Kyteler's Inn

Coordinates: 52°39′12″N 7°15′12″W / 52.6532°N 7.2532°W / 52.6532; -7.2532
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Kyteler's Inn
Kyteler’s Inn c. 1998
Map
Former namesKyteler's Hall[1]
General information
AddressSt. Kieran Street
Town or cityKilkenny
CountryIreland
Coordinates52°39′12″N 7°15′12″W / 52.6532°N 7.2532°W / 52.6532; -7.2532
DesignationsRecord of Protected Structures (RPS #B189)[2]
Website
kytelersinn.com

Kyteler's Inn (/ˈkɪtlər/)[3] is a public house located in the centre of medieval Kilkenny in Ireland.[4]

With parts of the building dating to the 13th or 14th century,[1] the building is traditionally associated with the Kyteler family and with Dame Alice Kyteler, an alleged witch from the area.[5] The building has housed an inn since 1639.[6]

A restoration was carried out in the late 1960s.[1] However, an archaeological survey to date the building was not undertaken. Archaeologist Conleth Manning expressed particular regret over this since the building has a "fine groin-vaulted undercroft" that makes a 14th-century date plausible. He regrets the fact that a "fine fireplace" was disassembled and rebuilt elsewhere in the building. Manning also condemns the removal of the "original stone stairs to the undercroft" and of the surviving "medieval roof timbers" without any expert examination.[5] Only the lower story dates to the medieval period.[5][7]

When it was offered for sale in 1975, it housed a restaurant and pub.[4] In 1986 it was sold to its present owner.[8] Noted for offering traditional Irish music,[9] in 2012 it won an award as the best music bar in Ireland.[10]

According to a New York Times article from the late 1970s, the entrance level was then "modernized drab, but down one flight of dark stairs is the 13th century".[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Kyteler's Inn, Saint Kieran's Street, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Record of Protected Structures Kilkenny City And Environs 2014" (PDF). kilkennycoco.ie. Kilkenny County Council. 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  3. ^ Sollée, Kristen J. (2023). Witch Hunt: A Traveler's Journey into the Power and Persecution of the Witch. Newburyport: Weiser Books. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-57863-816-1.
  4. ^ a b "Kyleler's Inn for Sale in Kilkenny". The Irish Times. 29 October 1975.
  5. ^ a b c Manning, Conleth (Spring 1988). "The Restoration of Kyteler's Inn and Its History, review of a book by Colm Ó Cochláin". Archaeology Ireland. 2 (1): 33–34. JSTOR 20561912.
  6. ^ Neeley, Willian G. (1989). Kilkenny: An Urban History, 1391-1843. Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University of Belfast. p. 79. ISBN 9780853893325.
  7. ^ Winn, Chris (2007). I Never Knew that About Ireland. Macmillan. p. 78. ISBN 9780312368807. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Kytelers Inn". discoverireland.ie. Fáilte Ireland. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  9. ^ Gurvin, Sara (26 April 2015). "Estate of the art: Lovely Lyrath is the perfect base for a trip to Kilkenny". Belfast Telegraph.
  10. ^ "Kyteler's Inn Kilkenny wins Ireland's best music bar award". Entertainment.ie. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  11. ^ Gray, Mary (23 September 1979). "A Medieval Irish Town". New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.