Shee Alms House, Tudor almshouse in Kilkenny, Ireland
The Shee Alms House is a two-storey building with two bays made of cut limestone and a half-dormer in the attic space on Rose Inn Street. The stone work and roof structure give it a solid, recognizable appearance that stands out among other buildings nearby.
Sir Richard Shee founded this almshouse in 1582 to shelter twelve people in need. The building received permanent funding in 1603, which secured its operation for centuries to come.
The building shows how wealthy merchant families in the 16th century expressed their responsibility toward poor people through architecture and social action. Walking past it today, you can see how this kind of generosity shaped the street and the community around it.
The building sits on a central street and is easy to reach on foot when walking through the town center. Today it serves as a tourist information office, so visitors can step inside during regular business hours to get oriented and learn more about the area.
The building now houses a tourist information office, making it an unexpected place to gather information while stepping inside a structure that is over 500 years old. This dual purpose brings together history and modern-day visits to the town in an interesting way.
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