I haven’t mentioned anything here until now about my association with Kilkea Castle, though I did share the information on social media last month. Indeed, I’ve been silent on this blog for quite a while. Since 26 May this year I’m officially what might be termed ‘genealogist-in-residence’ at this gorgeous 12th century building that is now a luxurious hotel.
That doesn’t mean that I occupy one of its beautifully restored bedrooms! Or that I’m to be found daily wandering about the rose garden or reading the memorials in the little graveyard a stone’s throw from the castle walls. But I live ten miles away, and my professional services are available to visitors who come to stay at the lovely location.
What I like most about my association with Kilkea is that I feel I’m in the footsteps of Lord Walter FitzGerald. This was Lord Walter’s home and he was a first-rate antiquarian, gentleman-genealogist and local historian. He founded the County Kildare Archaeological Society (CKAS) in 1891. Oodles of his articles appear in its Journal (and many other learned periodicals).
With Jack Fitzsimons, Director of Experiences for Kilkea, at the entrance to the Castle.
He was born a little over a century before me and he died at Kilkea in 1923. My first contact with any organisation involved in historical studies was when I was brought to a CKAS outing when I was just fourteen. It was a visit to Carton House, the main residence of the Dukes of Leinster, and the event was marking the 50th anniversary of Lord Walter’s death. The connection with the location was that he was one of the younger sons of the 4th Duke.
At the time of that visit to Carton I was blissfully unaware of Lord Walter and his achievements. I soon saw some of his extraordinary body of work in the CKAS journals. I’ve been a member of the society for more than forty years, and Lord Walter is one of my idols.