Kilkenny

James Arthur Butler

When visiting with my Uncle Hal he mentioned that his son (my cousin) David had traveled to Kilkenny for a Butler family reunion.  I thought our ancestry was English and found this interesting.  So, we decided to check out the history of the Butlers in Kilkenny.  What better place than the family castle.  It was built by the Marshall family in the 1100’s, but became home to the Butlers in the 1300’s and remained as such until 1969.  Apparently the last Marquess did not have any sons to pass the estate along to so he sold it to the town for 50 pounds.  The city has maintained and continues to restore the castle since.  Inside I did see a portrait of James Arthur Butler and he did in fact look like he could have been any one of my Dad’s brothers.  Long ago, perhaps one of my distant cousins moved to England and established our clan there.  I was told to check the family tree of the Butler/Ormond family.   I’d like to think this is our family castle.  They are having a family reunion in early August – I just may go!

We spent the morning at Birr Castle and did not leave much time for Kilkenny, which is a hot tourist town with lots to see. So, we’ve decided we need to return one day (maybe when we have visitors hint-hint).   We found a very convenient parking spot that was listed as 1-hour parking but we decided not to move the car and take our chances.  (The parking ticket cost us 40 euros.)

First order of business was food, so we stopped at the “Blaa Blaa Blaa” on the River Nore.  This
place was no bigger than a closet, but the sandwiches were some of the best we’ve had yet.  From our little table outside, we watched a number of boys jumping off “John’s Bridge” into the river.  Very entertaining and looked very refreshing. I snapped photos along with all the other visitors as we left.

We could hear the buskers as we approached the castle – a small group of boys playing quite a lively tune on various instruments.  So far, the day was feeling very festive (eeghads I’m feeling like a tourist).  The grounds of the estate are open, free of charge, to the public, and there were folks there with blankets spread appreciating the warm summer weather.  We took a quick stroll through the Butler Art Gallery (the current show was of a gal that liked to draw buildings – a good perspective artist) and then purchased our tickets to view the interior of the castle. The first stop is what would be have been the basement of the castle, with the floor covered in basically a clear plexiglass type material so you can see how the original flooring and walls appeared.  This area was also a source of protection and/or escape if need be.  The few rooms we did tour are massive and extravagantly decorated.  The Picture Gallery was the most impressive, with its ceiling colorfully painted and the large number of portraits of previous marques, friends of the family, and a few Kings and Queens.
 
The Smithwicks brewery tour was most unusual, and enjoyable, in that they used holograms to do most of the talking.  Monks in the beginning when the brew was made by them, and then the family gallery portraits spoke to us, and each other, telling the history of the brewery.  Of-course the tasting room was the best as we were able to enjoy a glass of the wonderful brew and visit with a couple of Brazilian fellows.

We strolled around the outside of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice (they charge to go in) and opted NOT to climb the round tower for catastrophic reasons.  I'm sure the view from the top was wonderful.

By now we are both very tired and knowing we have a two-hour drive through the Irish country side to get home we did not stop anywhere else.  I did pass one of the oldest Inn’s in Kilkenny, Kytelers. Reportedly run by a witch back in the 1300’s.  But I WILL visit it next time.

PHOTO ALBUM