Rising above the River Nore, Kilkenny Castle is one of Ireland’s most visited heritage sites.
Stronghold of the powerful Butler family, it has a history dating back to the 12th century, though much of its present look dates from Victorian times.
The first structure on this strategic site was a wooden tower built in 1172 by Richard Fitz gilbert de Clare, the Anglo-Norman conqueror of Ireland better known as Strongbow. In 1192 Strongbow’s son-in-law, William Marshal, erected a stone castle with four towers, three of which survive.
The focal point of a visit is the Long Gallery, which showcases portraits of Butler family members, the oldest dating from the 17th century. It is an impressive hall, with a 19th-century timber roof vividly painted with Celtic, medieval and Pre-Raphaelite motifs by John Hungerford Pollen (1820 – 1902), who also created the magnificent Carrara marble fireplace, delicately carved with scenes from Butler family history.
