There is a very special addition to the Christmas Garden at Butler House this year.
Butler House is the Dower House of Kilkenny Castle and has always been associated with the Butler Family, Dukes and Earls of Ormonde who resided at Kilkenny Castle for 500 years.
18th Century House
The house was home to Lady Eleanor Butler who lived here after the death of her husband Walter in 1783. Lady Eleanor Butler was the mother of John, the 17th Earl of Ormonde and her daughter, also Eleanor, was one of the famous “Ladies of Langollen”.
Kilkenny Design, the state design agency, restored Butler House in 1972. The decor and furnishings reflect a certain 1970s Art Deco style, which because of the muted colours and natural fabrics used, proved sympathetic to the original features of the house. In 1989, the Kilkenny Civic Trust acquired both Butler House and the Castle Stables. The house was then opened to the public .
Steeped in History
Butler House and Garden is steeped in history and with a view of the stunning Kilkenny Castle, the secluded walled gardens provide a beautiful backdrop across all seasons, particularly during the Spring / Summer when the garden is in full bloom.
Christmas Wreath project
In recent years, it has become the ‘go to place’ in the city to get that extra Christmas buzz, where you get to meet Santa and his elves, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee , and all in a very picturesque surrounding .
This year a beautiful display of Christmas Wreaths made by local Community Groups as part of a project the Kilkenny Civic. Trust It was a project undertaken with Kilkenny and Carlow ETB.
THE IDEA FOR THIS PROJECT
Siobhan O’Brien, the Community Education Facilitator at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB worked closely with Anthony Drohan, Facilities Manager at the Kilkenny Civic Trust and a network of Tutors on this fantastic project.
The offer of doing a wreath was suggested to the many groups who work annually with Community Education. The response was fabulous with 17 groups and with a total of 20 wreaths being created.
There was no brief and design was left to the group themselves.
The Kilkenny Observer Newspaper happened to be strolling the grounds on Sunday last when we came across the ‘Newpark Close Nifty Fifties Club’ who were delighted to participate in the Christmas wreath project currently on display.
There are a total of twenty wreaths on display, and all created by local community groups.
‘The Nifty Fifties’ wreath is made entirely of recycled material. The centre piece has flowers made from old tights. There are roses made from offcuts of batik fabric.
Bows and other flowers are made from scraps of hessian and felt. All are stapled onto a background of ivy that was retrieved from old projects made by the club in the past.
It was a club effort and everyone came up with their own unique ideas.
*The Christmas Wreath project will feature on RTE’S Nationwide Friday 17th.
*’The Nifty Fifties Club’ meet at Newpark family Resorce Centre. *’The Nifty Fifties Club’ meet at Newpark family Resorce Centre.
