Another great place to have stopped, Kilkenny’s history goes bact to 600AD and you can almost feel it as you walk around. As you see from the pics,my hotel is in a great location, easy walkong distance to all the attractions in the town. The Irish name is Cill Chainnigh, which means Church of Cainneach or Canice and refers to a church built in honour of St. Canice. This church is thought to be the first major settlement.
Kilkenny formed part of the Lordship of Lenister which was established shortly after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, known as Strongbow, became Lord of Leinster in 1171. In 1172 Strongbow constructed the first castle, which was a wooden fortress, near what is now Kilkenny Castle.
James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, bought the castle in 1391 and established himself as ruler of the area. The Butlers ruled the area for centuries. They were Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde and lived in the castle for over five hundred years. Lady Margaret Butler married Sir William Boleyn and was the paternal grandmother of Anne Boleyn. The Butlers lived in the castle until 1935. It then fell into ruin as was sold to the state in 1967 for £50. It has been brilliantly restored and furnished back to a Victorian state. A great visit.
From there I walked the ‘Medieval Mile’, which goes from the Castle at one end to St. Canice’s cathedral on the other end. Essentially it is through town, past the normal village. But in and around the ‘modern’ buildings are several medieval buildings, the Shee Alms house for the poor, the city hall (1761),St. Mary’s Church and cemetary (1205), Black Abbey (1225). You can feel the history all around as you walk around.
Walking was the order of the day, with 16833 steps done. But a really good day. I had dinner at Lanigans- a shephards pie. Just finished packing now and tomorrow I am off to Laragh, in Wicklow, for the last stop before Dublin. Four more sleeps till the first concert, now starting to see ads on email, FB and instructions on tv for getting to the stadium early.
Leanne Maree's blog 
Eek. My stomach just turned with excitement for you! Wonderful hearing all the people-of-history’s names I actually know. You know I’m not a history buff, so I only know the really big names.
No pics today?
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Thanks….dont know what happened to upload….but pics are there now
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Yep. There now, thanks. We are running out of words for gorgeous, beautiful, stunning. I love the dining room. Toilets haven’t changed much, have they?
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Lol…I do like the seat we have now!!
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Again a great read with super photos. Lots of history there. That toilet looks like the one my generation had growing up. Thats is where the saying “pull the chain” comes from. There was a long chain attached to the cistern at the top. Nowadays we flush the toilet. So elegant! Your excitement must be at a high now, nearly time for your concert. If only Brucie boy knew how much you loved his music!!
Late with my comments because is was house cleaning day, therefore early start. Then the gardener whom I asked to help me today arrived at 7.30. We have had to put up another fence because the little steenbokkies are having nightly picnics in my garden. The little b’s ate the new Hibiscus, the red Hibiscus and the two Indian Hawthorns. A busy day all round , nowhere near as interesting as yours!!!!!! Lots of love from Daddy and I xxxx
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So interesting and brought back memories again……….but obviously you are seeing much much more than we did on the limited bus tour. Toilet seat!!!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmm prefer ours now. Yes, the adrenalin must be on the way up now………not too many more sleeps before you see Bruce!!!! The bokkies are also eating our garden…..well, I guess we’ve all got lotsa deeeelish pudding! Am enjoying watching the Roland Garros tennis…….my boy, Novak….. just too fab for words!!!! And of course, all the Queen’s 90th Celebrations which is screening…….absolutely stunning…..but, sadly, finished now. Getting quite chilly here now………loveeerly!
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