Anne Welles, Countess of Ormond

[citation needed] Prior to 17 June 1386, Anne Welles married James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond (died 6 September 1405), son of James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond and Elizabeth Darcy.

In September 1391, James purchased Kilkenny Castle from Hugh le Despenser, and the Ormonds made this magnificent stone fortification set in a park their chief residence with the earl using it as a base from which he ruled over the district.

James and Anne hosted King Richard II when he visited Kilkenny Castle in 1395.

[2] It was suggested by Frederick Tupper, Professor of English at the University of Vermont, that Anne was commemorated as "Anelida, Queen of Armenia", in Geoffrey Chaucer's poem Anelida and Arcite with "Arcite" having been her husband.

The Earl had an illegitimate son, Thomas Le Boteller, Prior of Kilmainham by an unknown mistress.

Kilkenny Castle , Ireland. After 1391, this was the principal residence of the Earls of Ormond. Anne Welles was the first countess of Ormond to reside at the castle