The Medieval Mile Museum opened in 2017 in the restored Church of St Mary's, a medieval building that had been disused for centuries. The conversion is a success: the original medieval structure has been respected, and the exhibits sit within it rather than dominating it. The result is one of the better city history museums in Ireland.
The collection covers Kilkenny from its earliest settlement through the Viking era, the Anglo-Norman conquest, the great period of the 14th and 15th centuries, the Confederation, and Cromwell's siege. The highlight is the collection of medieval effigies — carved stone figures of bishops, knights, and merchants — which are displayed with care and extensive interpretation. Free walking tours leave from the museum in summer, taking in the main sites along the Medieval Mile. The building is worth visiting for itself as much as the exhibits.