The Tholsel, Kilkenny, Municipal building in High Street, Kilkenny, Ireland
The Tholsel is a municipal building on High Street in Kilkenny featuring a distinctive octagonal cupola with clock faces rising from its roof. The ground floor opens to the street through five arched bays supported by sturdy columns, while the upper floor contains enclosed meeting rooms.
This third Tholsel was completed in 1761, replacing earlier structures that had occupied the same site since the 1300s. The repeated rebuilding at this location shows how central this spot remained to Kilkenny's civic life across centuries.
This served as the meeting hall for Kilkenny's city council, where local decisions were made and civic events took place. The space reflects how medieval and early modern Irish towns gathered their leaders to govern community affairs.
The building sits in the heart of Kilkenny's town centre and is easy to find on the main street. The open arches at ground level allow visitors to look inside and appreciate the architecture without entering formal spaces.
In 1985, a local firefighter risked his safety to save important city documents during a fire that started inside the building. This rescue preserved records that trace Kilkenny's past and showed how much this structure held for the town's memory.
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