Black Abbey

 This here is the Black Abbey, and it's guardian the blackorange (t)abbey.  KITTY!  We talked to the kitty a lot, but he was not so interested in us, per (purr) his expression.

The Black Abbey was one of the first order of Dominican Friars in Ireland, who were called "Black Friars" in England, hence the name.  The abbey was established by William Marshall in 1225.  In 1349, the community was hit with a huge outbreak of everyone's favorite, the Black Death, and 8 members died.  After that, it was kinda quiet until Queen Elizabeth showed up and was like "I CLAIM THIS FOR THE CROWN."  James I was like "GOOD IDEA HOW ABOUT WE MAKE THIS A COURTHOUSE?" Oliver Cromwell was also a SUPER DOUCHE to Kilkenny, and when Catholic James II came around they were like "cool this works" but then William III was like "lol he's dead now and I am reconquering Kilkenny and this abbey."

Finally, in 1776, when England was a little busy thanks to THE GOOD OL US OF A, the Domenicans retook the abbey, and finally in 1864, it was reconsecrated as a place of worship.  During some renovations, they unearthed the coffins seen in these pictures, which date from the 13th century, and were like "let's just put these outside.  Yeah. That'll do."

You can still take mass at the abbey now, unless you're not a Catholic, in which case, enjoy hell, you heathens.