A 12th century castle remodelled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands which was the principal seat of the Butler family, Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde. Due to major restoration works, the central block now includes a library, drawing room, and bedrooms decorated in 1830s splendour as well as the beautiful Long Gallery.

The old Castle kitchen operates as a tea room during the summer. The former servants rooms is the Butler Art Gallery, which mounts frequently changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Access for visitors with disabilities to ground floor and gardens only.

Please note that this is a very busy site and visitors may experience a delay during the Summer months.

The Rothes came to Ireland from Yorkshire in the fourteenth century, and subsequently acquired wealth and influence in Kilkenny. Rothe House was built by John Rothe Fitz-Piers (1560-1620) in 1594, when the Italian Renaissance was at it's height and Shakespeare was thirty years old and was writing Richard III.

The house was built in three parts,which Rothe referred to as the first, second and third houses. John Rothe married Rose Archer, daughter of another leading Kilkenny dynasty and they lived in style and comfort with their family of four sons and eight daughters.

The house was bought by Kilkenny Archaeological Society in 1962, restored and opened as a museum in 1966.

Dunmore Cave is eleven kilometres north of Kilkenny city and, like other caves across the country, is formed by limestone which was laid down over 300 million years ago.

It contains almost a quarter of a mile of passages and at its deepest point is 150 foot below the surface. Although this is smaller than many of the caves around the country, the beauty and magic of its calcite formations as well as its scientific and historical interest make it one of Ireland's most fascinating caves.

Its presence has been known for years but it is only recently that attempts have been made to unravel its history. In AD 928, the Dunmore Cave was the site of a Viking massacre. Mention of the cave was made in the ninth century Irish Triads.
 

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