Date Posted: 04.02.2013

by Michael O'Neill  Sports News Ireland: February 19, 2012

"If you’re ever in Kilkenny this is one opportunity you don’t want to miss out on!!"

So says a New York visitor Kat H about the “Kilkenny Way Experience” on world famous travel website TripAdvisor.com

What is this new experience down ‘Kilkenny Way’?

An Exciting new Hurling experience has been launched “The Kilkenny Way” aimed at promoting Kilkenny on its Hurling success to both Hurling & Camogie Clubs and Visiting Tourists, has two packages available.

For Clubs – A weekend package including all Meals , Accommodation , Training in some of Kilkenny’s top facilities with All Ireland Winning Father and Son Duo – Richie Power Snr and Richie Power Jnr and various other current & Former Kilkenny stars. Following Training at St Kierans – players will also receive the benefit of Sport Psychologists , Personal Fitness (one to one) Dietician (One to One) plus Team Bonding experience and challenges.

For any team this is a must and at a time when club costs are being heavily scrutinised the package is available in the following formats .

1. Arrive Saturday – Train , Sport Psych , Dietician, Personal Fitness ,Nutrition, 4 course Evening meal team bonding challenge , accommodation & Breakfast for €99 pp
2. same as above but arrive Friday night with accommodation + Breakfast for optional extra €20 .

For Visiting Tourists – from March onwards The Kilkenny Way will be providing 2 Hurling tours daily .

This consists of a 2 hour tour and play . Involved in this package is an introduction video on the game of hurling at Lanigans Bar & Restaurant and then onto a walk through the Marble city to Nowlan Park , A talk about the history and origin of the game of hurling – and the success of The Kilkenny Cats , and onto one of our Local GAA clubs to learn the basic skills of the clash of the ash. The tour finishes up in Lanigans Bar & Restaurant with a main course meal and the cost of the above is €20 pp. Tours will be twice daily @ 12.45 and 2.45pm and bookings can be made direct for groups of up to 30 persons per tour

Local Businessman PJ Lanigan put the venture together after talking with Richie Power Snr . Remarking on the venture PJ said , Kilkenny has an unbelievable hurling record and tourism coming into the city is missing out on a valuable cultural sporting experience , The way Waterford is marketed for its Crystal – Kilkenny should be marketed for its Hurling Heritage and Success. Ms Amanda Horan from Failte Ireland has embraced this concept for attracting tourism to Kilkenny city and believes that is is a valuable cultural experience to any visiting tourist. Working with 2 other Kilkenny based Business “IntoSport Ireland” based in Castlecomer and JK Hurleys in Johnstown is also a huge leap forward for this venture as we can now supply Locally Handcrafted Kilkenny Hurleys and also supply all clothing and training equipment to both Clubs and Tourists at a great price while keeping the business local in Kilkenny . All Details are on the website – www.thekilkennyway.com

Last Saturday the venture “Pucked off”with the Tipperary Senior Camogie team and county board management being the first to come and experience “the Kilkenny way” at the All Weather pitch in The Watershed training facility in Kilkenny

Speaking on behalf of the Tipperary Camogie team Manager John Lillis said “ It was a great day , having the girls train with players such as Richie Power Snr & Jnr was a brilliant concept – allowing the team to experience a high profile training session with 2 mentors whom have an astonishing haul of medals and a vast and successful experience of the game. We will definitely be back in May prior to the start of the championship and will be recommending it to anyone involved with a team for both its experience and value for money”.

Richie Power Senior and Junior both stated it was great working with the Tipperary Girls and believe the Kilkenny Way will grow and grow in the future as the package that is on offer is brilliant value for clubs to get away and train and learn some new methods in times when cash strapped clubs are looking for both good value and a good learning experience.

So where did the name come from –” Well based on the success of Kilkenny Hurling every other county wants to replicate our formula for success , so we chose this name and put this programme together to give teams and tourists an insight in to how we do things “The Kilkenny Way!”