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Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 5pm

Kilkenny Archaeological Society

Name: Kilkenny Archaeological Society
Address: Rothe House, Parliament Street, Kilkenny, IE
Telephone: 0567722893

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Kilkenny Archaeological Society

Kilkenny Archaeological and Historical Society based at Rothe House. The current KAS was formed in Kilkenny in 1946.

The Kilkenny Archaeological Society was first founded in the 1850's and later evolved into today's Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. Our home is at Rothe House, Kilkenny city centre. We run a programme of monthly lectures in the winter and organise trips and events throughout the year. New members are always welcome: it includes free entry to Rothe House and garden, a copy of the Society's annual journal, the Old Kilkenny Review and a welcome to get involved in all the society's groups.

22/08/2026

Heritage Week 2026: Thanks to Seamus Brennan who conducted a most interesting tour of William Street this morning giving an overview of its social and architectural history

18/08/2026

Heritage Week Lecture – Wednesday, 19 August at 7.30pm

Join us tomorrow evening at Rothe House for our special Heritage Week lecture, ‘Mountains and the Irish – A Forgotten Heritage’, presented by Kevin Higgins.

📅 Wednesday, 19 August
🕢 7.30pm
📍 Rothe House
🎟️ Admission: Free

The lecture will explore an often-overlooked aspect of Ireland’s heritage and our relationship with the Irish mountain landscape.

All are welcome – please feel free to bring a friend!

02/07/2026

📖 Old Kilkenny Review 2016 Now Available Online

We're delighted to announce that articles from the 2016 edition of the Old Kilkenny Review is now available to browse online.

Published annually by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society since 1948, the Old Kilkenny Review features articles on the history and archaeology of Kilkenny, together with book reviews, Society proceedings and more.

The 2016 edition includes fascinating research on St Francis Abbey, medieval Kilkenny, Jerpoint Abbey, Woodstock Estate, the Civil War in County Kilkenny, the restoration of Rothe House, and much more.

Visit our website to explore the latest addition to our online archive and enjoy some wonderful local history. Click on the below link www.kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/old-kilkenny-review-2016/

01/07/2026

Historic Catalpa Flag on Temporary Display at Rothe House

This Friday and Saturday (3–4 July), visitors to Rothe House & Garden will have the rare opportunity to see the historic Catalpa Flag.

The ‘Catalpa Flag’ was on board the former American whaling ship, the Catalpa, which was used to help six Fenian prisoners escape from Australia in 1876.

The year 2026 marks 150 years since the daring rescue and 250 years since the founding of the United States, making this a fitting time to display this unique artefact.

23/06/2026

KAS Summer Outing – Wednesday 1 July

A small number of places remain available on this year's Summer Outing to Castledermot and Ballitore, guided by historian and author John McKenna.

Castledermot and Ballitore represent two very different strands of Irish history.

Castledermot developed from an early monastic settlement into an important medieval town, while Ballitore is Ireland's best-known Quaker village and is closely associated with the Shackleton family and writer Mary Leadbeater.

John McKenna, a native of Castledermot, will guide us through both villages and share their rich history and stories.

Cost: €30 per person

Meet at Woodie's Car Park, Kilkenny, at 9.00am sharp.

Lunch will be available at Shackleton's Rest, Ballitore, or you may bring your own picnic.

To reserve a spot or further information, please contact [email protected].

18/06/2026

It was a magical afternoon for more than 100 members and friends who attended Kilkenny Archaeological Society’s Annual Garden Party at Rothe House. The beautifully restored 17th century garden was a tapestry of colour for the occasion, thanks to the ongoing dedication of Mary Pyke, head gardener.
Mary Kelly played her harp gently in the background as everyone enjoyed their favoured beverage, culinary delights and the quintessential strawberries and cream in glorious sunshine.
A special feature this year was the reenactment of John Rothe’s Will of 1619, scripted by Ann Tierney and performed by Martin Matthews with Angela Moylan O’Reilly and Nuala Roche telling John’s wife, Rose Archer’s own story in the language of today. Photos by Vicky Comerford

04/06/2026

🌿 Kilkenny Archaeological Society Annual Garden Party 🌿

Join us for our Annual Garden Party in the beautiful surroundings of Rothe House & Garden.

📅 Saturday, 13 June 2026
🕒 3.00pm – 5.00pm
📍 Entry via New Building Lane
💶 €10 per person (payable at the gate)

Your ticket includes strawberries & cream, cake, savouries and a glass of wine.

Entertainment will be provided during the afternoon, with details to be announced shortly.

🌦 If the weather is unkind, the event will move indoors to the Tudor Kitchen.

We look forward to welcoming members and friends for an enjoyable afternoon.

02/06/2026

👏 Thank You from Fadó Fadó 2026

As we conclude this year’s Fadó Fadó: Sparking Memories competition, we would like to sincerely thank all of the students, teachers, parents, judges, partners and supporters who helped make the 2026 competition such a success.

The creativity, enthusiasm and dedication shown by students across the county was truly inspiring, with projects exploring local history, family stories, archaeology, folklore, music, farming, castles and community life.

Thank you also to Rothe House and the Kilkenny County Council Library Service, and everyone involved in organising and supporting the project.

We are already looking forward to Fadó Fadó 2027 and continuing to inspire young people to discover and share Kilkenny’s rich history and heritage.

Please sign up to our newsletter for future updates (see our webstie at https://kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/).

01/06/2026

🏆 TY Category Winner – Fadó Fadó 2026

Congratulations to Adam Staunton of St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, winner of the TY Category with his project:

📖 “Ballyragget Castle and Townland”

Adam explored the history of Ballyragget Castle and the wider townland, examining local folklore, the Battle of Ballyragget, important local landmarks and notable figures connected with the area.

Read the full project here

Well done Adam on a fascinating and engaging project 👏

Address

Rothe House, Parliament Street
Kilkenny

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	11am - 5pm

Telephone

0567722893

Website

http://www.kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/

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