Destination Kilkenny!

Hey Guys,

Hope you’re all having a lovely week! I’m home for study week but as you can see, not much study is being done!

Anyway, I was delighted to have been invited to work on a campaign for Kilkenny tourism to showcase some of the amazing spots Kilkenny has to offer. Obviously I’m from Kilkenny so I am very familiar with the city but I was delighted to get to try new places and experience Kilkenny as a tourist!

To start off my day in Kilkenny, I was invited to Mint for an Intimate Vitamin Glow Facial. This award-winning facial is packed with vitamins and anti-oxidants and really left my skin glowing! It was a blessing for me because at the minute I find my skin gets really dry in the cold weather and the facial started off with a back massage which was great to get some of the knots out of my back too! All the products used were from Decleor and are all available at Mint. They have a huge range of treatments and products available so a Mint gift voucher would be a great Christmas present if you’re still shopping!

After my relaxing facial in Mint, (and applying my makeup before leaving!), I headed to Kilkenny Castle, probably the most recognisable tourist attraction in the city! As someone who lives in Kilkenny, it is easy to forget all the fantastic sights we have, and even though I’ve been on many tours of the castle, I still enjoy going for the occasional visit! I hadn’t been on a tour of the castle in years so it was interesting to see all the new rooms that have now been added to the tour. And just for a piece of trivial information, my grandad actually made bookcases in the drawing room of the castle over 20 years ago when they restored the castle.Ristorante Rinuccini

Rinuccini’s is an award-winning family-run business situated opposite Kilkenny castle and was Kilkenny’s first Italian restaurant! I always go to Rinucinni’s at Christmas with the girls so I knew that both the food and the service was going to be second to none, and they didn’t disappoint. There was a huge choice on the menu but I eventually chose the Pork Belly which was amazing!We also had dessert – tiramisu and a salted caramel chocolate tart. So much for the diet….. 😂Kilkenny is known as one of the best engagement ring destinations in the country so I was invited to Rudolf Heltzel to see some of their rings and jewellery.

They create each piece by hand using some of the world’s oldest jewellery techniques so it really is a an amazing place to get a ring that will be on your finger for the rest of your life! Their designs are so different but yet every ring felt smooth and sturdy on my finger.

Kilkenny has a wealth of jewellers each stocking very different styles and most of the shops are all within walking distance of each other. So if you are looking for a hassle free engagement ring hunt, Kilkenny should definitely be at the top of your list. While I am no where near looking for an engagement ring, I really enjoyed trying on all the sparkling rings and learning about diamonds from Christopher.Lyrath Estate Hotel and Spa Lyrath Estate is situated just outside Kilkenny so it is really close to the city but it feels like you are in another world as soon as you drive up the long avenue! I have been in Lyrath many times, usually modelling for fashion shows or shoots as its a great location, but it was fantastic to see it from the other side and to stay in the hotel.To say I was wowed from the moment I checked-in is an under statement! I was staying in a Club Executive King bedroom overlooking the gardens and the room was just fab! There was a dressing room area with lots of wardrobe space, a huge bathroom. and also a balcony outside, not that it was warm enough to sit out! There was also a lovely bottle of red wine and four miniature desserts for ” Mr and Mrs Phelan!”, which really gave me a good laugh but it was a nice surprise.We ate in La Perla, the restaurant in Lyrath on Monday night which as you can see from the food photos was amazing! Even if you are not staying in the hotel, I would recommend La Perla for a meal. The service was fantastic and the food was so tasty! We are so fortunate in Kilkenny to have such a variety of excellent restaurants and I had never eaten in La Perla, so I will definitely be going back!

Click here to view the menu.So I woke up Tuesday morning not one but hungry after the three course meal I had eaten the night before, but was I going to let a fab hotel breakfast go to waste? Obviously not! Somehow I managed to make room and fit a huge breakfast in too! We were also treated to champagne with breakfast – something I can honestly say I have never had! It was such a nice touch and really made breakfast that bit more exciting! So if you wanted to treat someone special I would really recommend the romantic package in Lyrath, it’s completely worth it!Just when I thought my day couldn’t get better, I was booked in for a relaxing 30 minute back massage in the Oasis Spa on Tuesday morning aswell! The spa has a huge range of treatments and also boasts a sauna, steam room, relaxation rooms and a hydrotherapy pool that overlooks the grounds of the estate.The hotel also has a swimming pool and gym but unfortunately I didn’t get to try it out as the leisure centre closes from 12pm-4pm every day- just something to keep in mind when you’re staying!

So I can now honestly say- tried and tested- that Kilkenny is a great destination for a romantic getaway with your partner or a girly night away.

And even for people from Kilkenny reading this blog, I would actually recommend staying in Lyrath for a night- it really was a great opportunity to relax and without a long car journey!So I hope you enjoyed the blog and as usual if you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear them so get in touch!