1. Kilkenny Castle Blog
Kilkenny Castle is one of the most beautifully restored castles in all of Ireland. As an ex tour
guide of the castle I decided to go on a tour to see what has changed since I have left.
I had a wander around the grounds to the duck pond and family graveyard before making my
way inside. Before purchasing your ticket for the tour there is a history lesson to see first.
Enter what is called the medieval room in the largest remaining tower. Have a seat and watch
a short video presentation on the history of the castle, the family who lived there as well as
the restoration work carried out. It will put your tour together and help everything make more
sense as you go through.
You enter into the main hall where you
purchase your tickets and begin in the
medieval foundations of the castle. This time
of year it is a guided tour only. Here you can
see part of the original moat from the castle
as well as seeing up close the arrow loop
windows from when the castle was first
built. You then step into the home of the
powerful Butler family and see how the
other half lived in those days. I love the
ladies withdrawing room as it has original
wall paper from when the family were living in it last. You then make your way into the
dining room and see some of the families’ portrait collection with a very imposing 1st Duke
overseeing the room. Just look at the table setup….
You re-appear in the main hall, make sure to look down at the ground. This is the original
floor from this room. Also, ask the guide on duty the story behind the large marble table in
the centre of the room. I hope you haven’t touched it first…. I am sure they will go into it on
tour. You also meet the final two male members of the Butler family, can you tell which ones
they are from their clothes? To get to the next floor you make your way up the striking
original mahogany staircase.
My favourite room is the library, the colours, the luxury. I would happily have spent my time
reading in that room if I was living there! Above the library is the bedroom corridor which
now has two bedrooms restored. As you make your way to them you will see photographs
from when the castle was being restored. Pause and take a minute to think of the work they
have done when you see what it became after the family left Kilkenny. Unrecognisable!
You finish your tour in the most impressive room; they save the best until last. The Picture
Gallery wing, yes I did say wing, a full wing of the castle is dedicated to their paintings, a
fraction however of what they once had. This is the second longest room in Ireland after
Trinity Library in Dublin. Examine every inch of this room as it is the most original of the
castle. The floor beneath you is the original parquet floor; the paintings, fire place and even
the ceiling above are all the originals.