Kilkenny’s sporting history is a compelling blend of hurling dominance with participation in Gaelic Football, rugby, and more, with clubs, facilities, and personalities shaping a proud tradition. Known as the Marble County, Kilkenny’s athletic achievements reflect its deep passion for competition.
Hurling’s Stronghold
Kilkenny GAA oversees 41 clubs, with hurling dominating the county’s sporting identity. Nowlan Park in Kilkenny city, opened in 1927, serves as the primary venue. The Kilkenny senior hurling team won 36 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, from 1904 to 2015, including four-in-a-row from 2006 to 2009.
The county also secured 71 Leinster Senior Hurling Championships, most recently in 2024, and 22 National Hurling League titles, from 1933 to 2023. James Stephens leads club hurling with nine Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championships and three All-Ireland club titles (1969, 1976, 1982). O’Loughlin Gaels has seven county titles, while Ballyhale Shamrocks won nine All-Ireland club titles (1981, 1984, 1990, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2023). Tullaroan, with 20 county titles, and Bennettsbridge, with 12, are historic powerhouses. In Gaelic Football, Kilkenny won three All-Ireland Junior Football Championships (1956, 1982, 1986).
Railyard leads club football with six county titles, while Mullinavat won in 2024. Camogie thrives, with Kilkenny winning 15 All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championships, from 1974 to 2024. Standout figures include Henry Shefflin, a 10-time All-Ireland hurling winner, Eddie Keher, a six-time All-Ireland champion, and Brian Cody, manager for 11 All-Ireland titles from 1999 to 2022:
- Henry Shefflin – Widely considered one of the greatest hurlers in history, with 10 All-Ireland medals and a record scorer.
- DJ Carey – A magical forward, controversial in his after-hurling career, often cited as one of the best of his generation.
- Eddie Keher – A prolific scorer in the 1960s and 70s, recognized as an all-time great.
- Tommy Walsh – Renowned for his tenacity and skill, a stalwart of the 2000s team.
- JJ Delaney – Regarded as one of the finest defenders in the history of the sport.
- TJ Reid – A dominant modern-day forward and one of the highest scorers in championship history.
- Noel Skehan – Legendary goalkeeper with seven All-Ireland medals.
- Frank Cummins – A legendary midfielder who spanned many successful years.
- Jackie Tyrrell – A feared corner-back known for his intensity.
- Richie Hogan – A highly skillful forward/midfielder during the Cody era.
- Eddie Brennan – Known for his blistering pace and goal-scoring ability.
- Liam Fennelly – Captained Kilkenny to All-Ireland success and a great of the 1980s.
- Michael Fennelly – A powerhouse midfielder who dominated for over a decade.
- Brian Cody – While famous as a manager, he was also a noted player, winning multiple All-Irelands.
- Pat Henderson – A central figure in defense during the 1960s and 70s.
- Eoin Larkin – A hard-working forward who captained the team to All-Ireland success.
- Noel Hickey – A rock-solid full-back for many years.
- Ollie Walsh – A legendary goalkeeper of the 1960s, selected for historic and greatest ever teams lineups..
- Ger Henderson – A distinguished defender from the 1970s/80s era.
- Martin Comerford – A key forward in the early part of the 2000s golden era.
Soccer: A Community Presence
Kilkenny City AFC, founded in 1987 and based at Buckley Park, competed in the League of Ireland First Division from 1997 to 2007, winning the 2000–01 title for promotion. Evergreen FC, also at Buckley Park, won the 2016 Leinster Senior Cup and multiple Kilkenny & District League titles. Thomastown United claimed the 2018 FAI Junior Cup. The Kilkenny & District League, established in 1926, supports grassroots soccer across venues like Derdimus Park. Pat Shortt, a former Evergreen player, and John O’Shea, a Waterford native with Kilkenny ties, are key figures in the county’s soccer history.
Rugby: Growing Roots
Kilkenny RFC, founded in 1970 and based at Foulkstown, won the Leinster League Division 2A in 2015 and the 2017 Provincial Towns Cup. New Ross RFC, with Kilkenny connections, competes in the Leinster League. Wilie Dugan was a folk hero of rugby union’s amateur era.
Other Sports and Facilities
Willie Mullins is one of the most successful National Hunt trainers in history, having secured over 4,000 winners and dominating the Cheltenham Festival with 100 wins. His most famous victories include four Cheltenham Gold Cups (Al Boum Photo, Galopin Des Champs), multiple Champion Hurdles (Hurricane Fly, Faugheen), and Grand Nationals, alongside his 2024 British Trainer’s Championship.
Golf thrives at courses like Mount Juliet, which hosted the 2002 and 2004 Irish Open, and Kilkenny Golf Club, founded in 1896. Athletics is strong through clubs like St Joseph’s AC, while hurling’s dominance overshadows sports like boxing and cycling, though the Kilkenny Sports Partnership supports community participation. Nowlan Park, Buckley Park, and local grounds like Thomastown’s United Park ensure accessibility. The River Nore supports rowing, and the county’s flat terrain aids cycling.
A Lasting LegacyKilkenny’s sporting culture shines through clubs like Ballyhale Shamrocks, James Stephens, and Kilkenny RFC, supported by venues like Nowlan Park.
Sports in the county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Kilkenny:
Ireland’s county Kilkenny is a county of medieval charm, with Kilkenny City’s castle and St Canice’s Cathedral showcasing well-preserved architecture and round towers. The Dunmore Cave offers intriguing limestone formations, while the Nore Valley’s walking trails provide scenic beauty. Other attractions include the historic Jerpoint Abbey’s intricate carvings. Kilkenny is Ireland’s 16th largest county by size (2,062 square km) and 21st largest by population (104,160). Population peaked at 202,420 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 60,463 in 1966. In terms of hospitality, Kilkenny is Ireland’s eleventh most visited tourist county with around 207,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
