Once that’s done you’ll be able to experience the KnittingTours website perfectly.
An essential stop for any craft lover in the city is the Kilkenny Design Centre, located close to Kilkenny Castle. The design centre stocks Jewellery, Knitwear, Celtic Gifts, China & Crystal, Pottery & Glass, Home & Fashion Accessories and other Irish handcrafted gifts. The Castle Yard is also home to the National Craft Gallery which features works by Irish and international designers, artists and makers across a variety of disciplines who share a passion for their chosen field. The Craft Gallery often have Textile exhibitions on display which may be of particular interest to those on knitting and craft tours of Ireland.
Nearby we recommend you stop at Bennett Bridge Farm where Suzanna Crampton farms the Zwartables breed of sheep which produce a very distinctive yarn. Tour the farm, see the raw fleece or the spun Zwartbles and Alpaca yarn and meet the sheep who will come right up to you! Travel onward to the nearby Cushendale Mill where the Zwartables Yarn is spun and made into quality Woollen products. Some other stops that are worth visiting today include Kells Priory, one of the largest and most impressive medieval monuments in Ireland and Jerpoint Abbey, a ruined Cistercian Abbey founded in the second half of the 12th century. Return to Kilkenny City where you have a fantastic choice of places to eat and drink. Famous pubs include Langtons Bar and Matt the Millers. As part of your tour, tickets for the ‘Smithwick’s Experience’ are included. This famous Irish Ale was first secretly produced in Kilkenny by monks in 1231 and this atmospheric tour culminates with a pint of this now world renowned Ale.
The studio was started by Beata Jezek after she saw a gap in the market for soft yarns in vibrant colours. Staff will be on hand to talk to you about the yarn and you may purchase some if you wish before you move on. Cork City centre is surrounded by interesting waterways and is filled with great restaurants and arguably the best food scene in the country. Cork's individuality is reflected in contemporary buildings, bars and arts centres. The best of the city is still happily traditional though – snug pubs with live-music sessions most of the week, excellent local produce and a genuinely proud welcome from the locals.
From here you can easily explore the city centre on foot perhaps making your way to Paul Street noted for its ethnic restaurants, chic bars, trendy bookshops and boutiques. Across the river on Bridge Street, Vibes and Scribes is a good place to stock up on yarns and other knitting paraphernalia and about 5 minutes’ walk from Vibes and Scribes you will find the Cork Button Company where you will find beautiful buttons in many different materials for your knitting projects. If you do decide to venture further afield your Irish Tourism itinerary will detail plenty of touring options for you. You could visit nearby Cobh and Midleton, the latter famous for its Jameson Whiskey distillery and the former known for its immigration museums. Alternatively you could visit the pretty town of Kinsale with its stunning Marina.
In Killarney itself, pay a visit to Muckross House and Gardens and Mucros Weavers. For over thirty years Mucros Weavers have produced quality woven accessories, colourful scarves, stoles, capes and rugs, are made from materials such as wool, mohair and alpaca. In the craft workshop visitors can see spinning and weaving carried out the traditional way. If you feel like doing some more touring you could also travel the Ring of Kerry today. This famous driving route takes in colourful villages and traditional coastal communities. There is also the opportunity to take a walk on the miles and miles of unspoilt and near deserted beaches. In Kenmare stop off at Kenmare Lace where there is an antique lace exhibition on display and lacemaking demonstrations are available.
Staying faithful to the traditions of its founders, the mill uses modern weaving technology, joining tradition with contemporary styling needed for today's discerning customers. You can buy beautiful yarn for your knitting projects on site. The Dingle Peninsula has more interesting antiquities, historic sites and varied mountain scenery than any other part of Ireland. Dingle is also haven for craft makers with several studios in and around the peninsula. You will find a full list of craft stops in your touring itinerary and you can choose the ones you would like to visit. Of particular interest to you may be Lisbeth Mulcahy’s Weavers and Commodum Art and Design centre which stocks a great selection of Irish yarns.
On arrival in Dublin if the weather is nice you might decide to talk a walk in Dublin’s famous ‘Stephen’s Green’ or check out the shops and cafes on Grafton Street, stopping like many people do to take a picture with Molly Malone, one of Dublin’s most famous statues. You may feel like learning more about Ireland’s political history by taking a trip to Leinster House where the current parliament sits or Dublin Castle which was the seat of English rule from the 13th Century. Dublin Castle also houses the Chester Beatty Library which displays manuscripts, prints, miniature paintings and early printed books from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. This evening, take another opportunity to check out Dublin’s traditional music and pub scene. Knitting stops that you won’t want to miss when visiting Dublin include The Constant Knitter, This is Knit and Springwools which is just outside the city. You will find details for those and other craft stops in your full itinerary.
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