Kilkenny Castle will be a hive of activity on Sunday 11th March. Balloon Shaping, Face Painters will be on hand to entertain all. The Castle will be be-decked in a selection of Heraldic Banners & Flags of the Butler Family, whilst a Victorian pastime is resurrected with Horse and Carriage rides in the park. Visitors may be surprised to find a 17th Century replica Cannon in the courtyard. Fear not, Oliver Cromwell has not returned.

The Courtyard will have Woodturning & Wood Carving demonstrations and any day in Kilkenny would not be complete without including a Hurley making demonstration. Unfortunately the secret ingredient cannot be revealed on the day. 

‘The Grand Finale’ Cooking through the ages’ with Edward Hayden of TV3’s Ireland AM and KCLR.
Parade Tower 5.30 pm-6.30 pm. 

Kilkenny Castle Restoration Presentation.
The amazing achievement of the restoration of Kilkenny Castle carried out over four decades will be shown in the Ormonde Boardroom throughout afternoon. 

‘Music in the Courtyard’
St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band from 1.00 pm-2 .00 pm, and the Kilkenny Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann will complete the programme in their own distinctive style from 4.30 pm-5.30 pm.

Specialist tours will be ongoing throughout the Day. 

Architectural Tour: Peter Kenny beginning at 12.15 pm
Archaeological Talk: Ben Murtagh, 2.00 pm-3.00pm
‘Castle Life in the Victorian Age’ by the ‘Butler in Residence’ John Burke, 3.30-4.15 pm
Tapestry Room 9.30 am-5.00 pm
‘Power and Prestige: Kilkenny Castle and City’
Genealogy of the Butler Family 1160-1600.
Painting of the Duke of Ormonde in Armour.
Three Charters to the Ormonde Family
Courtesy of Kilkenny City Hall
Liber Primus Kilkenniensis (1231-1537), Kilkenny’s oldest town book.
Civic Insignia of Kilkenny will be in display consisting of
Civic Mace gifted to the town Mayoralty by 1st Duke of Ormonde
Civic Sword – double side sword 1609
Two Serjeants Maces possibly dating to the 16th century
Two Charters if King James I a. 1608 & b.1609

Rose Garden Corridor 9.30 am-5.00 pm ‘Ireland from Maps’
Ireland from Maps introduces the concept of cartography and uses illustrations from maps to explore some of the methods used in map making.

Picture Gallery 9.30 am-5.00 pm

Harpist Jacqueline Burke, Performance from 1.00 pm - 1.30 pm & 2.00 pm - 2.30 pm
Pianist, Michael O’Brien, Performance from 1.30 pm - 2.00 pm & 2.30 pm - 3.00 pm
Magic Show 3.00 pm - 4.00pm
‘The Conservation of Anna Price Clarke’
‘Conservator in Residence’ Master Gilder Susan Mulhall

Blue Corridor, Room 1 - 9.30 am-5.00 pm
‘Mapping the Ormonde Estate’
‘Kilkenny Castle Restoration’

Parade Tower Lobby 12.00 noon to 5.30pm
"...These old buildings do not belong to us only; that they have belonged to our forefathers, and they will belong to our descendants..." William MorrisPhotographic exhibitions showing the work undertaken to restore the Castle central block and more recently the Parade Tower Wing.

Ante Room, Library & Drawing Room 2.00 pm-5.00 pm
Pat Nolan, Genealogist will be on hand to help you how to discover your family and your past.
Kilkenny Tourism, to help you discover the secrets, beauties and delights of the City and County.

Kitchen Corridor 2.00 pm-5.00 pm
Minister Brian Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the OPW
The ancient ‘Book of Pottlerath; A rare and fascinating book which forms a major part of Kilkenny’s past, forms the nucleus of this exhibition, an exciting first for Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Castle Park Trail
Hone your orienteering skills and discover the nature and beauty of Kilkenny Castle Park. Take home a memory of your adventure by claiming your Kilkenny Certificate upon completion.

Duchess Boardroom 
Music for Tiny Tots: 0 to 4 years. Event 1 12.30 pm – 1.00 pm & 2.15 pm – 2.45 pm.
Please be aware that numbers are limited, admission is operated on a first come first served basis.