My Home: Kilkenny

Ann-Marie Henderson, owner of The Snug Room, tells us more about this medieval Irish city.

- Ann-Marie Henderson

TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS

I own the Snug Room which is a homeware and lifestyle business based in danesfort, a 7km drive from Kilkenny city. We have a beautiful rustic barn shop which we converted and opened two years ago in November 2019 along with our online website thesnugroom.ie which started in 2017. The shop is an ongoing project alongside a soon-to-be coffee house and pub which belongs to my brother Hugh and his partner Geraldine. It really is a family business!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED HERE?

I was born and grew up in Kilkenny on the banks of the River Nore, a stroll from the city centre. I moved to Dublin and then onto Connecticut in the uS in the late ‘90s – I’m giving away my age now! My love for interiors really grew in the uS when my friends were shopping in TK Maxx, I was next door in Pottery barn. I moved home in 2005 and have remained here working part-time in finance and setting up The Snug Room.

HOW DOES KILKENNY COMPARE TO THE OTHER CITIES IN WHICH YOU’VE LIVED?

Kilkenny is one of the best small cites in Ireland. It is a medieval city that is rich in history. I find it is easy to get around with cobbled streets very like new Haven, Connecticut. It’s also full of architectural buildings and just really beautiful. The walkways right through the city along the banks of the nore are also fantastic.

HOW HAS KILKENNY CHANGED FOR YOU OVER THE YEARS?