Buildings of Kilkenny

1225 – The Black Abbey, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

Founded by William Marshall the Younger, for the Dominican Friars in 1225, the Black Abbey was also known as the Convent of the One and Undivided Trinity.

1245 – St. Francis Abbey, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

The Franciscans came to Ireland in around 1226, and St Francis’s Abbey was founded sometime between 1231 April 1234. The first definite date for the abbey is October 15,

1285 – St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

The cathedral was built between 1202 and 1285 in an early English Gothic style out of the local limestone. Over the centuries,

1335 – Market Cross, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

From the Transactions of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, 1843: “This interesting monument, which was erected in 1335, stood in the High-street,

1582 – Shee Alms House, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

The Shees were a wealthy merchant family in Kilkenny in the sixteenth century much like the Rothes who built Rothe House.

1594 – Rothe House, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

In 1594 a wealthy merchant called John Rothe built this magnificent Tudor mansion. Second and third generation houses were built around the cobelled courtyards and a well dating to 1604.

1761 – Tholsel, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

The name “Tholsel” is derived from two old English words: “toll”, meaning tax; and “sael”, or hall, the place where tolls were paid.

1763 – John’s Bridge, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

Architect: George Smith

John’s Bridge, which connects John’s Street with the rest of the city, was originally built after 1200 and was destroyed by the great floods of 1487 and 1763 and subsequently rebuilt each time.

1782 – Kilkenny College, Kilkenny

Architect: Charles Vierpyl

A long established school, opened in 1667 under the auspices of James Ormonde, first Duke of Ormonde,

1792 – Court House, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny

Architect: William Robertson

Kilkenny Court House formerly known as Grace’s Castle was originally a town house of the wealthy Grace family who leased the building to the crown in 1566.