Booking frenzy for rooms in Kilkenny
Cat Laughs, GAA fans and great weather - the perfect storm!
Kilkenny City is bracing itself for an exceptional Bank Holiday Weekend as hotels and guesthouses scramble to keep up with the overwhelming demand for accommodation.
With both the Cat Laughs Festival on and a high-stakes Dublin versus Kildare senior football clash scheduled at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday, visitors from near and far are flocking to the city for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend.
According to leading online accommodation agent Booking.com, nearly 100% of accommodation providers in Kilkenny City are already fully booked for Saturday, with 76% occupied on Sunday and 72% on Friday.
The combination of capacity crowds, favourable weather, and an array of events and entertainment has left just a handful of accommodation options for last-minute travelers.
Even the city’s many Airbnb listings are facing an unprecedented demand, with availability becoming increasingly scarce, the few remaining listings expected to be snatched up swiftly.
It appears that many visitors from both Dublin and Kildare are opting to stay overnight in Kilkenny City on Saturday, captivated by the assortment of events taking place over the Bank Holiday Weekend.
There have been calls on social media from GAA fans asking Irish Rail to provide more train services to and from Kilkenny for the match on Saturday.
Local pubs and eateries in will be awaiting the bumper trade and many punters, locals and visitors alike, will be keeping their eyes peeled hoping to spot some of the big names in comedy enjoying the local fare.
Met Éireann are reminding local sunseekers to take great care near water this weekend and to seek shade between noon and 3pm. This is when UV is at its highest and people are at greatest risk of sunstroke and sunburn.
Unfortunately, the Bank Holiday Weekend can also prove to be a very busy time for local hospitals.
St Luke’s General Hospital are asking people to ‘consider all options’ before attending the Emergency Department this weekend.