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
• Rive Gauche
  (0.2km)NW
• Zuni Restaurant & Boutique Hotel
  (0.2km)NW
• Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel & Harpers Restaurant
  (0.2km)NW
• Kilkenny River Court Hotel
  (0.2km)NE
• Pembroke Kilkenny
  (0.2km)SW
• Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel
  (0.3km)NW
• Aroi Asian Street Food
  (0.3km)NW
• Butcher Steakhouse
  (0.4km)NW
• Truffles Restaurant and Wine Bar
  (0.4km)NW
• Langton House Hotel
  (0.4km)NE
• Marble City Bar
  (0.5km)NW
• Gourmet Store, The
  (0.5km)NW
• La Rivista
  (0.6km)NW
• Foodworks Café
  (0.7km)NW
• Campagne
  (0.7km)NE
• CakeFace
  (0.8km)NW
• Arán Artisan Bakery, Deli & Bistro
  (0.8km)NE

Self Catering

• The Coachyard & Gardener's Cottage at Blanchville House
  (8.2km)SE
• 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 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
  (45.2km)SE
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• Kilmacthomas - Co Waterford - Fridays
  (50.7km)SW
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• 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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  (0.7km)SE
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  (12.6km)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
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  (50.1km)SE
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  (53.7km)SE
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  (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
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  (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
• 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