Kilkenny

We were in Kilkenny the day before we left Ireland. Kilkenny's most famous landmark is its castle. The first Kilkenny Castle was a wooden one. It was built in 1172. It was replaced with a stone castle a couple of decades later. The castle has been largely restored, Victorian style. Kilkenny Castle has a long association with the Butler Family, who sold it to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 for £50.

800-year old Kilkenny Fortress

Lara and I

Water fountain in front of the castle

We took a formal tour inside the castle. There were many beautiful rooms, halls, paintings, pieces of furniture, and tapestries. The grounds were meticulously groomed. There were flower beds and a water fountain. They are continuing to excavate the property near the castle. The have found remains of other castle structures.

Painting of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond

Inside the castle

Beautiful greens

The whole castle

View from the canal

When we were walking around the city, we came across a statue of hurling. Hurling is Ireland's most popular sport. It is a native Gaelic sport. It shares some similarities with Irish football, but also uses a stick. Sounds more like lacrosse to me. Female hurling has a different name (Camogie). We saw lots of kids with sticks. Kilkenny is the hurling capital of Ireland. Their team is especially successful. 

Hurling statue at Canal Square

The canal