Co. Kilkenny in the “sunny southeast” of Ireland has a population of just over 100,000 people, according to the 2022 census.
The county’s capital, Kilkenny City, is home to about 27,000 residents, making it the second smallest city in Ireland after Armagh City.
Co. Kilkenny has an area of 2,000 kilometres squared and a population density of around 50 people per square km.
The county was known for being agricultural but it has seen a growth in tourism in recent years as well as, crafts and brewing industries.
Some of these businesses, and thousands of homeowners, have installed solar panels to decrease their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.
Installing solar panels in Kilkenny has never been easier, as we have selected the best and most reliable installers in the south east based on customer reviews, experience, solar panel quality and after sales services.
Kilkenny Solar Panels Adoption
In 2023, there were 547 solar panel installations carried out in Kilkenny supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI) – and there has been further growth in 2024. Some 448 solar PV systems have been fitted with SEAI support in the first eight months of 2024.
Since the start of 2015 (to the end of August 2024), residents in Kilkenny have availed of a total of 1,465 solar PV grants.
This growth shows the demand for solar energy in Kilkenny as households are becoming more convinced by the advantages of solar energy.
Kilkenny Climate
Unlike other countries in Europe, there are no wild variations in the climate of different regions of Ireland due to its location as an island nation at the edge of Europe.
This is not to say there are no differences between different regions though – and Kilkenny is situated in the perfect part of Ireland for solar energy generation.
Kilkenny’s location in the south-east corner of Ireland has a significant impact on weather conditions, as it is situated away from the wildness of the Atlantic. The county is also less mountainous than many other regions in Ireland.
Kilkenny Sunshine Hours
Partly because of its location and landscape, Kilkenny is one of the sunniest counties in Ireland.
This is one of the reasons homeowners in the county are getting PV panels installed – and thousands are already reaping the benefits of lower electricity bills from the free solar energy being produced from their rooftops.
Kilkenny Towns and Villages
Kilkenny City is situated at the heart of the county – and just under a third of the county’s residents are living in the city as of the most recent Census.
Kilkenny is the 23rd largest urban area in Ireland and the city is surrounded by a number of smaller towns and villages.
The city is known for Kilkenny Castle, St Canice’s Cathedral and round tower.
Co. Kilkenny, which is based on the Gaelic kingdom of Oraighe, had a population of 103,685 in the 2022 Census.
| Kilkenny Towns and Villages | Population |
|---|---|
| Kilkenny City | 27,184 |
| Thomastown | 2,667 |
| Castlecomer | 2,204 |
| Callan | 2,484 |
| Graiguenamanagh | 1,475 |
| Mooncoin | 1,175 |
| Ballyragget | 1,082 |
| Urlingford | 1,046 |
| Freshford | 725 |
| Johnstown | 416 |
Kilkenny Housing
There are 19,260 domestic properties with a Building Energy Rating (BER) in Kilkenny according to CSO data as of Q2 2024.
A total of 12% of these properties are A rated. A further 16% are B rated, meaning 28% of buildings with a rating are rated A or B.
For comparison, just 19% of properties in Donegal are rated A or B.
There is room for improvement though, with 11% of domestic residences having an F or G rating.
| Building Energy Rating (BER) | Total Housing Stock | Average Age | |||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |||
| Kilkenny | 2315 | 3081 | 6741 | 3663 | 1734 | 770 | 1351 | 19,260 | 36 |
BER data — Q2 2024. Source: CSO.ie
