Ffith Floor

Reception Room & Roof

The fifth and top floor, once described in "Scullydom", a turn of the century romance by P.M. Egan, writer and mare of Kilkenny in 1883;

"We must remember that there was the gay, the proud reception room for a gallant beau of the sixteenth century..."

This floor was once the state apartment, now is a magnificent baronial drawing room, with another massive fire stone fireplace. The room has a vaulted ceiling left exposed to maintain the traditional feel of the room, and another giant chandelier hangs from the ceiling. This room has several lounge seats, a beautifully hand crafted swing in one of the alcoves, and a table with chairs for games.

Heavy curtains are hanging down to make the room really cosy in the evening. There is also a music installation and games available. (I have spent many a night in this room, sitting by a blazing fire, playing games 'til all hours in the morning.)

There are four windows in this room, each one of them facing the cardinal points. The views are magnificent in all directions. Off this room is a secret room with a deep floorshaft, used as a priests' hole or to keep prisoners.

A smaller flight of stairs leads up to the ramparts, where you can gaze as far as Mount Leinster or Slievenamon on a fine day.

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Go down to the fourth floor: Chapel Room