The Renaissance phase of the Conservation Plan will now commence in November 2009, and the project is being supported by the NDP programme, by Fáilte Ireland, and the Kilkenny Local Authorities, together with private individuals.  It is a major conservation and presentation project coming to Kilkenny in these difficult times, which will see substantial investment in the Heritage of the County. The project is estimated to cost €3.1 million and will take two years to complete. The project design will provide full accessibility for all to Rothe House and Garden, and when complete will prove to be a major tourist attraction and historical and genealogical research facility for Kilkenny and the South East of Ireland.

The project programme is being undertaken in two phases, during the winter months of 2009 and 2010.This is to ensure that the House and Garden can continue to operate as one of Kilkenny’s major tourist attractions during the busy season next year.

Rothe House & Garden will be the flagship of Kilkenny’s heritage and tourist industry when the Renaissance project is completed, and all conservation works finished. This will complete the restoration and the presentation of one of Ireland’s treasures for present and future generations.

On August 16th, HE Mr. David Reddaway, British Ambassador to Ireland, visited Rothe House & Garden and planted a tree to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the granting of the City Charter to Kilkenny.  It was the last day of the Kilkenny Arts Festival, and the House and Garden was very busy.  Mr. Reddaway was welcomed by the Mayor of Kilkenny Councillor Malcolm Noonan, the Chair of Rothe House Trust, Mr. Joe Ledwidge, and the Vice-President of Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Mr. Peter McQuillan.

 He spoke of the close ties of friendship which had been forming between the two countries in recent years, and hoped that these would continue into the future.  He was delighted to visit Kilkenny, and to leave a lasting reminder of his visit here at Rothe House & Garden, where he had been very impressed by the work which had been done in re-creating the 17th century garden.

Start the Christmas Season in style this year!  Rothe House & Garden will host a Christmas Miscellany on Wednesday 2nd December at 7.30 pm.  Enjoy a glass of mulled wine by the roaring log fire, and listen to the Sonas Choir perform.  The music is interspersed with readings and musings, and the whole evening will have a winter and Christmas theme.  Tickets are €20, and all proceeds will go to the Rothe House fundraising project.  For pre-booking contact reception@rothehouse.com or telephone 056 7722893.  A wonderful evening full of atmosphere and winter warmth is guaranteed.

For more details, phone 056 7722893.

Two days of Shakespeare took place in the authentic surroundings of an early 17th century mansion and garden earlier this year in June. Rothe House was built as Shakespeare was writing his plays in London! Abridged versions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, and A Comedy of Errors were performed in the Second Courtyard by children of all ages.  Also monologue, art and film competitions – all with a Shakespeare Theme. Held in collaboration with Dreamstuff Theatre Company and the Devious Theatre Company. Suitable for all the family. This Festival was part of the Kilkenny400 Celebrations. 

Every Thursday evening, from 25th June to 27th August, visitors to Kilkenny had an opportunity to take a guided tour of Rothe House & Garden in the company of John Rothe Fitzpiers, and his wife Rose Archer, who built Rothe House between 1594 and 1610. They were taken on a journey through the 400 year old story of Rothe House & Garden.  Visitors were very complimentary about the tour, and spoke of a greater understanding of the family who lived in Rothe House in the early 17th century.

In 1907, a Great Exhibition was held in Dublin.  It was centered on Herbert Park in Donnybrook, which was in fact created particularly for this event.  It was a huge exhibition, and over 2.5 million people saw it during the four months it was in place.  The Chairman of the Organising Committee was the  Marquess of Ormonde, so there is an interesting Kilkenny connection.  100 years later, the RDS commissioned a Commemorative Exhibition.  This was co-curated by Brian Siggins of the Old Dublin Society and John Holohan.  The RDS have kindly lent the exhibition to Rothe House, and it will be on show during the month of September, in the ground floor of the Third House.

The Exhibition is part of the overall tour of the House & Garden.   

The Global Lunch box is a series of lunch time talks and workshops exploring the global issues of peak oil,
climate change and economic uncertainty with a focus on how these challanges can be met through local positive solutions.
Fridays, Rothe House, High St., 1pm, Є5 (price includes entry to gardens), Tea & coffee extra. 

Friday 8th May

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?    ——————————————————————————————————– The future is not what we thought it would be. In tackling climate change, and especially peak oil, we need to produce and consume closer to home. This will be a big change for society but could lead to a revival in the local economy and stronger communities.
This final lunchbox will explore where we go from here.

Booking not essential.

‘It was always intended that access to the House and Garden would be integrated and that the Garden would be entered in the same way that the Rothe Family would have done’, says Róisín McQuillan, Manager of Rothe House.  ‘Now that the conservation work on the Courtyards and House has been completed, it is appropriate to allow visitors to the House and Garden to enter through the House.’In line with the conditions of the Fáilte Ireland grant which funded a large part of the reconstruction works, there will be a nominal charge to visit the Garden.  It is now possible to visit the House and Garden together, or just the Garden on its own. 

Admission charges are as follows:

House & Garden:         Adults: €5.00                      Concessions:  €4.00

Garden Only:               Adults: €2.00                      Concessions: €1.00

Members of Kilkenny Archaeological Society can avail of the usual free admission. There will also be an annual ticket available for €10 which will allow unrestricted access to the Garden only (conditions will apply).  The annual ticket is being introduced to encourage local people to use the Garden on a regular basis.

For more details on this new system, contact Rothe House at 056 77228893, or email info@rothehouse.com