KILKENNY CASTLE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 150, 25 June 1904, Page 13

KILKENNY CASTLE.

Miss Anita M.icmahon contribute* to (ho May number of tho Pall Mall Mag.izino an article describing the famous seat of tho Marques* of Oinionde, at which the- King was eijtertaincd during his recent visit to Ireland. "Tho annals of Kilkenny C.i.stle. and its noble owners, tho Bullci.* of Ormonde," says the writer, "practically comprise tho history of Ireland from thd time of tho Anglo-Norman invasion down In the reign of George 1., when tlio Uusb Duko of Ormonde died in exilo at Avignon. Theobald Fitzwalter, tho fii.st ancestor of tho Ormondes who settled iv Ireland, accompanied Henry 11., and rendered this King such service that ho appointed him Hereditary Chief Butler ol Ireland — hence the namo Lo Ho tiler or Butler assumed by Ins descendants — and gave him besides a huge, grant of land in tho neighbourhood of Kilkenny. "Kilkenny Cnstlo was builfc for a fortress by the Karl of Pembroke, better known as 'Slrongbow, 1 who choso a sitealready of great historic interest, as from time immemorial Iho ancient Kings of Ohsory Imd lived in regal if somewhat primitive, state in their Castellum on this .same hill, in tho midst of the- picturesque country known as tho 'Golden Vale,' which is so fertile- that even William of Orange wum so stirred out of his usual taciturnity when he first caught sight of ifc that he exclaimed : 'This is indeed a country worth lighting for.' From Strongbow tho fortress passed as dower to his daughter Isabella, on her marriage with YViKitim, Earl Marshal, from whoso heirs it was purchatud on 12th September, 1391, by the third Earl of Ormonde, who, flomo ye.-v*, l.'ter, entertained Richard 11. at Ihe- Ca-stle for fourteen days, when this ill-fated monarch returned to England, recsllecl by tho revolt of Baliiifibroke. which led to his subsequent imprisonment and death. Stirring .scenes of chivalry ;uicl combat have patscil within Kilkenny Caslles venerable walls."