This weekend, we did a lot of sightseeing. We managed to get up for breakfast each morning and were usually out of the B&B by 10:30 AM. Usually, we aren't even awake by then on the weekends or when on holiday! Anyway, our first sight was the kilkenny castle.
The castle is set on beautiful grounds and a river. It is currently owned by the Office of Public Works (aka the government) and is being restored. Well, except the part that has been turned into a convention center. So, anyway, pictures aren't allowed on the tour and it was a guided tour, so no pictures of the inside. The rooms were decorated/restored to how they would have been when the Ormands were still living in it. When the government took the castle over, it was apparently in a serious state of disrepair. The building has been restored with a lot of attention given to the details. There is some original furniture and pieces that aren't original are frequently period pieces.
My favorite room was the last on the tour. It was a portrait room. It is a long room with very high ceilings. The ceilings were wood and painted/styled in such a way that it looked like it should be a Viking ship, not a castle ceiling.
All in all, it is definitely a worth while tour and better than some of the other castle tours we've been on. The guide seemed really enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Also, as an aside, if you are traveling to Ireland and into old buildings, I'd really recommend the Heritage Card. I think it is 21 Euros and gets you into a variety of sites owned by the Office of Public Works.
1 comment:
I went to Kilkenny one year straight from the airport just off a transatlantic flight. Reading your post makes me realise just how jet lagged I must have been, because I could tell you NOTHING about the inside of that castle. And I only remember the outside because I have pictures :)
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