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History meets art and architecture
History meets art and architecture
Kilkenny Castle is a place where Ireland’s history truly comes to life. Built in the 12th century and overlooking the River Nore, it is one of the country’s most well-known and impressive castles. Once home to the powerful Butler family, the castle has been carefully restored and is now open to visitors. Its grand interiors, artworks, and beautiful gardens offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.
During your visit, you will explore the impressive Entrance Hall with its stone arches and portraits, walk through medieval towers and corridors that show the castle’s defensive origins, and admire the elegant Picture Gallery with its paintings, stained glass, and remarkable wooden ceiling. You’ll also see the richly decorated drawing rooms and bedrooms, which reveal the luxurious lifestyle of the Butler family. Outside, the gardens and parkland provide peaceful views of lawns, flowers, ancient trees, and the river beside the castle.
Kilkenny Castle is more than just a historic building—it tells the story of Ireland’s history, art, and architecture. By the end of the visit, you’ll have a deeper understanding of life in the past, the castle’s restoration, and why it remains such an important landmark today.
Kilkenny Castle Itinerary
Kilkenny Castle Itinerary
09:00 - Meet at the location as informed by CES staff.
11:00 - Arrive in Kilkenny.
11:00 - Walk from coach drop off point to Kilkenny Castle entrance.
11:15 - Self guided tour of Kilkenny Castle
12:30 - finish the tour.
12:30 - Free time in Kilkenny City / lunch
15:30 - Get the coach back to Dublin
17:00 - arrive back in Dublin.
Points of interest
Points of interest
1. The Great Hall
1. The Great Hall
The Great Hall was the most important room in the castle. This is where the Butler family welcomed guests, held dinners, and showed their power. The high ceiling, large windows, and long tables were designed to impress visitors. Imagine music, candles, and people wearing expensive clothes. It was also a public space, not private. Life here was formal and controlled, very different from modern homes.
Questions for students:
• Why do you think rich families wanted to impress visitors?
• Would you feel comfortable eating here?
2. The Long Gallery
2. The Long Gallery
The Long Gallery is a very long, elegant room used for walking, talking, and showing art. In bad weather, people walked here for exercise — no gyms in the past. The paintings show family members and important people, acting like an Instagram of the past. Everything in this room was designed to show status and good taste.
Questions for students:
• Why do people display photos or portraits today?
• What do these paintings tell us about the family?
3. Bedrooms and Private Rooms
3. Bedrooms and Private Rooms
The bedrooms show how rich families lived very comfortably, but also very differently from us. Beds were small and often shared. Rooms were cold, even with fireplaces. Privacy was limited — servants often came in and out. These rooms help students understand daily life, not just kings and battles.
Questions for students:
• What would be the hardest thing about sleeping here?
• How is this different from your bedroom?
4. Furniture and Decoration
4. Furniture and Decoration
Inside the castle, students see heavy furniture, rich fabrics, and detailed decoration. Furniture was a sign of wealth, not comfort. Chairs were hard, and everything was built to last for generations. Many objects were imported, showing connections with other countries. Nothing here was cheap or simple.
Questions for students:
• Why do you think furniture was so heavy?
• Do you prefer modern or old-style furniture?
5. Servants’ Life (What You Don’t Always See)
5. Servants’ Life (What You Don’t Always See)
While the Butler family lived in luxury, servants did most of the work. They cleaned rooms, carried water, cooked food, and followed strict rules. Servants’ lives were busy and tiring, and they had very little free time. This contrast helps students understand social class in the past.
Questions for students:
• Would you rather be rich but controlled, or poor but free?
• Why was social class so important in the past?
6. Change from Castle to Museum
6. Change from Castle to Museum
Kilkenny Castle was a family home until the 20th century. Later, it was sold to the Irish state and became a public museum. This shows how Ireland changed — from powerful families to shared national heritage. Today, anyone can walk through rooms once only for the elite.
Questions for students:
• Why is it important to protect old buildings?
• How should countries use historic places today?
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