Kilkenny People

admin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:52:25 +0000

The book was covered in the Kilkenny People on Jan 7:

Dame Alice’s story by a Kilkenny woman

A DETAILED reconstruction of the enthralling story of Dame Alice Kyteler, Kilkenny’s own and Ire-land’s only convicted witch during the middle ages, entitled The Stone has just been published.

Written by Kilkenny- born Claire Nolan, the story of Alice Kyteler may have been attempted many times by foreign authors but this is the first Kilkenny author’s foray into the field. The result is a freshness and insightfulness born of a detailed local knowledge and awareness, occasioned by her years growing up surrounded by the story and its locations in the area.

The book has been enthusiastically welcomed by Nickie Flynn, the owner of the famed Kyteler’s Inn on St Kieran’s Street. This is the infamous Kyteler House, the home of Dame Alice. The house is in use today as a renowned restaurant and popular night spot.

The Stone uncovers the dramatic events leading up to the conviction of Alice Kyteler as a witch and reveals the extent of her own financial prowess and guile – whatever about the mystical powers she was accused of possessing. This was a lady who arranged loans to Kings and who presided over a commercial and banking empire – a place where women were not usually welcomed! Small wonder the ‘solid men folk’ of the time were scandalised by her activities – her frequent marriages and equally frequent deaths of her always wealthy first three husbands – perhaps in equal measure as they were envious of her success especially as it often came at their expense.

Claire has added an as yet unconventional method of getting this exciting story into the hands of readers. Although on sale in Kyteler’s Inn (naturally) and also with Liz Walsh in MacDonagh Junction – coincidently, in Stone House Books, Ms Nolan is using the internet as her primary method of distribution. Click on clairenolan.com and follow the easy steps there to have the book delivered to your address in two to four days. Enjoy the read.