Page 148 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

146  IRELAND REGION B Y REGION

y Street-by-Street: Kilkenny
Grace’s Castle was built in
Kilkenny is undoubtedly Ireland’s St Canice’s Irishtown 1210 and later converted
loveliest inland city. It rose to Cathedral into a jail. Remodelled
prominence in the 13th century and in the 18th century,
it has functioned
became the medieval capital of as a courthouse
Ireland. The Anglo-Norman ever since.
Butler family came to power P A R L I A M E N T S T R E E
in the 1390s and held sway
over the city for 500 years.
Their power has gone but
their legacy is visible in the T
city’s historic buildings, many
of which have been restored.
Kilkenny is proud of its heritage
and every August hosts the S T K I E R A N ´ S S T R E E T
Republic’s top arts festival and
the Catslaugh Comedy Festival. H
I
G
H

S
T
R
E
Narrow alleyways, E
known locally as T
“slips”, are part of
Kilkenny’s medieval
heritage. Several
slips survive,
and these are
currently under-
going restoration.
Marble
. Rothe House City Bar
This fine Tudor merchant’s house,
built around two court yards, is
fronted by arcades once typical of
Kilkenny’s main streets. A small Tholsel (City Hall)
museum inside the house contains
a display of local archaeological
artifacts and a costume collection.

Kyteler’s Inn
This medieval coaching inn (see
p326) is named after Dame Alice
Kyteler, a 14th-century witch
who once lived in the building.
Like most of the pubs in the city,
Kyteler’s Inn sells Smithwick’s
beer, which has been brewed
in Kilkenny since 1710.

Key
Suggested route
Butter Slip
The alley is named after the
butter stalls that once lined this
small marketplace.
For key to symbols see back flap

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