Kyteler's Inn, Medieval pub in Kilkenny, Ireland.
Kyteler's Inn is a public house in the centre of medieval Kilkenny whose lower storey dates to the medieval period, while the upper parts are later. Below street level a fine groin-vaulted undercroft survives; a fireplace was disassembled and rebuilt elsewhere in the building during the late 1960s restoration.
Parts of the building date to the 13th or 14th century, and it is traditionally linked to the Kyteler family and Dame Alice Kyteler, an alleged witch of the area, though it is debated whether the family lived at this exact spot. The building has housed an inn since 1639. A restoration in the late 1960s was not preceded by an archaeological survey, and archaeologist Conleth Manning later criticised the removal of the original stone stairs to the undercroft and of surviving medieval roof timbers.
The pub comes alive with nightly music performances where local musicians play traditional instruments and welcome guests to join in. This practice of live music creates a welcoming and social setting.
The entrance level was modernized in the 1970s, while the medieval lower storey is reached by a flight of dark stairs. The building has housed an inn since 1639, so food and drink are served on several levels. Look for the courtyard where the renovated building was blessed with water from St Kieran's Well in 1967.
Archaeologist Conleth Manning criticised the late-1960s restoration for dismantling a fine fireplace and removing the original stone stairs to the undercroft and medieval roof timbers without expert examination. The surviving groin-vaulted undercroft, which he said makes a 14th-century date plausible, is the main medieval element; only the lower storey dates to the medieval period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,855 contributors worldwide.