Dame Alice Kyteler (1280 –1325), was a woman who was the earliest person accused and condemned for witchcraft in Ireland. Having being accused of attempted murder, her servant Petronella de Meath was arrested and tortured until she admitted that Alice used witch craft to gain wealth and power. Petronella became the first woman In Ireland to

be flogged and burned at the stake on November 3rd, 1324. Any of Alices followers met the same faith soon after and a witch hunt began.

Dame Alice fled the country using a secret underground tunnel which some believe are still below the medieval city. 

This mural pays homage to one of my favourite childhood stories. The project was commissioned by the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful volunteers and the Kieran Street 

Business Association. From street level Alice appears to be laying on top of the wooden pile ready for burning, once you look through the cut outs In the hoarding you see she Is levitating, under a spell, blissfully floating away.

The vacant lot on a popular busy street in the heart of the city has been a long time failure of our damaged economy. Thanks to the support and interest of the local associations we were able to open up the history of one of the streets most infamous historical characters and turn a negative space around in a positive light. 

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Location: Kieran Street, Co. Kilkenny. Ireland

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2013