Kilkenny Castle

12th century castle remodelled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands

Kilkenny Castle is a 12th century castle remodelled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands which was the principal seat of the Butler family, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde. Kilkenny Castle was built to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways and was a symbol of Norman occupation. In its original thirteenth-century condition it would have formed an important element of the defences of the town with four large circular corner towers and a massive ditch, part of which can still be seen today on the Parade.

Following major restoration works the central block now includes a library, drawing room, and bedrooms decorated in 1830's splendour, as well as the beautiful Long Gallery. A suite of former servant's rooms is the Butler Art Gallery, which mounts frequently changing exhibitions of contemporary art.

The gardens and parkland adjoining the castle are open to the public and the Parade Tower is the Castle's conference venue.

Open daily, year round (closed Good Friday). October-February 9.30am-4.30pm; March 9.30am-5pm; April-May 9.30am-5.30pm; June-August 9am-5.30pm; September 9.30am-5.30pm.

Adults €6; Child (6+)/Student €2.50; OAP/Group €4; Family €14.

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Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Kilkenny Design Centre
  (0.0km)NW
• Ristorante Rinuccini
  (0.1km)NW
• Butler House
  (0.1km)SW
• Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel
  (0.2km)NW
• Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel
  (0.2km)NW
• Kilkenny River Court Hotel
  (0.2km)NE
• Swans Chinese
  (0.2km)NW
• Pembroke Hotel & Stathams Bar & Grill
  (0.2km)SW
• Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel
  (0.3km)NW
• Lautrecs Tapas & Winebar
  (0.3km)NW
• Café Sol Restaurant
  (0.4km)NW
• Langton House Hotel
  (0.4km)NE
• Marble City Bar
  (0.5km)NW
• Gourmet Store, The
  (0.5km)NW
• Chez Pierre
  (0.6km)NW
• Foodworks Café
  (0.7km)NW
• Cramers Grove Ice Cream
  (0.7km)NE
• Campagne
  (0.7km)NE
• Courtyard Bar and Grill, The
  (0.8km)NE
• Hotel Kilkenny
  (1.1km)SW

Self Catering

• The Coachyard & Gardener's Cottage at Blanchville House
  (8.2km)SE
• Clomantagh Castle
  (13.7km)NW
• Kilmokea Country Manor & Gardens - Coach House & Garden Suite
  (43.0km)SE
• Fruit Hill Holiday Cottages - The Coach House, Kirby's & The Garden Cottage
  (43.3km)SE
• Roundwood House - The Coach House, The Forge & The Cottage
  (45.9km)NW
• Waterford Castle Lodges
  (45.9km)SE
• Kilmaneen Farmhouse & Cottage
  (57.3km)SW

Farmers Markets

• Kilkenny - Every Thursday
  (0.2km)NW
• Carlow - Carlow - Saturdays
  (29.9km)NE
• New Ross - County Wexford - Saturdays
  (35.0km)SE
• Carrick on Suir - County Tipperary - Fridays
  (35.5km)SW
• Thurles - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (38.9km)NW
• Athy - County Kildare - Sundays
  (42.0km)NE
• Templemore Famers - Co Tipperary - Wednesdays
  (42.7km)NW
• Portlaoise - Co Laois - Fridays
  (42.9km)NW
• Waterford - Co Waterford - Saturdays
  (44.2km)SE
• Clonmel Premier Organic - Co Tipperary - Fridays
  (44.4km)SW
• Clonmel - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (44.7km)SW
• Dunbrody - County Wexford
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• Enniscorthy - County Wexford - Saturdays
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• Kilmacthomas - Co Waterford - Fridays
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• Cahir - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (54.9km)SW
• Birr - The Full Moon - Co Offaly - every 3rd Sunday
  (66.7km)NW

Tourist Attractions

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  (0.0km)SE
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  (9.4km)SE
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  (17.8km)SE
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  (34.9km)SE
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  (35.1km)SE
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  (42.3km)SE
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  (44.1km)SE
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  (44.6km)SE
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  (44.9km)SE
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  (45.0km)SE
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  (45.6km)SE
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  (49.0km)SE
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
  (50.1km)SE
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  (53.7km)SE
• Cahir Castle
  (55.1km)SE
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  (55.9km)SE
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  (57.9km)SE

Golf Courses

• Kilkenny Golf Club
  (2.4km) NE
• Gowran Park Golf Club
  (12.5km) SE
• Mount Juliet Golf Club
  (14.0km) SE
• Castlecomer Golf Club
  (16.5km) NE
• Carlow Golf Club
  (33.3km) NE
• Mount Wolseley Golf Club
  (38.3km) NE
• Kilkea Castle Golf Resort
  (40.8km) NE
• Waterford Golf Club
  (43.1km) SE
• Faithlegg Golf Club
  (45.9km) SE
• Waterford Castle Golf Club
  (45.9km) SE
• Rathsallagh Golf Club
  (54.8km) NE

Gardens

• Mount Juliet & Garden
  (14.0km)SE
• Kilfane Glen & Waterfall
  (15.0km)SE
• Woodstock Gardens
  (22.1km)SE
• Heywood Gardens
  (25.9km)NW
• Delta Sensory Garden
  (31.1km)NE
• Killurney Garden
  (34.7km)SW
• Ballon Garden
  (35.0km)NE
• Altamont
  (36.6km)NE
• Hardymount
  (36.8km)NE
• Duckett's Grove Walled Garden and Pleasure Grounds
  (37.4km)NE
• Gash Gardens
  (39.9km)NW
• Newtownbarry House Gardens
  (40.5km)NE
• Coolaught Gardens
  (42.2km)SE
• Kilmokea Gardens
  (43.0km)SE
• Sion Hill House & Gardens
  (43.5km)SE
• Fairbrook House Gardens & Museum of Contemporary Figurative Art
  (45.3km)SE
• Burtown House Gardens
  (45.4km)NE
• Mount Congreve
  (45.7km)SE
• Bellefield
  (58.5km)NW
• Birr Castle Demesne
  (66.8km)NW

Nearby Towns/Areas

• Kilkenny
  (0.3km) SW
• Wallslough
  (5.1km) SE
• Cuffesgrange
  (6.5km) SW
• Bennettsbridge
  (7.6km) SE
• Maddoxtown
  (8.3km) SE
• Dungarvan
  (12.5km) SE
• Gowran
  (12.6km) SE
• Tullaroan
  (12.8km) NW
• Freshford
  (13.8km) NW
• Thomastown
  (15.7km) SE