Kilkenny Castle dominates the High Town of Kilkenny city. It has existed in various forms for eight centuries.
It was presented to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 by Arthur, 6th Marquess of Ormonde (1893-1971) for a consideration of 50 pounds.
The Office of Public Works began significant restoration of the building in 1979 and it is mostly complete with many of the original features, fabrics and carpets having been recreated based upon designs found on record or samples found hidden beneath wall fittings. The picture gallery is the second longest hall in Ireland. (Second only to the library hall at Trinity College in Dublin where the Book of Kells is housed.)
In the afternoon we drove to Carlow and parked in a gated, secure car park. Upon our return to the car after visiting the town, I discovered I had lost the parking ticket. A passing local expressed a morbid feeling of impending wrath that I should have lost the ticket and that it would likely lead to a prison term. At least I got no response from the “press here for help” button on the ticket machine.
We retraced our steps through the town and luckily found the ticket on the floor (trampled) in the shop where we had stopped to satiate Chris’ desire for salt and vinegar chips. With some smoothing applied and sufficient Euro coins we zipped out of Carlow before the pious local returned with his posse ready to take us into custody. (Note to self – in future give Chris all important tickets for safe keeping.)
Arrrrrr reading these out of order! Great pics. This was a good tour. OML your parking adventure is spooky. I used a ticketed area behind the shops, went for a walk and coffee, returned and couldn’t work out how to exit. I asked a local but he was most helpful and sorted things for me. Are we living parallel lives or is it a Carlow visitor trick?