Page created February 2004
Rothe House
Photograph Gallery
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A discreet monogram and attractive
reminder of the major restoration undertaken by Timothy O'Hanrahan who
became the owner of the house in 1896, and greatly improved what had become
a very run-down property. A more public record
of his work is recorded in Irish on a plaque on the west wall of the second
house. It reads, in translation: |
Those who purchased and secured Rothe House in 1962 did not look for any record of their actions: the House as it stands today is a huge and fitting memorial. Their foresight and courage in taking on such a challenge in the days before the Celtic tiger began to roar is appreciated in Kilkenny and throughout the world.
Rothe House has been well served by Kilkenny Archaeological Society during its forty years of stewardship. A voluntary body, it has through huge effort in manning and fundraising over those years rescued and preserved a unique reminder of 16th century Kilkenny. The complex has been brought from two run-down houses in multiple occupancy and a third house in ruins, to a unified national treasure. Having secured the property for the future it now recognises that a high level of professionalism is required to provide the experience required by tourists in the 21st century.
It is hoped that a few of the many photographs which have been taken, often in association with alterations, will convey to those not conversant with Rothe House, the magnificent work which has been done.
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| The front house in the 19th century. Thought to date to c.1870. | The front house before the restoration of 1983-85. See the navigation bar for a photograph immediately after this restoration. |
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| John Rothe's 'new house' (third house) in dereliction, 1986. | The third house after restoration, 1994 |
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| The much reduced fireplace in the third house before restoration. | The fireplace restored to it original proportions, 1994. |
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Two metal fireplaces inset into the
original marble fireplaces of John Rothe. That on the right in the large hall of the front house. Note the partition walls by which the hall had been divided into three rooms. 1962 prior to restoration. |
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| A mason working on the restoration of 1963-65. | The recreated roof timbers in the third house, 1994. |