Macgabhainns Backpackers Hostel Reviews

This is a great hostel! The staff is very friendly and helpful about getting around the town. There is free breakfast provided, and there's a dishwasher! It's very quiet, but the location is really close to the city center. The rooms were very nice and clean, as were the bathrooms. I'd definitely stay there again!

Very friendly staff!

Good location, walking distance to the city centre. The room vas very small(double bed private)with bunk beds and very little furnishing. On chilly nights don't count much on heat. There is no private parking at the hostel, only on the street which could be problematic. Probably good enough to spend a night and move on.

The Hostel is ok I can recommend it but has some problems: some people arrive late and absolutly drunk, they are dirty, impolite and irresponsable. Of course after that you cannt sleep very good and next day the room stinks all the day. In the hostel has to have order all the nights, and there isnt.

Nice place, good dorms, kitchen and living room. Staff give very good information about the town and around.

This hostel had the BEST shower! It was a full on tub upstairs - pipping hot and with a window! Not cramped and small like other hostels. Not very many plugs in the rooms, but that seems to be a theme. It's in a great location and the staff was friendly and helpful. Parking was terrifying as the closest spot is along the street next to the hostel, but it's manageable.

All good things must end, and finally I have had to leave Ireland for the near future. However not before I got to stay one last time at my favourite hostel. As usual things were great, this time with some Canadians as drinking partners. The hostel is more of a home, run by great people, with everything you could need in the middle of town, but just far enough from the pubs to get a good night sleep. I always meet great travellers here. Cheers Fergus & Ray, Best for the Future, James.

Very good hostel, the location is spot on. Kilkenny is a great place to visit and I'll defo check out McGabhainns next time I'm back in KK

I highly recommend this quiet, clean and well run family-style hostel. I have totally enjoyed the outstanding support that Raymond and Fergus gave me, and others staying here, during the Roots Festival. They provided me with nice Irish music at breakfast where cereals, toasts, jams, coffee and teas where abundant and fresh, along with their joyful welcome. It was a short walk to the shops and especially to the Castle gardens, by the river, where I enjoyed morning walk, in nature, where ducks, l

Couldn't have asked for more, great place.

Special thanks should go to Fergus who runs the hostel. He was extremely helpful in welcoming me and my friend. Fergus does remarkable job keeping the hostel\'s rooms and public area very clean.

my friend and i had a great stay at this hostel. mainly thanks to fergus who was so hospitable and made us feel so welcome! there is a friendly vibe with breakfast in the kitchen and a cosy tv room. plus the ensuite bathroom was handy. would recommend!

Great, friendly and helpful staff! Enjoyable, comfortable and clean rooms. Very close to the main street, great facilities. Loved it! :)

A very accommodating and great hostel. Was only supposed to stay a few days and ended up staying the whole weekend for the Kilkenny Roots festival, they made sure I had a place to stay over the busy weekend and upon arrival recommend a few pubs and restaurants that I ended up going to multiple times (John Cleeres and Marble city bar). All in all a clean and safe spot just off the main road. Had a great time in Kilkenny.

The people are great and the room was good. It is on a very busy street but it is also right next to a market where you can pick up everything essential. All in all I would say excellent value. I had an ensuite room and I am not sure I would have felt as secure if I had a dorm type place. So go for the single rooms.

Nice, warm atmosphere and clean rooms. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. My only complaint would be that we couldn't control the heater, though it did switch on at random times.

Nice staff! Cosy common room!

I seem to keep having "last stays" here... but then keep ending up finding my way back. It is that kind of place. Whenever I work nearby or need to pass through this part of the world I always come to the Gabh. Still one of my favourite hostels. Not the flashest, but one of those places that is a living home away from home, not a sterile money factory. Always good craic!

The staff was really friendly, showing us where everything was and introducing us the rest of the guest. Breakfast was great too. Very close to the city center and to the main attractions in Kilkenny. If I ever go back to Kilkenny I would definitely stay in this hostel again :)

Really friendly staff, with great facilities. Had a very nice and cosy lounge room.