The Tholsel, Kilkenny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Tholsel, Kilkenny |
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An Tholsel, Cill Chainnigh
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The Tholsel, Kilkenny
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical style |
| Address | High Street |
| Town or city | Kilkenny |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°39′07″N 7°15′11″W / 52.6519°N 7.2531°W |
| Completed | 1761 |
The Tholsel (Irish: An Tholsel, Cill Chainnigh) is also known as City Hall. It is an important building on High Street in Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland. For many years, it was the main meeting place for the Kilkenny Borough Council. This council helped run the town until it was changed in 2014.
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The Tholsel: Kilkenny's Historic City Hall
The Tholsel is a very old and important building in Kilkenny. It has been a central part of the town's life for centuries. It shows how the town has grown and changed over time.
A Look Back: Early Buildings
The first Tholsel, or guildhall, was likely built on High Street a very long time ago, possibly in the 1300s. A guildhall was a place where groups of skilled workers, called guilds, would meet. It was also used to collect taxes and manage the town's business. This first building was used for many years but eventually became old and wasn't used much by the late 1400s.
Later, in 1579, a second Tholsel was built. This one was designed in the Renaissance style. This style was popular in Europe and brought new ideas about art and building.
Building the Tholsel We See Today
By the mid-1700s, the second Tholsel was also getting old. So, the town council decided to build a brand new one. This new building was designed in the Neoclassical style. This style is known for its grand, balanced look, often inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
The new Tholsel was finished in 1761. It cost about £1,315 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The building has a main front with five sections facing High Street. The ground floor has a series of arches, like a covered walkway. This area was used for markets. Above, on the first floor, there was a large room for meetings and events.
The arches on the ground floor are supported by strong pillars. On the first floor, there are square windows with special decorative frames. On the roof, there is a tall, eight-sided tower called a cupola. This cupola has windows, clock faces, and vents, and a weather vane on top to show wind direction. Inside, the main room on the first floor has beautiful plasterwork on the ceiling.
Important Visitors and Events
Many important people have visited the Tholsel. In 1762, a famous religious leader named John Wesley gave a speech there. Later, in 1929, Éamon de Valera, who would become a very important leader in Ireland, also gave a speech in the town hall about his party's plans for the country.
The Fire and Restoration
On September 20, 1985, a big fire broke out at the Tholsel. A fireman named Joe Stapleton was finishing his work when he found the fire on an upper floor. He quickly called the fire service and opened the gates for the fire trucks. He also saved important old city documents from the 1600s.
It took 35 firemen and six fire engines to put out the fire. It was caused by a small electrical problem. The building was badly damaged, but thankfully, it was restored. The Tholsel re-opened in February 1987. The main meeting room continued to be used by the Kilkenny Borough Council until 2014. At that time, the council joined with the Kilkenny County Council to manage the town.
Special Documents Inside
The Tholsel holds some very old and important papers. One of these is called The Primus Kilkenniensis, or First Book of Kilkenny. It was printed in the late 1300s. This book includes a special document called a charter, which was given to the people of Kilkenny by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke in the early 1200s. Charters were like official rulebooks or agreements that gave certain rights to people in a town.
