Culture

No matter how you define “Culture”, Kilkenny has got you covered. With it’s hilarious comedy, epic Summer Festivals , or our thriving Music, Arts and Craft scene Kilkenny City and County is the cultural heartbeat of Ireland.
More than just that, amidst Kilkenny’s narrow winding streets and idyllic rural villages you will find some of the most unique dining and shopping experiences you will find anywhere in Ireland.
Please select any of the links above, or the listings below, to start planning your Summer of Culture in Kilkenny now!
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Butler Gallery IntroductionInspiring culture seekers since 1943, the Butler Gallery is a not-for-profit organisation located in the former kitchens of Kilkenny Castle. The gallery is free of charge and open to the public seven days a week, all year round. Butler Gallery actively promotes and affirms the value of the arts to society through a diverse programme of exhibitions, a significant permanent collection, and active and innovative education initiatives for family, school, youth and adult audiences. We offer our visitors excellent contemporary exhibitions, which reflect the constantly changing nature of visual art practice. Providing a platform for the best of Irish art today and demonstrating a strong commitment to presenting the work of artists of international repute, we aim to stimulate, inspire and challenge our audience. * In 2008, the gallery was awarded Museum Accreditation from the Heritage Council of Ireland for excellence in Caring for Collections, Museum Management and Exhibition, Education and Visitor Services.
ExhibitionsBealtaine Festival1st - 31st May 2013Get inspired during Bealtaine at the Butler Gallery, with a series of specially programmed events celebrating creativity as we age throughout the month of May. Open to all, Bealtaine at Butler Gallery will include talks, screenings and workshops to get your creative juices flowing. Events include
We Are Suddenly Somewhere ElseBridget O'Gorman27th April - 9th June 2013Places of this kind are outside of all places, even though it may be possible to indicate their location in reality. The Butler Gallery is delighted to present a collection of new and existing object- and lens-based works by Bridget O'Gorman. In the exhibition We Are Suddenly Somewhere Else, O'Gorman invites the viewer to interact with a series of open-ended narratives related to place - or rather an experience of it. About the artist Bridget O'Gorman graduated with a BA in Fine Art Painting from the Crawford College of Art in 2003. In 2008, she completed an MFA between the Department of Applied Art and The School of Sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland. Her work has been supported through awards from The Crafts Council of Ireland, The Arts Council of Ireland, the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers London, the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, The Bank of Ireland and Kilkenny County Council's Arts Office. O'Gorman was the recipient of the 2010 Emerging Visual Artist Award from the Wexford Arts Centre where she also had a solo exhibition. Selected group exhibitions include Claremorris Open 2011 curated by Chris Hammond and 'Re-set' selected by Emma-Lucy O'Brien at VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow. Read More on current exhibitions at http://www.butlergallery.com/
Richard Mosse: The Enclave | Pavilion of Ireland at the 55th International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia | June 1 - November 24, 2013Richard Mosse will represent Ireland at the 55th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia with The Enclave, a major multi-media installation. Throughout 2012, Mosse and collaborators Trevor Tweeten and Ben Frost traveled to Eastern Congo and inserted themselves as journalists within armed rebel groups. Using discontinued infrared film – originally developed for military reconnaissance – that registers the greens of the Congo as lurid shades of pink, fuchsia and purple, Mosse reveal a cancerous yet unseen humanitarian tragedy with a disturbing psychedelic palette, posing aesthetic questions in a situation of profound human suffering.
Butler Gallery, The Castle, Kilkenny, Ireland t:+ 353 56 7761106 f: +353 56 7770031 e: info@butlergallery.com
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National Craft Gallery
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SET TheatreKilkenny 056 7721728 Ticket Sales Langtons Reception 056 7721728 Venue Bookings The SET Theatre is the latest part of Langtons Hotel. Constructed in 2009 it is a state of the art venue which can hold 252 people seated and 380 standing/seated. A multipurpose room which can cater for music acts, comedy, film, culture and conferencing amongst others. The visually stunning interiors along with tasteful furnishings speak volumes about how greatly expanded the Langton brand has become over the years. Designed by the David Collins Studio in London this is their flagship theatre and have pulled out all the stops to make it the most beautiful and talked about venue in the country. Upcoming shows in 2013.....
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Hole in the WallThe Hole in the Wall, Kilkenny's renowned 16th century tavern. It is housed in the oldest surviving townhouse in Ireland - the 1582 Archer Inner House, 17 High St. Fully restored over the past 10 years the Elizabethan building with its tavern, snug and Archer room are now open to visitors for the first time in hundreds of years. Upcoming Shows...
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Rothe House & GardenParliament Street, Map Coordinates: 52.654507,-7.254566 Rothe House is a unique Irish merchant's townhouse, built between 1594 and 1610. The property comprises three houses, three enclosed courtyards and a large garden. John Rothe, who was a wealthy merchant and landowner in Kilkenny, built the first house in 1594 and as his family grew (to 12 children) he built the second and third houses. |
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Watergate TheatreContact: watergatetheatregc@eircom.net Website: www.watergatetheatre.com Facebook: facebook.com/watergatetheatre / Twitter: twitter.com/WatergateKK Box Office: (056) 77 61674
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10-6pm Saturday 2-6pm, Sundays & Bank holidays one hour prior to performance 7pm-8pm Kilkenny is steeped in theatrical history. From the time the Duke of Ormonde (1698) brought the first Strollers Theatre group to Kilkenny, to the present day, Kilkenny has been synonymous with the world of theatre. Located in the heart of Kilkenny City, the Watergate Theatre have been keeping audiences entertained since 1993 with local, national and international productions, live music, dance, comedy and much more. 2013 marks the 20th year of the Watergate Theatre. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and look forward to offering you an exciting programme from both visiting companies as well as home grown performances. As most people are aware, a substantial amount of work at the Watergate Theatre is done on a voluntary basis. Areas covered include, Front of House, Coffee Dock, Costume Designers, Set Building etc. We are currently looking for volunteers to help, if you feel you could contribute to your local theatre we would be delighted to hear from you. A variety of exhibitions are displayed in our upstairs gallery on a regular basis. You can call in and have a look during our opening hours. The Watergate Theatre look forward to welcoming you to our forthcoming shows. There is also a Museum/Art Gallery - www.facebook.com/upstairsgallerykilkenny List of upcoming shows can also be found at http://www.kilkennytourism.ie/Events_Kilkenny
Upcoming Shows...
Museum/Art Gallery
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Ballilogue The Rower, Tel: 353 -51 423857 E-mail: enquiry@ballilogueclochan.com Web: www.ballilogueclochan.com Vid: http://bit.ly/WEHlu4
Ballilogue Cottage Museum and Design Craft ShopLocated in South Kilkenny near the pretty village of Inistioge and dating back to the 1700's Mrs. M's Cottage Museum is beautifully restored preserving a history and tradition of Irish rural life in the Kilkenny countryside. The Cottage contains the alcoves and dressers wallpapered and used to store the food and crockery of daily life for a family of 8 or more people. The open hearth still remains with it's crane, cast iron pots and kettles used in the baking of bread and providing the main source of warmth. This Cottage still feels lived in with it's artifacts, delph and images of a community long gone and can be visited exclusively by guests staying at the Inn @ Ballilogue Clochan.What people say about their visit to Ballilogue's Cottage Museum:
http://www.kilkennytourism.ie/ballilogue_cottage_museum_craft_shop_cafe
Photography Masterclasses @ Ballilogue ClochanEvery Spring and Autumn award winning Photographer, Mark McCall hosts a series of 1 day Masterclasses on Saturday's to a max group of 12 students, both beginners and advanced amauter photographers. The Masterclass tutorial takes place at Ballilogue Clochan with fieldwork in nearby Inistioge and the countryside around South Kilkenny. A great opportunity to hone your photography skills. There is the opportunity to stay with a partner at the Inn @ Ballilogue Clochán on site. See http://www.kilkennycountryretreat.com/one-day-masterclasses.php for booking, details, dates and rates. Gift Vouchers are also available. Current dates for classes (see website for more detail):
http://www.kilkennytourism.ie/photography_masterclass_ballilogue_clochan |
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St Francis Abbey BreweryTour Times Contact number below for further details 056 779649 |








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