The Nore Valley , County Kilkenny

The Nore Valley , County Kilkenny

The Nore Valley is deservedly renowned for its beauty , the river rolling through lush pastures and past some appealing ruins. …..Have a look on Ireland tours.

It is perhaps at its finest as it broadens to the south of Kilkenny , where , along the tributary King’s River eight miles south of the city , sits medieval Kells.  Set amidst lush pasture land , the tiny village is an unexpected sight: its broad bridge is majestically out of scale , an ancient stone watermill stands on the river bank   , and the encompassing deep hollow is flecked with mallows , marsh marigolds , docks , and irises.  Hard by , the magnificent ruin of Kells Priory – founded in 1193 – sits like a perfect scale model of a medieval walled city , a clean iron-gray against the surrounding green fields.  The ruins consist of a complete curtain wall with square towers and fortified gatehouse , and the remnants of the 14th and 15th century church has nothing to do with the Book of Kells , which is associated with Kells in County Meath.

Two miles south is the Kilkree Round Tower , just one of the many round towers that are scattered around this part of the country and the nearby high cross , decorated with much eroded biblical carvings.

Just east out of Kells is Jerpoint Abbey , the abbey follows the typical Cistercian layout around an elegant , cloistered garden , and is built of warm , oat-colored stone , and is generally visited on tours of Ireland for its tombs and 12th century carvings.