Kinnitty Co Offaly at the Crossroads of Ireland

The picturesque village of Kinnitty nestles at the foot of Knocknamann on the western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Knocknamann is the site where the Festival of Bealtaine was held in pre Christian times.

Kinnitty could be said to be the crossroads of Ireland, halfway between Dublin on the east coast, and Galway in the west coast, Belfast in the north and Cork in the south.

The Village has two quaint pubs, Giltraps and The Slieve Bloom Bar,2 village shops, and the world famous Irish Castle Wedding Hotel Kinnittty.

Further afield from the village is Leap Castle on the R421, reputed to be Irelands most haunted castle !!!

Kinnitty is the ideal base for touring local attractions including the Slive Bloom Mountains, Leap Castle the most haunted castle of the O'Carroll Clan, Birr Castle Gardens and Giant Telescope, the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise, Belvedere House and Gardens, Lough Boora Nature Reserve and Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway to name but a few.

The beautifully restored Community Centre which was originally the Old School House and Petty Sessions Court now houses the Slieve Bloom Environment Park Exhibition which is open to visitors during the summer months and the local tourist office.

Kinnitty Pyramid

Kinnitty Pyramid, the only one of its kind in Ireland, is situated in the graveyard of the Church of Ireland in the village and is visable from Ardmore House B&B. It stands 30 feet in height and was built as a crypt by Lt. Col Richard Wesley Bernard for his family on his return from Egypt in the mid 1800's. It is an exact replica of the Pyramid of Cheop in Egypt. Building began in 1830 and was completed in 1834

It is permanently sealed now. The doors are 3 inches in width and made of steel that lead down 5 steps to the inside tomb. There are 6 coffins belonging to the Bernards of Kinnitty Castle. The first was Mary Bernard and the last burial took place in 1907.

Kinnitty is 7 miles from Birr Town, a beautifully preserved Georgian market town, famous for the annual Birr Vintage Week Festival held every Summer in August. Birr is also home to the beautiful Birr Castle and Gardens and the famous telescope therein.

Cadamstown Village

Three miles from Kinnitty is the lovely village of Cadamstown. The Silver River Eco Trail, which starts from here, is a geological reserve of great beauty and botanical interest.

Cadamstown is just another of the beautiful villages that are dotted around the Slieve Bloom Mountains. These also include Clonaslee, Coolrain and Camross.