Archaeological investigations have been taking place now for over a year on the Parade, directed by Patrick Neary consultant archaeologist. Many new archaeological discoveries have been made including the Castle street and parts of some of the buildings that fronted onto it in the 13th century. The entire street was levelled by the first Duke of Ormond between1677-81 and the Parade built over it (see Old Kilkenny Review 2006). Sections of the Duke’s Parade have been found during the course of the dig.
Exposing a cobbled surface on the Parade
The Dineley view of the Parade 1681 (R.S.A.I. Jn., vii, (1862-3), pp 103-9, at p.104, fn.). Note that the wall on the left, now part of the Gravel Walk, continued as far as the Castle’s Parade tower and that the trees, even if recently planted, as little more than shrubs thereby giving a full view of the castle’s façade.
There has been a mystery surrounding the exact location of the outer edge of the moat of Kilkenny castle, the inner part of which was excavated by Ben Murtagh in the late 1990s. Patrick’s team have now found this near the entrance to the Design workshops and amazingly it now appears the entire castle fosse was cased in stone, making it virtually impenetretable for sappers. Behind the stone casing the skull of a female adult was found, was she a murder victim?
Visit Kilkenny Borough Council’s website for more information on the refurbishment of the Parade: here