Thomastown: River Landscapes, Ceramics and History

Thomastown offers plenty of reasons to spend your days outdoors and discovering its culture: walks along the River Nore, a local ceramics studio and nearby medieval Jerpoint Abbey. When planning your holiday rental, you can decide whether you’d most like to experience the river landscape, craftsmanship or history.

Walks and Water Along the River Nore

The Grennan Loop follows walking paths along the banks of the River Nore, through deciduous woodland and along quiet country roads. The route therefore brings together a variety of landscapes. If you enjoy switching between riverside, woodland and paths through the surrounding area on a walk, this is a specific way to explore Thomastown on foot.

The Nore Valley Walk also offers its own distinctive landscape. The section between Inistioge and Thomastown takes about three hours and is easy to walk. It runs along riverside paths, through woodland and along roads; the route passes varied landscapes, grazing land and species-rich woodland. The path follows the area around the River Nore and its grassy banks, where salmon and bats, among other species, can be found. The approximate duration is a useful guide when planning your day.

Another option by the river is the Island Weir Pool, a local swimming spot with steps leading down to a quiet stretch of the River Nore. A lifeguard service is available there in summer. If you’d like to include time by the water in your trip, you can choose between swimming at this spot and walking along the riverbanks.

Abbey History and Ceramics

Jerpoint Abbey lies 2.5 km southwest of Thomastown. Founded in the 12th century, this medieval Cistercian abbey is considered one of the finest examples of its kind in Ireland. Its long history and status as a Cistercian abbey make it a special destination for travellers interested in medieval architectural and cultural history.

Brid Lyons Ceramics, a ceramics studio and gallery in Thomastown, offers a different cultural perspective on the town. It displays ceramics inspired by the style of the 1920s. Pottery workshops are also available for everyone from beginners to advanced participants. So, as well as visiting a gallery, you can try working with ceramics yourself. The different experience levels may appeal to people travelling together, even if they don’t all have the same prior knowledge.

Local Produce and Farm Visits

At Goatsbridge Trout Farm, visitors can sample and buy products at the visitor centre and shop. Individual or group tours can be arranged at the farm; visitors can also look around during opening hours. This means you can focus your visit on the products or a tour of the farm, depending on your interests.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

The train from Kilkenny to Waterford passes through Thomastown; the journey takes 12 minutes, with trains running every two to three hours. From the town, you can walk to the station along a 15-minute stretch of quiet country road with green hills. This information gives you a concrete guide if you’d like to reach Thomastown by train.

When choosing a holiday rental in Thomastown, you can consider what you’d like your stay to focus on: river walks and things to do in town, or nearby Jerpoint Abbey, 2.5 km to the southwest. If you’d like to combine nature, history and craftsmanship on your trip, the destinations described here offer different focuses that you can weigh according to your interests.

If you’d like to view more town pages: Urlingford, Jenkinstown, Slieveroe, Piltown, Graiguenamanagh, Bennettsbridge, Inistioge and Callan.

For the wider travel overview: County Kilkenny.