Major new plans for Kilkenny's City Hall, including opening up dungeon for tours

The ‘darker side’ of Kilkenny, including the Draconian punishments handed out by former mayors, will form part of a tourism offering in Kilkenny’s City Hall, the Tholsel, under a new vision for the building.

Kilkenny County Council wants to repurpose the building in an effort to bring in visitors, whilst also maintaining its civic function as a seat of local government.

There will be a number of physical changes to the structure in an effort to bring the Tholsel up to modern fire safety and accessibility standards. At present, it does not comply with regulations. Part of the offering will involve a tour of the historic basement/dungeon.

At the December meeting of Kilkenny City Municipal District, senior engineer Tony Lauhoff told members there had been significant interventions on the building over the years, including during the 1950s and the fire of 1987. Some of the interventions over the years have not been sympathetic with the building.

Fourteen design teams, including some international companies, expressed an interest in the project, from which five were shortlisted for a competitive tender process. Reddy Architects ultimately won the contract. Archaeological services are being provided by Coilin O' Drisecoil of Kilkenny Archaeology.

Mr Lauhoff told members that public floggings were held adjacent to the town hall under certain mayors. He said the council was minded to both retain and enhance the civic functions of the building. The project will also provide access to the basement, and links to St Mary’s Church — now the Medieval Mile Museum. It is proposed to construct a new lift and rear access in the building through a wall.

Mr Lauhoff said the space inside the arch — where the nativity is displayed — was not currently used and the railings imply ‘keep out’. It is proposed to remove these railings, which were put in place in 1951 ‘to deal with the abuses that existed at the time’. This, he said, will make the place more welcoming.

A new civic entrance will be put in place, including a reception area, which will necessitate the removal of the ‘curved stairs’. This will free up some space for the new lift and offices.

It’s also proposed to reinstate the ‘double height’ ceiling in the Mayor’s Parlour, restoring it to full height and opening up windows which offer a view of St Mary’s Church. The council chamber will largely be left as is, save for a potential change of furniture. Mr Lauhoff said it’s hoped to allow visitors to access the clock tower as part of the tourist offering, however, there is limited space.

He showed members a picture of the building as it was in the late 1940s juxtaposed with how it is today. There have been a number of notable changes, including ‘box-shaped’ extensions to the rear, which involved the loss of pitched roofs. The new plans will see the reintroduction of pitched roofs and the removal of the ‘boxed-out’ section, save for a space to allow for the lift.

A number of works have taken place to date, including archaeological test excavations, building surveys and site investigation. Excavations to date at the old receipts office have uncovered the cobbled St Mary’s lane and one burial.
Director of services Tim Butler said the presentation was to inform members, and the intention was to go to Part 8 early in the new year. He said there would be further consultation during the Part 8 process.

It’s also proposed to allow visitors to access the clock tower on the roof of the building, however, space is limited. The works proposed are expected to cost in the region of €3.4 million, which director of services for Kilkenny County Council Tim Butler said would be majority-funded by Failte Ireland.

Mr Butler also said that, as part of public consultation, it was proposed to have two open events in City Hall in January where the public can view plans and ask questions.