Sparkling Heritage Week at Kilkenny Castle

As the city's premier historic building and tourist attraction, Kilkenny Castle takes Heritage Week seriously, organising more than a dozen free events, presentations and promotions over the nine days of the annual celebration of history and culture.

With self-guided tours of the Castle Park Trail available all week, and free admission to the Castle itself all day on Sunday 26 August, locals and visitors alike can become familiar with the unique environment behind the walls, both outdoors and indoors. 

Artists will have a special opportunity to sketch from portraits in the Picture Gallery each day from Monday 20 to Friday 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. A fascinating session in the Parade Tower on Sunday 26th at 2.45 p.m. is entitled 'Secret Tricks of Master Painters' - and all you need to learn and draw is your smart phone!

There are seven free formal presentations during the week, with titles as varied as 'Elizabeth Bowen and the Big House,' an exploration of the work and inspiration noted Anglo-Irish author by Niamh Brennan (Tapestry Room, Monday 20th August, 4 p.m.); 'Petticoat Politics,' a study of the role of women in the development of the Castle and the management of its estates by Aoife Brennan (Tapestry Room, Thursday 23rd, 4 p.m.) and 'From Parliament Street to Pennsylvania Avenue', a look at the influence of Kilkenny and some of its early emigrants in the establishment of Washington and the new U.S. Republic, by Denis Bergin (Parade Tower, Friday 24th., 3 p.m.).

The Butler connection with the Castle is highlighted in Peter Kenny's talk on 'The Tale of Hubert Walter', a profile of the often neglected 12th. century Archbishop of Canterbury and his legacy within the Butler family history (Wednesday 22nd, Tapestry Room).

On Sunday August 26th. there is a formidable line up of scholarly talent in two lunchtime sessions in the Parade Tower: at 12 noon, the  art historian Dr. Jane Fenlon will speak on 'The Ormondes in their 17th. century environment' and this will be followed at 1 p.m. by the conservator Siobhan Conyngham on the restoration of the Castle's portrait of Lady Elizabeth Butler, who in her short lifetime of twenty five years became a noted beauty, a society figure as Countess of Chesterfield and an ancestor of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

For queries and further information on this sparkling schedule of events, the contact number for the Office of Public Works collections and information staff at the Castle is 056 770 4105.