad to welcome visitors to Graigue to add to the atmosphere in the local. Many of the pubs feature trad, rock, jazz and other music and even in the depths of Winter there is live entertainment several nights a week. There are an increasing number of restaurants, cafes and pub food outlets, giving choice and excellent service to visitor and locals alike. Facilities range from good pub grub to the best gourmet food. Many feature fresh local produce with salmon being a favourite for a lot of visitors. You might even catch your own!