Blog | Butler House

Kilkenny Arts Festival 2025 in Butler House & Garden and Kilkenny Castle Yard

This August, Butler House is proud to be part of the city’s creative heartbeat as we host a series of special events for Kilkenny Arts Festival 2025.

Liam O'Neill – Retrospective in Butler House Garden.

Liam O'Neill has been a full-time woodturner and sculptor since May 13th, 1968. On that day, he began an apprenticeship with John Shiel, who had been employed by Kilkenny Design Workshops. John was setting up a workshop in Bagenalstown, but part of the plan was for him to continue to produce prototypes for the KDW designers.

Tim Goulding exhibits vibrant new works in his show at Butler House for Kilkenny Arts Festival

This August, Butler House is proud to host a very special exhibition as part of Kilkenny Arts Festival 2025 — The Music Room by renowned Irish artist Tim Goulding. On display from 7th to 15th August, the show is a continuation of Goulding’s celebrated “Music” series, previously exhibited in Cork, Dublin, Bantry and London.

Summer Stays at the Country House in the City

If you’re planning a summer break in Ireland, Kilkenny has everything you could want: history, culture, great food, and a vibrant atmosphere that’s lively without ever feeling hectic. Right in the heart of it all lies Butler House, a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse offering a rare blend of elegance, peace and a prime Kilkenny location.

Summer Craft Nights in the Castle Yard: A Creative Summer Under the Kilkenny Sky

This summer, the Castle Yard Craft Experience invites you to join a series of hands-on evening workshops, hosted by some of Kilkenny’s finest makers. Whether you're a curious local or a visiting guest, these events offer a relaxed and enjoyable way to connect with traditional and contemporary Irish crafts.

Wine, Nibbles, Rhythm & Roots: Your Perfect Evening at Butler House

Kilkenny is alive with music this May as the iconic Kilkenny Roots Festival returns, bringing the best of Americana, folk, and roots music to the medieval streets of the city. With over 90 shows spread across 30+ venues, it’s the ultimate celebration of sound, soul, and connection. And what better way to start - or end - your musical adventure than with a relaxed bite and a drink in the elegant surrounds of Butler House? We’re delighted to introduce our new Evening Menu in the charming Garden View Room, a serene setting to enjoy delicious flavours before heading out into the vibrant festival atmosphere.

Meet in Kilkenny this March for St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2025!

There’s something for everyone to enjoy in Kilkenny this St. Patrick's weekend. Indulge in delicious treats at Butler House, and witness a Viking battle demonstration in the Castle Yard.

Yulefest Kilkenny 2024 - A Visitor’s Guide

From November 30th to December 22nd 2024, Kilkenny City will again play host to Yulefest, a celebration filled with festive fun.

Butler House - the ideal elopement and intimate wedding venue in Kilkenny City

There really is something to be said for intimate weddings, and nowadays these unique ceremonies are on the rise. Ireland has always been an idyllic location for elopement and small weddings, its culture has always been about family and celebrating each other. For many couples it’s a spirit of adventure which brings them to Ireland, and the opportunity to immerse themselves in an ancient tradition of family celebration, making their wedding day a truly deep and meaningful experience.

Community Spirit at Butler House Christmas Garden

Butler House Christmas Garden is proud to showcase the work of local community groups in this years Community group project.

Butler Garden Fairy Door Trail

We are very excited to launch our new Fairy Door Trail in the tranquil surroundings of the walled garden, an oasis in the centre of Kilkenny City and adjacent to Kilkenny Castle.

Sounds of Summer at Butler Garden

Kilkenny’s Butler House in partnership with Music Generation Kilkenny would like to announce the “Sounds of Summer” series a showcase of young, emerging local talent in the beautiful surroundings of the walled garden, adjacent to Kilkenny Castle.

Things to Do in Kilkenny This Summer

Situated in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval Capital is perfectly located and connected for domestic and international visitors, just 90 minutes from Dublin, two hours from Cork, and three hours from Belfast.

Butler House Pancake Tuesday Recipe

Pancake Tuesday is just around the corner and our Head Chef Amy Ryan has shared her favourite pancake recipe, along with some delicious topping suggestions!

Taste Kilkenny Restaurant Week February 2022

Join us at Butler House & Garden to celebrate 'Taste Kilkenny Restaurant Week' 2022!

Christmas Wreath Project - Butler House Christmas Garden

This year, we have a very special addition to the Christmas Garden at Butler House – a beautiful display of Christmas Wreaths made by local Community Groups as part of a project the Kilkenny Civic Trust undertook with Community Education Kilkenny (Kilkenny & Carlow ETB).

The Ritual of Afternoon Tea

The much-loved afternoon treat, originated in the U.K. and was invented by Anna Maria Russell, the Duchess of Bedford (One of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting) sometime around 1840. During that time, dinner was traditionally served quite late in the evening, around 9 p.m. many hours after lunch. Feeling the void, the Duchess started to request that some tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room in the afternoon. From there, a new ritual was born, and without any surprise quickly took off around Britain!

The Kilkenny Catwalk Art Trail has Officially Launched!

The Kilkenny Catwalk Art Trail featuring 21 magnificent cat sculptures follows a route around the city centre. Visitors are invited to follow the trail, located in our beautiful public spaces.

Elegance in the City

Butler House, the award-winning hospitality provider in Kilkenny city and a member of Ireland’s prestigious Blue Book collection of Country Houses and Restaurants, has just launched their new bedroom redesign. The redesign commenced with three bedrooms and these rooms return to a more authentic design approach to the sophistication of a Georgian townhouse. Each bedroom has an eclectic style which draws on influences from the Georgian and Regency period and includes the story of the Kilkenny Design workshops which were such an important part of the story of Butler House.

Outdoor Dining at Butler House & Garden

Soak up the atmosphere in our Walled Garden this Summer! 'The Orangerie' provides a unique space for outdoor dining in the heart of Kilkenny City. The Orangerie is open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.

Unique Locations for Wedding Photography in Kilkenny - Duffy Photography

Your big day is on the horizon, you’re getting married in one of the most beautiful cities in Ireland. Kilkenny has been voted by Conde Nast as the 9th friendliest city in the world! The medieval city of Kilkenny is full of fabulous places to have your wedding photographs taken, below we’ll give you a run-down of a few, some obvious and some less obvious, but all equally beautiful and within a short walk of Butler House.

Seasonal Floral Decor by Orla Clare at Soah Flowers

When I’m engaging in a consultation with my wedding clients to go through ideas for their floral décor the time of year of their wedding (along with budget) will be one of the biggest determining factors in the type of décor we use. It is incredibly important to me, as a floral designer that I capture the spirit of the wedding my couples would like to create while at the same time guiding and advising on what will work best for the different spaces, depending on the season. How do you want your guests to feel, where will the photos be taken, can we reuse the ceremony flowers in the reception space and the importance of flowers on the day are just some of the topics we will chat about in relation to the décor.

How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring with Rita from Lorimat

How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring. There are various factors to consider when it comes to buying elegant diamond engagement rings. Considering these factors before making the purchase will ensure that you will have a perfect ring that you can cherish for the rest of your life. One of the first things you need to do is learn about the shapes of a diamond. A diamond can come in a round brilliant cut, princess cut, emerald cut, oval cut, and more. Choose the cut and shape that you like best and suits you most for example, an oval cut can really flatter a slim finger.

Weddings in the New Norm - How to have an elegant wedding in a post COVID world

Weddings in the New Norm How to have an elegant wedding in a post COVID world Conventional is now unconventional, regular is now irregular, order is now disorder. As the ever-present global burden carries on, seemingly indefinitely, we are seeing radical thinking and emerging innovation when it comes to uniting the affianced. It may be “marry now, party later” or just “marry now”, either way, there are opportunities to create unique and intimate memories.

Butler House - A Venue for All Seasons

Situated in the heart of Kilkenny City, Butler House is ultimately a bespoke venue. From barefoot humanist ceremonies on the lawn, evening and weekend civil ceremonies for as little as four guests to a banquet of 60 guests, the historic house and garden provide the perfect backdrop for your dream wedding!

Bride-To-Be Interview with Niamh De Brún

Thank you so much for doing this interview Niamh, we are delighted to have you involved in our September Wedding Series as a local bride-to-be planning a wedding. To start, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I am a business graduate from the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick and my background is in HR. I started blogging in November 2018 as a creative outlet to share my fashion, fitness and beauty tips. I moved to Kilkenny in 2016.

So what is a Micro Wedding? - Rachel from Inspired Events

So what is a Micro Wedding? A Micro Wedding is an intimate wedding with up to 30 of your favourite people in the world to witness you take your vows in a venue that you absolutely love. We can marry you absolutely anywhere from the woods, to the beach, the mountain, a waterfall or a place that has special connection for you both.

Butler House Weddings - Stephen & Michelle

It is hard to know where to start when telling you how amazing our Wedding Day was at Butler House! From the very beginning Anne Marie, Noreen and the team at Butler House could not do enough for us. Firstly, we got engaged and married in less than two weeks! This timeline might create a fuss or stressful environment but with Butler House nothing was a problem and everything ran like clockwork!

Things to Do in Kilkenny This Mid-term Break

February Mid-Term is here and school-goers finally get a break from school. There are many action-packed activities for families to enjoy over the holidays to keep them entertained for the week. We have compiled a list of must-visit places during the mid-term.

Why Butler House is Your Perfect Wedding Venue

Butler House is located in the heart of Kilkenny. We have catered from 5 people right up to 50 people, and have created the most elegant weddings for our guests. The tranquil gardens of Butler House provide a perfect backdrop for any wedding photography, particularly during the Spring/Summer when our garden is in full bloom.

Real Wedding - Colette and Genevieve

We met through Tinder! Genevieve is originally from the US, and she was working in Dublin after completing her master’s here. We first met in 2016 for a drink in the city centre and clicked right away. Genevieve had only a year left on her visa so we had about a year together in Ireland before doing long-distance when she moved to Washington, D.C.

The Medieval Mile Museum, Kilkenny - A Truly Unique Wedding Venue...

If you are looking for a wedding venue with a difference, our sister property, the Medieval Mile Museum offers a truly unique space. Situated right in the heart of Kilkenny City, on Ireland's Medieval Mile, the Museum provides a stunning backdrop for your special day. Steeped in history, the 13th century St Mary's church and graveyard is the finest example of a medieval church in Ireland.

Win a Facial at Mint Medispa, Kilkenny!

We are delighted to be partnering with Mint Medispa to give away a Bio-Penta Facial to one lucky winner...

Your 12-Month Wedding Dress Timeline - Caroline from Jeutonic

Shopping for your wedding dress is undoubtedly one of (if not THE) most exciting parts of wedding planning! It’s fun, but can feel a little overwhelming if you’re not 100% sure where (or when) to start looking. We’ve created your wedding dress timeline below so you can start planning the shopping appointment of your dreams...

The Perfect Finishing Touches - Anne from The Butterslip

So you've found "The One"!, After numerous flirtations, dates and distractions, you've finally committed to the perfect dress! It's like another love story only something is missing...the accessories.

Real Wedding - Frances Stynes and Thomas Cleary

My name is Frances Stynes and I married my long-term partner Thomas Cleary. We have been together through thick and thin for 29 years and decided in 2018 to make it official.

Choosing Your Bridal Bouquet - Orla from Soah Flowers

Hi everyone! I'm Orla from Soah Flowers - an artisan floristry studio and flower farm based in Co. Kilkenny. It was lovely of Butler House to ask me to guest blog and I very quickly decided to write about my favourite floral piece - the bridal bouquet. Specifically, the process of choosing a wedding bouquet that will really suit your own style and make you feel incredibly special when holding it.

Getting Your Hair Wedding Day Ready - Kapelli Hair

First of all, 6 months in advance of the Wedding you need to consider your hair colour and work with your stylist to come up with a plan so that you can schedule your appointments to make sure you get what you are looking for, even to arrange colouring appointments around bridal dress fittings so that you will have a fresh blowdry every time you get your colour/highlights done, and that also gives you a chance to try our different hairstyles too!

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer - Ben Power

With a myriad of photographers out there it can be daunting researching a photographer for your wedding. Start off with choosing what style may meet your vision of how you would like your day to be photographed, some styles tend to favour a documentary approach and some a classic structured look, so it is important to understand which style suits you both best. Here are some of my tips for choosing the right photographer for you!

Choosing Your Wedding Bands - Rita from Lorimat

We were delighted to be asked to write a Blog for Butler House as part of their Wedding Series. Oh how we love talking all things wedding rings! So let's dive straight in shall we?

Welcome to our Butler House Blog

Welcome to our Butler House Blog! Following the launch of our brand new website in April 2019, we are delighted to introduce our new Blog.

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Kilkenny Arts Festival 2025 in Butler House & Garden and Kilkenny Castle Yard

Liam O'Neill – Retrospective in Butler House Garden.

Tim Goulding exhibits vibrant new works in his show at Butler House for Kilkenny Arts Festival

Summer Stays at the Country House in the City

Summer Craft Nights in the Castle Yard: A Creative Summer Under the Kilkenny Sky

Wine, Nibbles, Rhythm & Roots: Your Perfect Evening at Butler House

Meet in Kilkenny this March for St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2025!

Yulefest Kilkenny 2024 - A Visitor’s Guide

Butler House - the ideal elopement and intimate wedding venue in Kilkenny City

Community Spirit at Butler House Christmas Garden

Butler Garden Fairy Door Trail

Sounds of Summer at Butler Garden

Things to Do in Kilkenny This Summer

Butler House Pancake Tuesday Recipe

Taste Kilkenny Restaurant Week February 2022

Christmas Wreath Project - Butler House Christmas Garden

The Ritual of Afternoon Tea

The Kilkenny Catwalk Art Trail has Officially Launched!

Elegance in the City

Outdoor Dining at Butler House & Garden

Unique Locations for Wedding Photography in Kilkenny - Duffy Photography

Seasonal Floral Decor by Orla Clare at Soah Flowers

How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring with Rita from Lorimat

Weddings in the New Norm - How to have an elegant wedding in a post COVID world

Butler House - A Venue for All Seasons

Bride-To-Be Interview with Niamh De Brún

So what is a Micro Wedding? - Rachel from Inspired Events

Butler House Weddings - Stephen & Michelle

Things to Do in Kilkenny This Mid-term Break

Why Butler House is Your Perfect Wedding Venue

Real Wedding - Colette and Genevieve

The Medieval Mile Museum, Kilkenny - A Truly Unique Wedding Venue...

Win a Facial at Mint Medispa, Kilkenny!

Your 12-Month Wedding Dress Timeline - Caroline from Jeutonic

The Perfect Finishing Touches - Anne from The Butterslip

Real Wedding - Frances Stynes and Thomas Cleary

Choosing Your Bridal Bouquet - Orla from Soah Flowers

Getting Your Hair Wedding Day Ready - Kapelli Hair

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer - Ben Power

Choosing Your Wedding Bands - Rita from Lorimat

Welcome to our Butler House Blog