| Many travelers make it a point to include Kilkenny | | | | my study of Irish castles. The importance of the |
| Castle, and the community surrounding it, in their | | | | arts is reflected in the nearby town of Kilkenny. |
| tour of Ireland. Killkenny City is about a two-hour | | | | You will find works created by jewelers, |
| drive from Dublin and is known as the medieval | | | | woodworkers, crafters who specialize in pottery |
| capital of the country. The castle was built in the | | | | and a number of other artisans who work in the |
| twelfth century by William Marshal, first Earl of | | | | area. Plays are performed in the city and the |
| Pembroke. It was a symbol of Norman | | | | annual arts festival always attracts large crowds. |
| occupation. The castle was remodeled during the | | | | In addition to a tour of Kilkenny Castle and a visit |
| Victorian period. More recent restorations have | | | | to the local art galleries, you will want to explore |
| preserved the library, the drawing room, | | | | the neighborhood pubs and restaurants. There are |
| bedrooms and the gardens to their early 1800s | | | | other attractions in Kilkenny that you may want |
| condition. It is now managed by the Office of | | | | to visit. The tudor style Rothe House on |
| Public Works. | | | | Parliament Street is now a museum. It dates |
| The grounds, gardens and view of the Nore River | | | | from the 1590s when it was a meeting place for |
| are beautiful at Kilkenny Castle. You can stroll | | | | the leaders of the Confederation. Golfers will find |
| through the property on the paved path and take | | | | plenty of choices at the Kilkenny Golf Club, the |
| photographs of the castle from many viewpoints. | | | | Castlecomer Golf Club and the Mount Juliet |
| When I visited Kilkenny, I took a tour of the | | | | Conrad Hotel golf course. |
| castle. I love to take the castle tours when I visit | | | | There are many other nearby attractions. |
| Ireland. The tour guides not only describe the local | | | | Dunmore Cave is located on the Castlecomer |
| history, but also add bits of fascinating fact. For | | | | Road. It consists of a series of chambers that |
| instance, on the tours of the bedrooms, our guide | | | | were formed over millions of years. Jerpoint |
| pointed out the short beds. He explained that, for | | | | Abbey is a nearby monastic ruin. The abbey was |
| many years, people sat up in bed because of the | | | | founded in the second half of the 12th century. |
| lung problems caused by living in damp, moldy | | | | Nore View Folk & Heritage Museum in the |
| conditions. When you take a tour of the castle, | | | | village of Bennettsbridge is not far from Kilkenny. |
| you will enjoy the former servants' quarters that | | | | You will want to arrange part of your trip to |
| have been converted to a large, open art gallery | | | | Ireland around a visit to Kilkenny Castle. Kilkenny |
| where a variety of modern works are shown. | | | | offers a unique perspective into the history of the |
| Summer visitors can also enjoy the tea room | | | | country and to the southeast region of Ireland. |
| that operates from the old castle kitchen. | | | | Copyright, Patricia McKinney-Lins. All rights |
| The bookstore at Kilkenny Castle is very | | | | reserved. |
| extensive. I found many books that helped with | | | | |