Archive - Work to start on restoration of Kilkenny Castle (1973)

The restoration of the picture gallery at Kilkenny Castle and the rooms beneath it is to begin shortly. And the work is to be carried out by a Kilkenny contractor over a period of about 18 months.

The announcement was made at the opening of the fourth international Butler Rally at the Castle by Martin Burke, Deputy Principal Architect of the Board of Works. He said the tender of a Kilkenny contractor had been accepted.

The Rally, which was attended by members of the Butler clan from many countries in the world including Australia, South Africa, Canada and the United States, was officially opened by Mayor Michael McGuinness.

Welcoming the visitors he said it was with pride that he recalled that he was one of the people - the voluntary secretary of the Castle Development Committee - who first undertook the task of doing something about the Castle and its grounds.

“Everyone can be proud of the castle and its grounds now,” he said, “but I remember when the grounds were overrun with weeds and the Castle was almost ready to collapse.

“The people of Kilkenny were worried about the state of affairs. But today they are thrilled with the wonderful transformation of the grounds, now one of the finest parks in Ireland.”

The Mayor’s remarks were taken up by Mr Burke, who said that work on the picture gallery would begin shortly.

“For some time there has been an unhappy silence on the future of Kilkenny Castle,” he said. “Neither has there been the sight of scaffolding or the clump of a stonemason’s mallet to announce the commencement of the restoration.”

Mr Burke was happy to say that the restoration contract was to be with a firm from Kilkenny. The job would take abut 18 months, so that by the time the Butlers assembled again they would see results.

After that, work will begin on the remodelling of the Castle’s South tower interior.

GALLANT KILKENNY GO DOWN FIGHTING
Limerick are the All-Ireland hurling champions again after 33 years in the wilderness.

They beat Kilkenny in the final on Sunday in Croke Park by 11 points (1-21 to 1-14) to win the MacCarthy Cup for the seventh time.

They now have beaten Kilkenny four times to Kilkenny’s three over Limerick and, in doing so, foiled Kilkenny’s bid to win two consecutive All-Ireland titles - a feat not accomplished since 1932-33.