The Butler Society Golden Jubilee Mini-Rally at Kilkenny Castle Friday 4th to Monday 7th August 2017

NOTE: Very few spaces remain. Please send your registration and payment as soon as possible if you wish to attend. (Updated July 12, 2017)

We are pleased to announce the 50th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Butler Society in 1967.  

Celebrations will commence on the evening of Friday August 4, 2017 at Kilkenny Castle and run until lunchtime on Monday August 7, 2017.

The Butler Society would like to acknowledge, with great thanks, the generosity of the Office of Public Works, the Club House Hotel and Butler House.

Programme 50th Anniversary Rally 4 – 7 August 2017 (Exact timings and details may be subject to change)

Day	Activity
Friday 4th August	6:00pm Registration of Attendees, Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle
	7:00pm Welcome reception and introductory remarks in Tower (principally Thomas Crampton, who will discuss The Butler Society in the digital era), perhaps others. 9:00pm Adjourn to Hole in the Wall, heritage pub in the oldest surviving townhouse in Ireland, for an Irish Evening
Saturday 5th August	9:30 – 10:30am Depart by coach from The Parade, Kilkenny to Carrick-on-Suir to visit Ormonde Castle. Tea/coffee on arrival, followed by talk on recent renovation works at the Castle.
	1:00-1:30pm Coach to Kilcash for lunch (via Carrigbeg Bridge built in 1447 by Sir Edmund MacRichard Butler).  Catered lunch in Community Hall, Kilcash with talks, followed by visit to restored Kilcash Castle grounds.
	5:00pm Arrival back at The Parade, Kilkenny.
	7:00pm Drinks Reception in the Picture Gallery of Kilkenny Castle, with special thanks to the Office of Public Works.
	8:00pm Golden Jubilee Gala Dinner in The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle – Black Tie or Lounge suit.
Sunday 6th August	10:00 – 10:30am Coach from The Parade to Sunday Service at 11am in Ennisnag Church of Ireland, where Hubert/Peggy Butler and Melosina Lenox-Conyngham are buried. Wreath laying.
	12:00 – 12:30pm Coach to Inistioge lunch and tour of Dangan Cottage with owner Christopher Moore and The Mermaid Gallery by owner John Kirwan.
	3:00 Transfer (about 30 mins) to Maidenhall, home of the Hubert Butler family, for tea/coffee and a talk on the history of the house and the Butler residency.
	5:30pm Arrive back at The Parade, Kilkenny.
	7:00 pm Documentary: ‘Hubert Butler: Witness to the Future’ will be shown (duration 98 mins), followed by a discussion at a venue to be determined. Wine and canapés reception. City Hall Ormonde Portrait unveiling (or Monday morning).
Monday 7th August	10:00 pm Unveiling of updated Marquesses of Ormonde memorial tablet in St Canice’s Cathedral by Ormonde family. Three vignettes from Rally stalwarts on Rallies past. 11.00 am Bus to Ballysallagh House for coffee and tour
	2:00pm Farewell lunch in Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle.

Note: The cost per head for the 50th Anniversary Rally in Kilkenny and Gala Dinner will be €280.00 including a non-refundable registration fee of €50. Booking the Gala Dinner only will be €100.00 per person. Payment for the Rally and Gala Dinner can be made by credit card on ButlerSociety.org/shop/ shop or via treasurer@butler-soc.org using Paypal. Please contact the treasurer via email if you wish to use other payment method. Space is limited, so payment should be made as soon as possible to reserve a place.

Current Schedules for Trains from Heuston Station, Dublin to MacDonagh Station, Kilkenny are listed below (please also see Irishrail PDFs for up-to-date schedules).

We have listed below some suggestions for accommodation in Kilkenny.  However, it is up to you to make arrangements directly with the hotels.

Mention that you are attending the Butler Rally when booking, and be sure it is within easy walking distance of the Castle or look on the Internet for special deals.

The Ormonde Hotel
Tel: 00-353-56-7750200
Email: info@kilkennyormonde.com
Website: www.kilkennyormonde.com

Kilkenny Inn(This is about a ten-minute walk from the Castle) Tel: 00-353-56-7772828
Email: info@kiIkennyinn.com
Website: www.kilkennyinn.com

Hibernian House (formerly Berkeley House)
Tel: 00-353-56-7764848
Email: info@hibernianhousekilkenny.com
Website: www.hibernianhousekilkenny.com

Kilkenny River Court Hotel
Tel: 00-353-56-7723388
Email: reservations@rivercourthotel.com
Website: www.rivercourthotel.com

The Club House
Tel: 00-353-56-7721 994
Email: info@clubhousehotel.com
Website: www.clubhousehotel.com

The Hibernian Hotel
Tel: 00-353-56-7771888
Email: info@kilkennyhibernianhotel.com
Website: www.kilkennyhibernianhotel.com

Butler House
Tel: 00-353-56-7722828
Email: res@butler.ie
Website: www.butler.ie

There are lots of B&Bs around or you can also call the Kilkenny Tourist Office.

Kilkenny Tourist Office
Tel: 00-353 -56-7751500
Fax: 00-353-56-7763955
Email: kilkenny@failteireland.ie
Wrbsite: www.visitkilkenny.ie