Hi Marlene
You will be very welcome in Thomastown. It's my area so let me know if there is any assistance I can give you. It is an ideal centre for seeing lots of lovely places.
Day trips from Thomastown.
Well Kilkenny town, of course, is one day in itself. Visit the castle and castle park. Have lunch at the Kilkenny Design Centre or Zuni, stroll up High Street, Parliament Street and Irishtown to St. Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower, on the way back visit the Black Abbey. OR take Tynan's walking tour (highly recommended). Call into Kytelers, the ancient inn whose early inhabitant was tried for being a witch, for a drink or coffee. Browse the craft studios and shops in the Crescent workshops.
Another day - drive to Inistioge, Stroll around the lovely village, then drive up to Woodstock park. This is a must and free except for the car park charge. Enjoy the restored gardens and then take a walk in the forest. You might get lost! Also you could leave your car in Inistioge and enter Woodstock from the river walk down the right bank .
New Ross - You can visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship. This is a really good day out and very informative, interesting and just fun.
There are a lot of other things to do around New Ross, e.g. the J.F. Kennedy Arboretum and the Kennedy Homestead, or continue down to the Hook Lighthouse for a lovey scenic drive.
The Kilkenny Craft Trail is a self-drive day tour you can do without really travelling far from your area. Pick up a brochure from the Kilkenny Tourist Office (or they are available at Jerpoint Abbey). There is a map provided in the brochure which leads you to a group of craft workshops. At many of these places you can see the craftsmen working. The route brings you through some lovely local scenery. This also is a must.
A beautiful scenic circular tour you can do starts in Thomastown, down the R700 to Inisitioge, over the hills to Graiguenamagh, where you can visit Duiske Abbey and stroll the little mediaeval town, and back to Thomastown by another higher road with gorgeous views.
Cashel and Cahir, or course, are easily accessible as a day tour from Thomastown, and you must do this. It is quite complicated to get to Cashel from Thomastown, so have a good map. It is worth going the cross-country route (via Callan) and there is some great rural scenery. However, you can go via Kilkenny and Urlingford and if you go this way you do get the wonderful vista of the Rock as you approach Cashel.
Another great circular tour which would take the whole day is drive to Waterford, stop there for a while, then on to Passage East, take the little ferry over to Ballyhack, then down to Hook and back to Thomastown via New Ross and Inistioge.
If you want to go to Dublin for the day, this is very easy. There are about 15 buses a day direct from Thomastown to Dublin (two separate companies run the route). Or there are several trains from Thomastown station. The bus is actually quicker and more convenient.
Co. Wicklow is also easily reachable from Kilkenny by car and this would also be a great day out. Head via Carlow to the lakes around Blessington and then across the Sally Gap to Roundwood and back to Thomastown, via Bunclody. (Get a good map).
About one and half hours drive north will bring you to Birr Castle, which is a great place to visit. The Castle is not open to the public , but the demesne is and it is beautiful to walk around. Also it has a lot of scientific interest as several of the previous Earls and their family were renowned scientists and innovators. This trip will show you some of the irish midlands and boglands, which many visitors miss out on.
Much, much more I could tell you about, but maybe that is enough to show you that you will not be bored.