Kilkenny Castle

Om museet

Kilkenny Castle was founded in the early Norman period and developed into a stone fortress in the thirteenth century, when William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, built it as a sign of Norman control over the area. For around six hundred years it was the seat of the Butler family, who became Earls, Marquesses and later Dukes of Ormonde.

The Butlers changed the building many times. The most visible alterations came in the nineteenth century, when the main block was remodelled in a Victorian style and fitted out as a comfortable family home. The east wing was added to hold the family's large collection of paintings, and the long Picture Gallery there remains the best-known room in the castle.

The contents of the castle were sold at auction in 1935, and the Irish State took the building over in 1969. The Office of Public Works has since restored it and refurnished a series of rooms, including the library, drawing room, nursery and bedrooms in the style of the 1830s. The ground floor also has a Medieval Room with a short audio-visual presentation, and the castle stands in a 50-acre park whose rose garden, woodland and artificial lake date from the nineteenth century.

Højdepunkter

• Picture Gallery in the east wing, built to display the Butler family's paintings
• Period rooms in the style of the 1830s, including the library, drawing room and nursery
• Chinese Withdrawing Room and State Dining Room on the ground floor
• Medieval Room with a 12-minute audio-visual that plays on a loop
• 50-acre park with a rose garden, woodland and lake

Permanente udstillinger

• Period rooms – Rooms on three floors furnished in a nineteenth-century style, from the entrance hall and State Dining Room to the library, drawing room, nursery and bedrooms.
• Picture Gallery and the Ormonde collection – The long gallery in the east wing, built for the Butler family's paintings, shows works associated with the Ormonde family.
• Medieval Room – A room reached by ramp and lift where a 12-minute audio-visual presentation plays on a loop during opening hours; no ticket is needed to watch it.

Ejer

Office of Public Works (OPW)

Entrépriser & rabatter

Prices shown are the 2026 rates for a self-guided visit. Heritage Card holders enter free, for both self-guided visits and guided tours. Online tickets are sold only through the official booking site; tickets from resale platforms are not valid.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The ground floor (entrance hall, Withdrawing Room, Dining Room) is fully wheelchair accessible, and the Medieval Room is reached by a ramp and a wheelchair lift. The first and second floors are reached by stairs, including a 34-step main staircase, and there is no lift to the Picture Gallery yet. The park is mostly flat with well-laid paths. The accessible toilet is on the first floor of the east wing and needs a climb of 36 steps; an alternative toilet can be reached by the lift in the Parade Tower, and accessible public toilets (50 cent charge) are on the Parade. The castle has no car park; disabled parking spaces are on the street in front of the Kilkenny Design Centre. Guide dogs are welcome. Braille leaflets can be borrowed at the ticket desk, large-print leaflets are available, and social stories for adults and children help first-time visitors prepare. Free Irish Sign Language interpreted tours run on selected dates (9 May, 18 August and 6 December 2026 at 15:30), with booking required. Courtesy chairs are available in some rooms.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Puslerum
• Legeplads / legehjørne

Free downloadable activity sheets cover the period rooms, the castle, the Butler family and trails in the park, and a children's leaflet is available. Family tours, workshops and seasonal events such as an Easter egg hunt are listed in the castle calendar, and the park has a playground. Children under 12 enter free and a family ticket is offered.

Transport & parkering

The castle is in the city centre on The Parade. Coach parking is limited and located on Castle Road.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Wi-fi

The Castle Tea Rooms are reached by 13 stone steps, and a coffee dock in the grounds is fully accessible. Heritage Ireland lists Wi-Fi among the facilities of the site. Baby changing, a playground, a picnic area and bicycle parking are also listed.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Bryllupper / vielser

Venues, catering and weddings are described on the castle website; enquiries go to the castle's venue hire and events team.

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