Wine, Nibbles, Rhythm & Roots, Your Perfect Evening at Butler House
Kilkenny comes alive each May as the Kilkenny Roots Festival 2026 returns to the city, filling its medieval streets with the sounds of Americana, folk and roots music. With over 30 venues hosting more than 40 Irish and international artists, and over 90 ticketed and free shows running from early afternoon until late into the night, the festival transforms Kilkenny into one of Ireland’s most vibrant live music destinations for the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Set right beside Kilkenny Castle and just a short walk from many festival venues along the Smithwick’s Music Trail, Butler House & Garden offers a calm and welcoming place to begin your evening or return to after enjoying your choice of performance across the city.
Whether you are arriving early in the afternoon or stepping back through the garden gates after a late session, Butler House provides a relaxed setting at the heart of the festival experience.
During the Kilkenny Roots Festival weekend, our Evening Menu in the Garden View Room offers a gentle and comfortable place to gather before heading out into the festival atmosphere. Overlooking the restored Georgian Walled Garden and the castle parklands beyond, the Garden View Room creates a quiet contrast to the lively streets outside, allowing you to enjoy a relaxed bite and a glass of wine before continuing your evening in Kilkenny’s music venues.
Later, after your chosen show, Butler House becomes a welcome return point, somewhere calm and restful away from the crowds, where the evening can continue at an easier pace in elegant surroundings.
A Relaxed Festival Evening at Butler House
Whether you are meeting friends before a headline performance or unwinding after discovering a new favourite artist along the Smithwick’s Music Trail, Butler House offers a welcoming stop along your festival route.
Evening Menu Highlights
Cream Tea – €10.50
Freshly baked scones with strawberry jam & Chantilly cream, served with your choice of loose-leaf tea or barista coffee.
Seasonal Irish Hot Pot – €21.00
A comforting classic served with homemade brown bread and creamy Irish butter.
Irish Cheese Plate – €12.50
Crackers and chutney complete this perfectly paired plate.
Butler’s Dips – €12.00
A trio of classic hummus, beetroot, and sundried tomato & basil dips, served with sourdough crostini.
Nibbles – €8.50
A moreish mix of olives, nuts, rice crackers, and Irish crisps.
No reservations needed, just drop in, sit back, and savour the relaxed elegance of Butler House before you head out for a night of world-class music.
Stay in the Heart of the Kilkenny Roots Festival
The Kilkenny Roots Festival is best enjoyed when you can move easily between venues and return to somewhere calm at the end of the evening. Staying at Butler House & Garden places you within the original Kilkenny Castle estate, just minutes from many of the festival’s main performance spaces. Wake to views of the Georgian Walled Garden, stroll through the castle grounds between shows, and return after an evening of music to the quiet comfort of this historic house in the centre of Kilkenny.
Guests often choose to enhance their festival stay with carefully designed overnight experiences, including:
- Smithwick’s Experience Package, combining your stay with a visit to the nearby Smithwick’s Experience Kilkenny, perfectly placed along the festival trail
- Kilkenny Castle Experience - one night B&B with entry to Kilkenny Castle.
- Supper & Slumber - a relaxed overnight stay including breakfast and a seasonal supper in the Garden View Room.
- Cosy Retreat - 2 B&B escape and Cream Tea designed for rest and gentle discovery
- Bed, Breakfast & Bubbles - One Night B&B with chilled prosecco waiting on arrival.
- Signature Escapes - One Night B&B with Signature Drink.
During festival weekends, Butler House availability is always limited, so early booking is recommended.
Make Butler House Part of Your Kilkenny Roots Festival Experience
One of the pleasures of the Kilkenny Roots Festival is how easily the city can be explored on foot. From Butler House, many venues along the Smithwick’s Music Trail are just minutes away, allowing you to move comfortably between performances while returning whenever you wish to the calm surroundings of the house and gardens.
After an afternoon or evening of live music, Butler House offers a gentle place to pause, enjoy a relaxed bite, and settle into the quieter rhythm of the castle estate. Join us for a relaxed evening in the Garden View Room or plan a festival weekend stay in the heart of Kilkenny.
Explore our current offers and plan your stay at Butler House & Garden for the Kilkenny Roots Festival.
Kilkenny Roots Festival runs from May 1st to May 4th 2026. For more details, visit - kilkennyroots.com.
Purchase a Butler House Gift Voucher or use your Blue Book Voucher today!
Plan your stay at Butler House & Garden, where you don’t just visit history, you stay within it, while helping preserve Kilkenny’s heritage for future generations.
View Our Current Offers Here.
For more information, call us on +353 56 7722828, email res@butler.ie
or visit www.butler.ie
Butler House & Garden and the adjacent Kilkenny Castle Yard are owned and managed by the Kilkenny Civic Trust, a not-for-profit organisation with the mission of protecting, enhancing and promoting heritage in Kilkenny. Butler House & Garden Celebrating 240 years. A member of Ireland's Blue Book.