Kilkenny Castle

Local link to the past
2024-08-19 09:15 - 2024-08-23 17:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
Local Links to the Past ✨
The Office of Public Works and Transport for Ireland are collaborating to promote sustainable travel this National Heritage Week ????
This year’s theme is Connections, Routes and Networks. Inspired by this, OPW – Office of Public Works are incentivising visitors to use the Local Links rural public transport service to access twelve heritage sites across Ireland. This is the first year that the OPW and the Department of Transport are rolling out this initiative.
Kilkenny Castle will grant free admission to visitors who take the Local Links service from Monday 19 to Friday 23 August. To avail of this offer, present your Local Link ticket at our ticket desk
see www.heritageireland.ie for more information

Seachtain Náisiúnta na hOidreachta Turas ar Caisleán Chill Chainnigh as Gaeilge
2024-08-23 09:30 - 10:15 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
Gheobhaidh tú eolais ar Stair an Chaisleán agus an saghas saol a bhí ag an gclann a bhí ina gcónaí anseo.
Thosaigh saol an Caisleán seo sa 13ú haois, úsáidtear é mar dún ansin athraíonn sé go dtí teach uasal thar na 800 bliain.
Bígí linn ar thuras trí Ghaeilge ar am gCaisleán Chill Chainnigh.
Beidh Caoimhe do treoraí turais.
Beidh turas as Gaeilge ar fáil soar in aisce de hAoine an 23ú de Lúnasa ag 9:15am.
Cuir spás in áirithe tríd ríomhphoist a sheoladh chuig:
kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie
Beidh an turas threoraithe thart ar uair a chloig.
Tuilleadh eolais le: 046 9423020

Children Friendly Tour of Kilkenny Castle
2024-08-24 09:15 - 10:00 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
This free guided tour is aimed at school going aged children and their families.
Parts of the Castle may not be suitable for people with limited mobility but ground floor rooms fully accessible. Maximum of 2 adults per booking
Booking required, limited availability. To reserve your place contact: kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie

Sensory Friendly Tour of Kilkenny Castle
2024-08-25 09:15 - 10:00 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
This will be a unique opportunity for people with sensory needs and their family to view the beautiful Victorian period rooms of the Castle in a quiet environment.
This event is free of charge but advance booking is required.
Parts of the Castle may not be suitable for people with limited mobility but ground floor rooms fully accessible.
Booking required, limited availability. To reserve your place contact: kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie

Irish Sign Language Interpreted Tour of Kilkenny Castle
2024-08-25 15:30 - 16:30 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
As part of the Heritage Week 2024 and the OPW programme of Irish Sign Language interpreted tours at Heritage sites around the country, Kilkenny Castle is offering a free ISL interpreted tour on Sunday 25th of August @ 3:30pm
One of our experienced guide accompanied by an ISL interpreter will lead you throughout the restored Period Rooms of Kilkenny Castle and will put the spotlight on fascinating characters and hidden gems.
The guided tours give a unique opportunity to learn more about Kilkenny Castle and its Collections in an inclusive environment. Partial wheelchair access.
The tours are free of charge but places are limited so participants are asked to book early by emailing kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie

The Butler Society Triennial Gathering 2024
2024-08-28 17:00 - 2024-09-01 17:00 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is once again delighted to welcome Butler Society members from all over the world this week.
From August 28th to September 1st, Butler families and their loved ones will gather at Kilkenny Castle, the historic seat of the Butler family, for ‘The Butler Gathering’. This event promises to be a time of celebration, connection, and commemoration of the Butler legacy.
Founded in 1967 at Kilkenny Castle, The Butler Society has been dedicated to connecting, preserving, and uniting Butler families and their rich heritage. The Society continues its mission to bring together Butler families from all corners of the globe.

For more information on The Butler Society and the Gathering please visit https://butlersociety.org/

Free Admission for Culture Night
2024-09-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Kilkenny
Kilkenny Castle is delighted to take part in Culture Night once more.
To celebrate Culture Night, the period rooms and exhibitions of Kilkenny Castle will be open to the public free of charge from 6pm to 9pm on Friday 20th September 2024
Please note last admission will be 8:30pm.
No advance booking required. Admission will be on a first come, first served basis

Alice Kyteler: Witch, Victim, or Feminist Icon?
2024-09-20 18:30 - 19:30, 2024-11-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Kilkenny
Alice Kyteler remains the most well-known but mysterious woman in the history of Kilkenny. Seven hundred years have passed since she disappeared at the height of the Kilkenny Witchcraft Trial, but she remains an intriguing figure.
In this presentation, historian and host of the Irish History Podcast, Fin Dwyer, explores the woman at the center of the Kilkenny Witchcraft Trial.
Considered a heretic by her contemporaries, views of her have changed over the centuries. To some, she was a victim; to others, she is a feminist icon.
In this talk, Fin Dwyer explores who Alice Kyteler really was.
The event is free of charge. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Doors open 30 minutes before the start of event.

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: The Vanbrugh & Friends
2024-10-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is pleased to support Music in Kilkenny Concert Series once again. The concerts take place in different venues in Kilkenny throughout the season. The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle is delighted to host four of these, the first of which takes place on Sunday 6 October at 3pm.
The Vanbrugh & Friends
Keith Pascoe – violin, Marja Gaynor – violin, Simon Aspell – viola, Ed Creedon – viola, Christopher Marwood – cello, Maria O’Connor – cello
Programme:
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – String Sextet in A major
Franz Schubert – String Quintet in C major D.956
Monumental, intimate, dreamy, earthy, triumphant, despairing… Schubert’s extraordinary string quintet is all of these things and more. It was the last completed work of the terminally ill 31-year-old composer and is recognised as one of the greatest works in Western music. Rimsky-Korsakov’s 1876 string sextet is, by contrast, a seldom played rarity, but is full of charm and invention, exploiting the rich sonority of the six instruments to the full and featuring a lyrical and expressive slow movement.
The Vanbrugh has evolved from the work of the Vanbrugh Quartet which was based in Cork as RTE’s Resident Quartet from 1986 to 2013 and as Artists-in-Residence at University College, Cork from 1990 until the retirement of violinist Gregory Ellis in 2017. Over three decades the quartet gave close to three thousand concerts, presenting the chamber music repertoire to audiences throughout Ireland, Europe, the Americas, and the Far East. Commercial recordings include more than thirty CDs of repertoire ranging from the complete Beethoven quartets to many contemporary Irish works. In 2016 the group was presented with the National Concert Hall’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their contribution to music in Ireland. Keith Pascoe, Simon Aspell, and Christopher Marwood continue to perform together as the nucleus of the Vanbrugh and are joined by guest artists for performances of a wide range of chamber music repertoire.

Child Friendly Tour of Kilkenny Castle
2024-10-26 09:30 - 10:30, 2024-10-28 09:30 - 10:30, 2024-11-03 09:30 - 10:00 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
This Mid term break, join one of our guides for a Free Child Friendly Guided Tour of Kilkenny Castle and view our beautiful Period rooms in a more relax environment.
These Guided tours are aimed at school going aged children and their families
2 adults maximum per child
Parts of the Castle may not be suitable for people with limited mobility but ground floor rooms fully accessible.
Booking required, limited availability.

Sensory Friendly Tours of Kilkenny Castle
2024-10-27 09:30 - 10:30, 2024-10-30 16:15 - 17:15, 2024-11-02 09:30 - 10:30 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
This Mid term break, we are offering Free Sensory Friendly Tours of Kilkenny castle. This will be a unique opportunity for people with sensory needs and their family to view the beautiful Victorian period rooms of the Castle in a quiet environment.
This event is free of charge but advance booking is required.
Parts of the Castle may not be suitable for people with limited mobility but ground floor rooms fully accessible.
Booking required, limited availability. To reserve your place contact: kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: Lumiere Quartet
2024-11-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is pleased to support Music in Kilkenny Concert Series once again. The concerts take place in different venues in Kilkenny throughout the season. The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle is delighted to host four of these, the second of which takes place on Saturday 9 November at 7:30pm.
Lumiere Quartet
Claire Duff – violin, Elaine Clark – violin, Nathan Sherman – viola, Carina Drury – cello
Programme:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – String Quartet in C major K.465 Dissonance
Caterina Schembri – Grüner Strahl*
Felix Mendelssohn – String Quartet in A minor Op.13
The Lumiere Quartet is an exciting new group led by acclaimed Irish Baroque Orchestra leader Claire Duff, playing with classical bows on gut strings and offering fresh interpretations of Mozart’s Dissonance Quartet and Mendelssohn’s A minor quartet. The transition between Classicism and Romanticism as represented by these iconic works is the inspiration behind Caterina Schembri’s new quartet ‘Grüner Strahl’. This is the name of a rare meteorological phenomenon that sometimes occurs at sunset or sunrise – a green flash above the sun that lasts for a few seconds before disappearing, a fleeting moment of transformation.
* First performances. Commissioned by the Lumiere Quartet with funds from the Arts Council

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: Earls of Ormond
2024-11-17 16:00 - 18:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is pleased to support Music in Kilkenny Concert Series once again. The concerts take place in different venues in Kilkenny throughout the season. The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle is delighted to host four of these, the third of which takes place on Sunday 17 November at 4pm.
Earls of Ormond
Caoimhe de Paor and Laoise O’Brien – recorders, Sarah Groser and Norah O’Leary – viols, Siobhan Armstrong – historical harps, Malcolm Proud – chamber organ
Programme:
This newly-formed ensemble brings together early music specialists with a wide range of performance experience who share a particular interest in consort repertoire from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Their inaugural concert in Kilkenny Castle explores repertoire from the early 1600s which would have formed part of the musical tapestry in the lives of the Butlers of Ormond.

Kilkenny's Toil and Trouble Festival: Bishop Ledrede and Other Prisoners of Kilkenny's Medieval Castle Tour
2024-11-30 11:00 - 12:00 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to be part of Kilkenny’s Toil and Trouble Festival. As part of the Festival, this talk and tour will be given by archaeologist and historian, Ben Murtagh, who has spent many years excavating and working on Kilkenny Castle. As a chief centre of the medieval lordships of Leinster and Kilkenny, he will describe and discuss during his tour the use of the castle as a seat of the local feudal court, where justice was dispensed. For this and other purposes it was also used as a gaol, where prisoners were held, including the famous Bishop Ledrede when he dared to prosecute Dame Alice Kyteler in 1324.
Saturday 30 November 2024 at Kilkenny Castle at 11am and again at 2:30pm
Booking is essential and places are limited. Book at kilkennycastleevents@opw.ie
Please note that part of this tour will be conducted outdoors so weather appropriate clothing is advised
For more information on all the events happening in Kilkenny as part of the Festival visit https://content.kilkenny.ie/toilandtrouble/index.html

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: Irish Baroque Orchestra & Chorus
2024-12-14 19:00 - 21:30 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is pleased to support Music in Kilkenny Concert Series once again. The concerts take place in different venues in Kilkenny throughout the season. Kilkenny Castle is delighted to host four of these, the last of these takes place on Saturday 14 December at 7pm in the wonderful Picture Gallery.
Irish Baroque Orchestra & Chorus
Peter Whelan – director, Rowan Pierce and Aisling Kenny – soprano, James Hall and Francesco Giusto – alto, Jonathan Hanley and Christopher Bowen – tenor, Frederick Long and William Gaunt – bass
Programme:
From the jubilant opening chorus “Jauchzet, frohlocket” to the serene and tender arias, every note of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio celebrates the nativity story with reverence and exuberance.
First performed in 1734, the Christmas Oratorio comprises six cantatas, each intended for performance on a given feast day in the Christmas period. In this performance the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chorus present all six cantatas, for an immersive and enriching audience experience full of joy and peace. Secure your tickets now for an evening of spiritual reflection – a celebration of the season that will warm your heart and inspire your soul.
The Irish Baroque Orchestra is proudly funded by Arts Council Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. The Christmas Oratorio performances are part of the IBO’s ambitious new Bach Cycle 2024 – 2026, made possible by the generous philanthropic support of an anonymous donor.
Tickets for the Christmas Oratorio on Saturday 14th December are €30.00.
Please note that due to strictly limited capacity in The Picture Gallery of Kilkenny Castle tickets must be booked in advance. You are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
Please note – there is no universal access to the Picture Gallery.

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: The Carducci Quartet
2025-01-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
PROGRAMME & PERFORMERS

Quartet in D major Opus 20 No. 4 – Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Stamp – Donnacha Dennehy (b. 1970)
Entr’acte – Caroline Shaw (b. 1982)
Quartet in Eb major Op. 117 No. 9 – Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Described by The Strad as presenting “a masterclass in unanimity of musical purpose, in which severity could melt seamlessly into charm, and drama into geniality”, the award-winning Carducci Quartet is internationally acclaimed as one of the most accomplished and versatile ensembles of today. Featuring two Cork musicians, the Carducci Quartet is one of the longest established and most admired string quartets on the world stage. They return for their latest tour of Ireland with a beautiful programme including one of Shostakovich’s finest string quartets, marking the 50th anniversary of his death in 1975.

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: The Sonoro String Quartet
2025-02-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
PROGRAMME & PERFORMERS

Chorale -Donnacha Dennehy (b. 1970)
Quartet in Bb major Op. 92 No. 5 – Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Quartet in G minor Op. 10 – Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Founded in 2019 and featuring Cork violist Séamus Hickey, the Sonoro Quartet has already established itself as one of the leading young string quartets of its generation. They perform over 40 concerts annually in countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary and Ireland making them one of the most active string quartets in Belgium.

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: The Britten Oboe Quartet
2025-03-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
PROGRAMME & PERFORMERS

Adagio in F major for cor anglais and strings K. 580a – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Quartet for oboe and strings – Elizabeth Maconchy (1907-1994)
The Phantasy Quartet for oboe and strings – Ernest John Moeran (1894-1950)
Artin – Jacqueline Shave
Sonderhø Bridal Trilogy – Danish traditional
Oboe Quartet in F major K. 370 – W.A. Mozart

Nicholas Daniel founded the Britten Oboe Quartet together with his colleagues and co-principals of the award-winning Britten Sinfonia; they all bring to this ensemble not only the highest musical standards but also the experience of playing together over many years, resulting in warm, expressive and above all enjoyable playing. They perform music of the highest quality and explore lesser-known works both from Britain and from abroad, as well as standard classics such as Mozart’s oboe quartet. The quartet has been heard up and down the UK, from Aberdeen to the Gregynog Festival in Wales, Swaledale and Wimbledon Festivals, Oxford, Manchester, Cambridge, and at Wigmore Hall and Kings Place in London. Most recently they have toured internationally to the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.

visite guidée gratuite du Château de Kilkenny en Français
2025-03-20 15:30 - 16:30 | Kilkenny Castle, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
Pour célébrer la Journée Internationale de la Francophonie, le Château de Kilkenny propose une visite guidée gratuite en français le Mercredi 20 Mars à 15.30. La visite est gratuite mais la réservation est essentielle. Contactez-nous par email kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie pour réserver votre place.
To celebrate International Francophonie Day, Kilkenny Castle is offering a free guided tour in French Thursday 20th March at 3.30pm. The guided tour is free of charge but places must be booked in advance. Contact us by email kilkennycastleinfo@opw.ie to book your place.

Music in Kilkenny Concert Series: Anna Cashell & Aisling Ennis
2025-03-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
PROGRAMME & PERFORMERS

Sonata for violin and harp (Allegro) – Friedrich Wilhelm Rust (1739-1796)
Fantaisie on a Theme by Haydn Op. 31 for solo harp – Marcel Grandjany (1891-1975)
Theme and Variations on ‘Amazing Grace’ for solo violin – William Walker
Premiere of New Work (2025) for violin and harp – Sam Perkin (funded by The Arts Council)
Aria from Goldberg Variations BWV 988 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Equinox Postludium 22 in E minor (Excerpt) – Henning Kraggerud (b.1973)
A little Piece for Peace -H. Kraggerud
Fantaisie for violin and harp Op. 124 – Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Join us for an eclectic programme that celebrates the beauty and expressive capabilities of the harp and violin. Anna and Aisling will present a new piece by the Irish composer Sam Perkin alongside the evocative Fantasie by Saint-Saens. Chosen for their cathartic nature, this selection of pieces are designed to bring peace and solace in these troubled times.

Garden Talk Series: The Phoenix Park - A history of its landscape and management 1880 - 1980
2025-03-25 20:00 - 21:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to present our Garden Talks once again as part of our Spring Programme 2025
As usual, there will be a wide range of speakers, covering a variety of topics.
The series starts on Tuesday 25 March and runs until Tuesday 6 May.
All talks are free and entry is on a first come first served basis.
Doors open at 7:30pm.
Tuesday 25 March: Dr. John McCullen
‘The Phoenix Park – A history of its landscape and management 1880 – 1980’
John McCullen is best known for the quarter century he spent as Park Superintendent at Dublin’s Phoenix Park. He has recently brought out the second volume of his magisterial history of the iconic park, bringing the history from 1880 to 1980, where he discusses the political, horticultural and social importance of the park in the life of the country. His talk is much anticipated.

Garden Talk Series: Eco-aesthetic gardening: Creating beauty and habitats
2025-04-01 20:00 - 21:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to present our Garden Talks once again as part of our Spring Programme 2025
As usual, there will be a wide range of speakers, covering a variety of topics.
The series starts on Tuesday 25 March and runs until Tuesday 6 May.
All talks are free and entry is on a first come first served basis.
Doors open at 7:30pm.
Tuesday 1 April: Conall O’Caoimh
‘Eco-aesthetic gardening: Creating beauty and habitats’
Conall O Caoimh is a co-creator of Ardan Garden in Howth together with Nuala Doherty. They work their half-acre on Howth Hill as a series of separate spaces designed to create different moods. The garden is a rich botanical collection worked in a fully organic way. Conall and Nuala describe their approach as eco-aesthetic, working to create habitats as well as beauty, cultivating life within the soil to benefit nature, the garden and the gardener.

Garden Talk Series: Growing unusual and special annuals
2025-04-08 20:00 - 21:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to present our Garden Talks once again as part of our Spring Programme 2025
As usual, there will be a wide range of speakers, covering a variety of topics.
The series starts on Tuesday 25 March and runs until Tuesday 6 May.
All talks are free and entry is on a first come first served basis.
Doors open at 7:30pm.
Tuesday 8 April: Rachel Darlington
‘Growing unusual and special annuals’
Rachel Darlington is an expert grower of ornamentals, influenced and inspired by the late great Christopher Lloyd. She will talk about annuals, those long-flowering, often-unsung heroes of summer. Drawing on her experience of raising from seed and growing annuals in a large exclusively annuals border, she will share what she has learned. This will be a wonderful, timely practical talk for anyone interested in creating a great summer garden.

Garden Talk Series: Lessons learned in a lifetime gardening
2025-04-15 20:00 - 21:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to present our Garden Talks once again as part of our Spring Programme 2025
As usual, there will be a wide range of speakers, covering a variety of topics.
The series starts on Tuesday 25 March and runs until Tuesday 6 May.
All talks are free and entry is on a first come first served basis.
Doors open at 7:30pm.
Tuesday 15 April: David Maxwell
‘Lessons learned in a lifetime gardening’
David Maxwell presents the award-winning BBC programme ‘Gardener’s Corner’. It takes him to gardens across Ireland and the UK where he meets the best in the business. He also writes for a range of national publications in both Ireland and the UK.

Garden Talk Series: My garden, past, present and future
2025-04-29 20:00 - 21:00 | Parade Tower, OPW Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, Kilkenny, R95YRK1, Ireland
OPW Kilkenny Castle is delighted to present our Garden Talks once again as part of our Spring Programme 2025
As usual, there will be a wide range of speakers, covering a variety of topics.
The series starts on Tuesday 25 March and runs until Tuesday 6 May.
All talks are free and entry is on a first come first served basis.
Doors open at 7:30pm.
Tuesday 29 April: June Blake
‘My garden, past, present and future’
June Blake has been opening her beautiful flower garden in Wicklow for 23 years. The June Blake Garden is famed for its spectacular tulip and dahlia displays from early summer until autumn. June is renowned for her designs, both with plants and the sculptural aspects of her hard landscaping. The garden also includes a sensitively restored historic courtyard. A talk to inspire.
