Ballykeeffe Car Boot Sale - Sundays

Ballykeeffe Car Boot Sale sets up every Sunday morning in the countryside near Kilmanagh, a short drive south west of Kilkenny city, and has built a local following for its focus on handmade crafts and artisan goods alongside the usual car boot mix of vintage finds and second-hand items. It runs from 10am to 2:30pm and keeps a small-scale, community feel rather than the scale of the county’s bigger commercial markets, which regulars say is part of the appeal.

What to expect

Sellers set out from cars and stalls across the grounds, with a noticeable lean towards handmade and artisan pieces rather than pure clearance clutter, though vintage items, tools, plants and general household second-hand goods turn up regularly too. Occasional live entertainment adds to the atmosphere on busier Sundays, and the outdoor setting gives the market a more relaxed, browsable pace than an indoor hall. As with any car boot sale, the exact line-up of stalls varies from week to week depending on who turns up, so it rewards a bit of patient browsing rather than a single quick lap. Arriving early, close to the 10am start, generally gives the best pick before the morning’s freshest finds are gone, and dry weekends tend to draw the biggest turnout of sellers.

Getting there

Ballykeeffe is a townland near Kilmanagh, roughly 11km south west of Kilkenny city, reached via the quieter back roads off the main Callan and Kilmanagh routes out of the city. There is space to park on site, and the location is rural rather than served by public transport, so a car is the practical way to get there.

Good to know

• Date and time: every Sunday, 10:00am to 2:30pm
• Location: Ballykeeffe, near Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny
• Entry: €2 per person, children under 12 free
• Seller fee: €15 per car
• Best for handmade crafts and artisan goods, alongside vintage and second-hand finds
• Occasional live entertainment