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Kells, Kilkenny

The village of Kells is situated in the South East of Ireland in County Kilkenny. On the banks of the Kings River, it boasts a rich tapestry of medieval, monastic, and milling history. It was once an important seat of power after the founding of the priory in 1193 and remained so for many years despite the priory being sacked and burned on a number of occasions.

Kells is mentioned in historical manuscripts as a large, thriving, market town. This led many historians to believe that the Burgess Court of Kells Priory (the large walled green area) was the site of the town as there are no other traces in the area. Recent discoveries made possible by aerial mapping/photography have shown this to be untrue. We now know the location of this lost town and that it was much larger than Kells is today.

Kells Priory was the beating heart of medieval Kells and has remarkably survived up to this day substantially intact. It is one of the largest and most impressive monuments in Ireland, yet on a given visit, you may find yourself wandering priory all to yourself. The priory has been maintained by the OPW (Office of Public Works) and a large tower, the Prior's Vill, has in recent times seen a great deal of restoration.

Visit Us

As of the 21st of July 2018, Kells Mill Visitor Centre is open to the public Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Visitors can enjoy a short video on the history of Kells, a guided tour, and a complimentary guidebook & map to enhance a visit to our village.

Group bookings can be facilitated outside of core hours by appointment, please call Tadhg (0863633630) to make a reservation.

About Us

Our purpose is to promote the history and heritage of Kells. Excellent progress has been made in recent times to put Kells and it's rich history on the map. The beginning of tours at Kells Priory in 2016 is testament to that.

In time, we hope to build up this website into a useful online resource so that others might take an interest in the history of Kells and visit this beautiful place. We have received great help to date and would welcome anyone interested in getting involved.

If you feel you have information that could be shared on our website (photos new and old, drawings, articles, stories, artefacts, etc.) please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.