The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-10
KILKENNY CASTLE.
The Most Stately of IreIand's Many
Stately Homes.

From the Sketch.
Kilkenny Castle, where the King and
Queen had expected to make short
stay next autumn, can count as being
perhaps the most stately of the many
stately homes of Ireland. In these
days there are not many great es-
tates which have remained in the pos
session of the same noble family for
over 700 years. This is, however, true
of Kilkenny Castle, and there are por-
tons of the building. notably the rirst
two stories. which are almost exactly
as they were close on a thousand
years ago, though among Cromwell's
many acts Of vandalism none is more
to be regretted than the fact that he
destroyed one of the four great towers
| that were q striking and unique fed-
ture of the structure which owed it's
being TO that Earl of Pembroke known
as "StroEgbow."
Many additions have been made to
the castle during the last hundred
years. The most important OF these is
stone corridor where is now placed
the main entrance to the castle, and
through which access to the far famed
Diamond Hall is obtained. The han
is hung with splendid stamped and
gilt Spanish leather, and among other
treasures to which 1t forms a back
ground sportsmen always regard with
special interest four antlers of the now
extinct lrish elk
The grand staircase, of solid poi
ished mahogany is also hupg with
Spanish leather and a set of the an
cient tapestries for which Kilkenny
Caste has long been noted Off the
staircase is the dining room, and here
some notion can be obtained of the ex-'
traordinary age of the structure, for
the enibrGsures are close on fifteen
feet deep 1t is in this room that Is
kept the old plate, including the
unique collection of cups formerly
used by the sovereign during the cor
onation banquet in Westminster Hall,
and which on each occasion became
the perquisite of the Marquis of Or
monde, as Chief Butler of Ireland.
The picture gallery of Kilkenny Cas-
tie is now used as a supplementary sit
ting room by Lord and Lady Ormonde
and their guests, and 1t is here that
some historic royal gatherings have
taken place. TO the connoisseur this
collection of paintings is a veritable de-
light, for Lord Ormonde possesses one
of the finest sets of old masters in the
Kingdom, as well as an unrivaled col
lection of family portraits by Lely,
Kneller, Lawrence and Reynolds. One
curious feature of the gallery itself
is the marble chimney piece, on which
are embossed scenes from the history
of the Butler family.
China enthusiasts naturally prefer to
the art treasures hanging on the walls
the absolutely unique tea-and- coffee
service of old Hague ware, of which
one piece, when put up for public auc-
ton, excites the liveliest competition
among collectors. owing to the fact
that no complete sets, apart from that
existing at Kilkenny Castle and those
in certain continental royal palaces, are
known to exist.
The large drawing room is hung with
that national Irish product. silk tabou-
ret, a very rich kind of poplin of deep,
yellow coloring, which throws up in
admirable relief the fine eighteenth
century cabinets-French, Italian and
Spanish-in which are stored much rare
old china. In the drawing room hangs
a Madonna and Child" by Correggio
and also a portrait of Vandyck painted
by himself.
Lord and Lady Ormonde are devoted
to Kilkenny and there spend very
portion Of each year.
Lord Ormonde, as a young man, travel
ed well and widely, and in his study
at the castle are many sporting trophies
Of great value and interest. There also
Is a curious collection of prints of royal
presented by the late
Queen to various members of the But
Ter family, for the connection of Lord
and Lady Ormonde with the court has
always been exceptionally close, part
y owing to the fact that Lady Or |
monde's mother, the first Duchess Of |
Westminster, was one of Queen Vic |
Iorias close personal friends Lady |
Ormonde has often entertained royal |
visitors at Kilkenny. but this would |
nave been the first time In the history |
Of the grand old stronghold since the |
lays Of Richard III that a King and |
Queen had sojourned under it's roof. |
Kilkenny has had long and roman |
lie history. 1t passed into the pos !
session of the Butler family at the |
md of the fourteenth century. and, as |
has so often happened with the more |
noted of the stately homes of the /
United Kingdom. through woman, a |
lister of the last Earl of Gloucester and |
Hereford who fell at Bannockburn.
Both Lord and Lady Ormonde take a |
teen and intelligent interest in the his
DRY OF their home. and the imminent