Kinnitty Co Offaly
Kinnitty Co Offaly is set in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Ardmore Country House period bed and breakfast which is set at the edge of Kinnitty has wonderful views of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and a unique view of Kinnitty Pyramid. The central location of the very pretty village of Kinnitty at the crossroads of Ireland midway between Dublin Airport in the east, Galway on the west coast, Belfast in the north and Cork in the south makes it the ideal base to explore Ireland. In less than 2 hours from Kinnitty you can be in the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, The Rock of Cashel, Cork, Sligo or Kilkenny.
Kinnitty has many great local attractions and activities. Ardmore Country House Kinnitty is near Ireland’s most haunted castle Leap Castle, Birr Castle Gardens with it’s Giant Telescope, Tullamore Dew Distillery and visitor centre, Kilbeggan Distillery, Lough Boora Discovery Park and Sculpture Park. Nearby heritage attractions include Clonmacnoise, the Georgian town of Birr, Emo Court House and Gardens
As well as having the magical Kinnitty Castle Hotel with it’s wonderful whiskey Kinnitty Spirits, Kinnitty has it’s own artisan beer, Pikeman brewed by Slieve Bloom Brewing Company at the Slieve Bloom Bar, two quaint pubs, a village grocery shop, a cafe, a mountain biking centre, 2 churches, a children’s playground, a hurling pitch and it’s very own Kinnitty Pyramid which you can see from Ardmore Country House.
If you love the outdoors Kinnitty is the gateway to the Slieve Bloom mountains Ardmore Country House being situated at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains it is an ideal base for walking, cycling, mountain biking, birdwatching or horse-riding. The Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike trails starts in the village.
There is also a wide variety of loop walking trails at Kinnitty trail head just south of the village of Kinnitty on the R420 and an Eco walk loop trail at Knockbarron Wood. The Slieve Bloom Way long distance trail can be accessed from the Kinnitty walking trailhead.
Kinnitty village is the trailhead for the Slieve Bloom Mountain Biking trails. Mountain Bikes and E bikes can be hired from the village. If you have your own mountain bike we have secure lock up store and bike wash
If you enjoy walking Ardmore Country House Kinnitty is beside a wide variety of looped walking trails at Kinnitty, Cadamstown, Clonaslee, Glenbarrow. Ardmore Country House is just a 20 minute walk to the long distance Slieve Bloom Way walking trail.
History of Kinnitty Village
Variously spelled in ancient documents as Cinneity, Kennettys, Killenitty and in Gaelic Cinneitigh, it is thought to have derived its name from the head of St Ita.
Some time after the plantation of Offaly in 1619 the Winter family came into possession of Kinnitty and the surrounding area. Later on the Bernard family became the local landlord.
The present castle, Kinnitty Castle was built in 1811 by the Bernard family and was called Castle Bernard. It was around the Bernard family estates that the present village grew from a mere 5 houses at the end of the 18th century to its peak of 98 houses in 1841. It now has just 128.
Kinnitty Castle has been transformed into a Castle Hotel and is famous for romantic fairy tale weddings. Many brides and grooms have spent their pre wedding night at Ardmore Country House where they can relax with family and friends.
Kinnitty Bed and Breakfast
Ardmore Country House bed and breakfast is located on the edge of Kinnitty village and enjoys wonderful views of the magical Slieve Bloom Mountains and the Pyramid at the rear of the Church of Ireland.
Slieve Bloom Mountains
The picturesque village of Kinnitty nestles at the foot of Knocknamann which is on the western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Knocknamann is the site where the Festival of Bealtaine was held in pre-Christian times. The Slieve Bloom Mountains are steeped in history and folklore, from megalithic times though Ireland’s golden era of Saints & Scholars to more modern history of settlement and conflict of the O’Carroll’s. According to legend the Slieve Bloom Mountains was home to Fionn Mac Cumhaill where as a child he lived with his mother for the first 7 years of his life.
Kinnitty Pyramid
Kinnitty Pyramid, the only one of its kind in Ireland, is situated at he rear of the Church of Ireland in the village and is visible from Ardmore House bed and breakfast. It stands 30 feet in height and was built as a crypt by Lt. Col Richard Wesley Bernard for his family on his return from Egypt in the mid 1800’s. Building began in 1830 and was completed in 1834. It is permanently sealed now. The doors are 3 inches in width and made of steel that lead down 5 steps to the inside tomb. It is the resting place of 6 members of the Bernard family of Kinnitty (Kinnity) Castle or Castle Bernard. The first was Mary Bernard and the last burial took place in 1907.
Other attractions within an hours drive of Kinnitty are Clonmacnoise, Athlone Castle, the Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny city. If you are exploring the rugged west coast of Ireland and wild Atlantic Way, why not stop a night or two to experience the contrast. Kinnitty is far removed from the commercialism of busy resorts like Killarney, Dingle, Galway or indeed Dublin, still retaining a charm and pace more reminiscent of Ireland of the past than that of today.
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