I live in a quiet housing estate in Kilkenny about 1.5 miles from the city and I must say I do love living here, but you will need more than your 300k to get what you are looking for. A four bed three years ago located as you describe would have cost that, 350k would buy you a semi-detached four bed now. I have one for sale if you are interested!!! I would look at College Square on the Callan Road, a nice development about 2 miles from the centre of town and in an area which is soon to be developed as part of Kilkenny's western environs, also close to the ring road but not close enough for any road noise. I would also look at some of the outlying villages like Kells or Gowran which are attracting a lot of people at the moment, developments there tend to be small in size and the villages themselves are well served by local shops and amenities and are also not far at all from the city.