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.

View Similar Tourist Attractions

• Ormond Castle
• The Science Gallery
• Wexford Wildfowl Reserve
• Galway Atlantaquaria
• Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Adventure Park
• Dublinia
• Dingle Oceanworld
• Ballycroy National Park
• Aras an Uachtarain
• Imaginosity - Dublins Children Museum
• Leopardstown Racecourse
• National Gallery of Ireland
• Galway City Museum
• St Marys Church
• Lahinch Seaworld & Leisure Centre
• Lusk Heritage Centre
• Connemara National Park
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
• Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium
• Little Museum of Dublin
• Exploris Aquarium & Seal Sanctuary
• Parkes Castle
• Barryscourt Castle
• Guinness Storehouse
• Rock of Cashel
• Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• The Ark
• St Marys Abbey
• Derrynane House
• Jerpoint Abbey
• Glendalough
• Number Twenty Nine - Georgian House Museum
• Adare Castle
• Tower Museum
• Christ Church Cathedral
• Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
• Arigna Mining Experience
• Casino Marino
• Cobh Heritage Centre
• Ferns Castle
• National Concert Hall
• Viking Splash Tours
• Ardfert Cathedral
• Cruachan Ai Heritage Centre
• Trim Castle
• Ballyhack Castle
• Kerry County Museum
• House of Waterford Crystal
• Newgrange & Knowth - Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
• Skellig Michael
• Cahir Castle
• Killarney National Park
• Ulster Museum
• Swiss Cottage
• Portumna Castle & Gardens
• Rathfarnham Castle
• Desmond Castle
• Famine Warhouse
• Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid
• Armagh Planetarium
• National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
• Ennis Friary
• Dublin Zoo
• Saint Patricks Cathedral
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Thomond Park Stadium
• National Photographic Archive
• Newmills Corn & Flax Mills
• Fort Lucan
• Reginalds Tower
• Enniskillen Castle Museum
• Ceide Fields
• Phoenix Park
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
• Somme Heritage Centre
• Skellig Experience Visitor Centre
• Listowel Castle
• Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre
• Government Buildings
• Dan OHaras Heritage & History Centre
• National Library of Ireland
• Carrickfergus Museum
• National Transport Museum
• Dromore Wood
• Kilbeggan Distillery Experience
• Coole Park
• Aughnanure Castle
• Aviva Stadium
• Blarney Castle
• Donegal Castle
• National Aquatic Centre - AquaZone
• Sligo Abbey
• Giants Causeway
• Eagles Flying
• Crag Cave
• National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
• Cliffs of Moher - Visitor Experience
• Florence Court
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
• St Stephens Green
• Glebe House & Gallery - The Derek Hill Collection
• Avondale House & Forest Park
• Lough Key Forest & Activity Park
• Chester Beatty Library
• The Burren Centre - Gateway to the Burren
• Boyle Abbey
• Doolin Cave & Visitor Centre
• Skerries Mills
• Russborough House
• Glenveagh National Park
• Dunmore Cave
• Hook Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
• Burren National Park
• Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park
• Queens University
• Natural History Museum
• Doneraile Wildlife Park
• Titanic Belfast
• Charles Fort
• The Old Jameson Distillery
• Dun Aonghasa
• Garylough Mill
• Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
• King Johns Castle
• Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge
• National Sea Life Centre
• Emo Court
• Athenry Castle
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
• National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
• Foynes Flying Boat Museum
• Belfast Zoo
• King House
• Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre
• Aillwee Cave
• Rothe House & Garden
• Gallarus Oratory & Gallarus Castle
• Sentry Hill & Visitor Centre
• The Blascaoid Centre - Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhoir
• Iveagh Gardens
• The Hunt Museum
• The Butlers Chocolate Experience
• Ulster American Folk Park
• Glasnevin Museum
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
• Tayto Park
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
• Dublin Castle
• Donegal County Museum
• Funtasia Waterpark
• Ross Castle
• Maynooth Castle
• Muckross House & Gardens & Traditional Farm
• Croke Park & GAA Museum
• Wicklow Mountains National Park
• Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre
• Castle Ward House & Demesne
• Skibbereen Heritage Centre
• Pearse Museum & St. Endas Park
• Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre
• Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
• Desmond Hall
• Farmleigh House & Estate
• Tintern Abbey
• Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Armagh County Museum
• Caherconnell Fort
• Clare Museum
• Old Mellifont Abbey
• Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
• The Main Guard
• Jameson Experience Midleton
• Scattery Island Centre
• Marble Arch Caves & Global Geopark
• Castletown House
• Bushmills Distillery
• Phoenix Park Visitor Centre - Ashtown Castle
• Museum at the Mill
• Patrick Pearses Cottage
• Malahide Castle
• Xtreme.ie - Adventure Centre
• National Wax Museum Plus
• Kilkenny Castle
• Larne Museum & Arts Centre
• Craggaunowen - The Living Past
• Dungarvan Castle
• Navan Centre & Fort
• Funtasia Bettystown
• Battle of the Boyne
• National Leprechaun Museum
• Adare Heritage Centre
• Hill of Tara
• Mizen Head Signal Station
• Clonmacnoise
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery

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 & 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
• Ardkeen Food Producers - Waterford - Second Sunday each month
  (46.2km)SE
• Enniscorthy - County Wexford - Saturdays
  (49.2km)SE
• Kilmacthomas - Co Waterford - Fridays
  (50.7km)SW
• Cahir - County Tipperary - Saturdays
  (54.9km)SW
• Birr - The Full Moon - Co Offaly - every 3rd Sunday
  (66.7km)NW

Tourist Attractions

• Kilkenny Castle
  (0.0km)SE
• Rothe House & Garden
  (0.7km)SE
• Dunmore Cave
  (9.4km)SE
• St Marys Church
  (12.6km)SE
• Jerpoint Abbey
  (16.6km)SE
• Castlecomer Discovery Park
  (17.8km)SE
• Famine Warhouse
  (22.0km)SE
• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre
  (30.2km)SE
• Dunbrody Famine Ship
  (34.9km)SE
• Ros Tapestry Exhibition Centre
  (35.1km)SE
• Ormond Castle
  (35.5km)SE
• John F Kennedy Arboretum
  (42.3km)SE
• Reginalds Tower
  (44.1km)SE
• House of Waterford Crystal
  (44.4km)SE
• Edmund Rice Heritage Centre
  (44.6km)SE
• Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway
  (44.9km)SE
• The Main Guard
  (45.0km)SE
• Rock of Cashel
  (45.6km)SE
• Ballyhack Castle
  (49.0km)SE
• Roscrea Castle & Heritage Centre
  (50.1km)SE
• Tintern Abbey
  (53.7km)SE
• Cahir Castle
  (55.1km)SE
• Swiss Cottage
  (55.9km)SE
• Dwyer McAllister Cottage
  (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
• 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