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sport · Saturday 1 August 2026 · 8:00am 
Tour de Kilkenny Charity Sportive
At Kilkenny City · Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
At Kilkenny City · Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
The Tour de Kilkenny is one of the most popular charity sportives in the south-east, drawing cyclists from across Leinster and beyond every August bank holiday weekend. Organised by Marble City Cyclers, the event has raised over €100,000 for local charities since it began - a real community effort that gives the day a good atmosphere even if you’re going it alone. Three route options mean it works for weekend warriors and serious cyclists alike, and all three start and finish at the same place, so there’s no logistics headache.
Sign-on is at Kilkenny Rugby Club (Eircode R95 CH68), with the option to collect your wristband on Friday evening (31 July, 6pm - 8pm) or on the morning itself from 8am. The 160km and 110km routes roll out at 9am; the 77km starts at 10am.
The 160km route is the main event - 2,000m of climbing that takes in the best the Kilkenny and south Tipperary countryside has to offer, with notable ascents at Coppenagh, Woodstock, and Kilmanagh. It is a proper day in the saddle. The 110km follows the same roads but cuts back earlier, with around 1,400m of climbing. The 77km is described by the organisers as “a route that will suit everyone” - gentler terrain and a good choice if you’re getting back into cycling or want to bring along a club mate who is still building fitness.
Note that the 160km has a time cut-off at Mullinavat junction - riders who don’t reach it by the cutoff time must follow the 110km return route. Marshal support beyond that point ends, so factor your pace in when you register.
Entry is €40 per person, with registration through EventMaster online only. All participants need a wristband to start.
Kilkenny city is well connected by road: the M9 motorway runs from Dublin (about 100km, roughly an hour) and connects south toward Waterford. From Cork, the N25 and N76 get you there in under two hours. From Limerick, the M8 and N76 are the most direct.
Bus Eireann and Expressway coaches serve Kilkenny from Dublin, Cork, and Waterford. Kilkenny train station sits on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line - there are several services daily from the capital, with the journey taking just under two hours. If you’re driving with bikes, the Rugby Club on Foulkstown Road has parking on site.
The city is worth making a weekend of - the medieval streetscape, Kilkenny Castle, and the Smithwick’s Experience are all within easy reach of the finish line, and there are good places to eat and recover after a long day on the bike. There is more to see in Kilkenny and across Co. Kilkenny.
Heading to Kilkenny City in Kilkenny? Kilkenny has plenty more to see. Read the Kilkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.