County Kilkenny

County Kilkenny Contae Chill Chainnigh
Location
Statistics
Province:	Leinster
County seat:	Kilkenny
Code:	KK
Area:	2,061 km2 (796 sq mi)
Population (2006)	87,558
Website: www.kilkennycoco.ie

County Kilkenny (Irish: Contae Chill Chainnigh) is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the province of Leinster. It was named after the town of Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh) and has a population of 87,558.^[1]

Kilkenny is the 16th largest of Ireland’s 32 counties in area and 21st largest in terms of population^[2]. It is the third largest of Leinster’s 12 counties in size and seventh largest in terms of population.

The River Nore flows through the county and the River Suir forms the border with County Waterford. Brandon Hill is the highest point with an Elevation of 515 m (1,690 ft).

The current county formed part of the Kingdom of Osraige and ecclesiastical Diocese of Ossory.

Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 2.1 Rivers 2.2 Mountains and hills 2.3 Geology 2.4 Climate 2.5 Environment 2.5.1 Protected areas 2.5.2 Flora 2.5.3 Fauna 2.6 Demographics 2.7 Villages and Towns 2.8 Baronies 3 Governance 3.1 Local Government 3.2 Regional Authority 3.3 Regional Assembly 3.4 Parliamentary Constituencies 4 Landmarks 4.1 Visitor Attractions 4.2 Architecture 4.2.1 Early architecture 4.2.2 Castles 4.2.3 Churches 4.2.4 Abbeys and priories 4.2.5 Eighteenth-Century Bridges 5 History 5.1 Neolithic 5.2 Kingdom of Osraige 5.2.1 Counties 6 Infrastructure 6.1 Transport 6.2 Hospitals 7 Sport 7.1 GAA 7.2 Horse racing 7.3 Golf 7.4 Ice Hockey 8 Culture 8.1 Notable people 9 County Anthem 10 See also 11 Notes 12 References 13 External links

Name

County Kilkenny takes its name from the main city the City of Kilkenny. Kilkenny is the anglicised version of the Irish Cill Chainnigh, meaning Church (Cell) of Cainneach or Canice. This probably relates to the church and round tower, now St. Canice's Cathedral, which was built in honour of St. Canice.

In Irish usage, the word county nearly always comes before rather than after the county name; thus "County Clare" in Ireland as opposed to "Clare County" in Michigan. The former "King's County" and "Queen's County" were exceptions; these are now County Offaly and County Laois. The names "County Dublin" and "County Kilkenny" remain in common usage outside administrative matters.

Geography

The Geography of County Kilkenny describes the county of Kilkenny which is located in the south-west of Leinster, in Ireland. The main geographical features of County Kilkenny include a mostly hilly surface of moderate elevation with uplands in the North-East, the North-West and the South of the county; the middle being comparably lower.^[3]

The county is located at 52°35′N 7°15′W / 52.583°N 7.25°W / 52.583; -7.25Coordinates: 52°35′N 7°15′W / 52.583°N 7.25°W / 52.583; -7.25 and has an area of 509,431 acres (2,061.59 km²; 795.986 sq mi) which contains a population of 87,558. The county extends from 52 degrees 14 minutes to 52 degrees 52 minutes north latitude, and from 6 degrees 56 minutes to 7 degrees 37 minutes west longitude. The highest peak is Brandon Hill (Irish: Cnoc Bhréanail) which is 515 metres (1,690 ft) above sea level. The north-south length of the county is 36 miles (58 km); and its greatest breadth from east to west, is about 19 miles (31 km) and its narrowest part is about 12 miles (19 km) from where it widens irregularly towards the north.

Kilkenny extends southward from Laois to the valley of the Suir and eastward from the Munster-Leinster border to the the River Barrow. The River Nore bisects the county and the River Barrow and River Suir are natural boundaries to the east and south of the county.

Rivers

The main Rivers of County Kilkenny are the Nore, Barrow and Suir which are called the Three Sisters.^[4] The River Nore bisects the county and flows through Ballyragget, Kilkenny Town and the villages of Bennettsbridge, Thomastown and Inistioge. The River Suir forms the border between County Waterford and County Kilkenny. River Barrow forms a boundary to the east of the county. Kilkenny's river network helps drain the land giving the county a highly fertile lower central plain. Although County Kilkenny lies inland it has access to the sea via Belview Port on the Suir Estuary and via New Ross on the River Barrow.

Mountains and hills

There are many Mountains and hills in County Kilkenny with the highest peak being Brandon Hill (Irish: Cnoc Bhréanail), which is 515 metres (1,690 ft) above sea level, and the majority of rest of the county being hilly. There are highland in the North-East and the North-West; the middle, just south of the city of Kilkenny, being comparably lower and high land in the south of the county .

In the north of the county the uplands include the Culla Hills to the west of the Nore Valley with Castlecomer Hills and Slieve Marcy to the east. These hills are divided by the valley of the Dinan river which joins the Nore from the east. The highest point of the Castlecomer Hills (1,027 feet (313 m)) is located North-West of the town of Castlecomer and near the border with Laois. The Culla Hills (914 feet (279 m))ft higest point is in Laois but its undulating slopes spread over a considerable area of Kilkenny in the north-westerly area.

To the south of the county is Brandon Hill, at 515 metres (1,690 ft) and near the Barrow and Graiguenamanagh. The area enclosed between the rivers Nore and Barrow towards their point of joining is elevated.

Along the west of the Barrow and Nore is mostly covered by hills of nearly equal elevation except along the left bank of the river Suir. Here there is a rich area of land between the river and the hills. The Booley Montains are to the west and partly divide from Tory Hill and valley of the Kilmacow River which flows into the Suir.

Geology

The geology of Kilkenny includes the Kiltorcan Formation which is early Carboniferous in age.^[5] The Formation is located around Kiltoncan Hill near Ballyhale in the Callan and Knocktopher areas. It forms the uppermost part of the Old Red Sandstone and is the distinctive Upper Devonian-Lower Carboniferous unit in southern Ireland.^[6] It contains non-red lithologies, green mudstones, siltstones, fine sandstones and yellow sandstones. There is a fossil assemblage containing Cyclostigma and Archaeopteris and Archaeopteris hibernica^[7]

Most of the county is principally limestone of the upper and lower group, corresponding with the rest of ireland. A large area in the north and east contains beds of coal, surrounde by limstone strata, alternated with shale, argilaceous ironstone, and standstone. This occurs eastward of the Nore around Castlecomer, along the border with Laois. It is generally accompanied by culm, which was used extensively for buring lime.

Climate

County Kilkenny
Climate chart
J F M A M J J A S O N D     86   8 1     66   8 2     63   10 2     51   12 3     62   15 6     50   18 8     52   20 10     69   20 10     74   17 8     85   14 6     74   10 3     89   8 2 average max. and min. temperatures in °C precipitation totals in mm source: MET ÉIREANN
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.4   46 35     2.6   46 35     2.5   50 36     2   54 38     2.4   59 42     2   65 47     2   68 51     2.7   67 50     2.9   63 46     3.3   57 43     2.9   50 37     3.5   47 36 average max. and min. temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches

Weather data was recorded by Met Éireann at a Kilkenny Weather Station from its establishment in 1957 until 2008, weather for the area is now recorded at Carlow Weather Station. Weatherwise County Kilkenny is the centre of the area known as the 'Sunny South East' nationally. Kilkenny has extremes of temperature due to its continental type climate but also because it is least affected by the sea. It is generally representative of wide river valleys in the region with low temperatures on cloudless nights. Overall, the county has a mild, but changeable, Oceanic climate with few extremes. Kilkenny is significant in that it records some of the highest summer and lowest winter temperatures in Ireland.

The highest air temperature ever recorded in Ireland, 33.3 °C (91.9 °F), was at Kilkenny Castle on 26 June 1887. The maximum daily rainfall recorded at Kilkenny station was 66.4 millimetres (2.61 in) on 17 July 1983. The highest wind gust, 77 knots (from a South-west direction, i.e. 200 degrees), was recorded on 12 January 1974. The maximum daily sunshine was 16.3 hours on 18 June 1978. The warmest and sunniest month on record at Kilkenny was August 1995 with a total of 274.9 hours sunshine and very high temperatures throughout. The maximum temperature recorded was 30.8 °C (87.4 °F) on 2 August 1995.^[8][9] Extremes recorded at the Kilkenny Met Station include the Highest Air Temperature of 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) on 29 June 1976, the lowest air temperature of −14.1 °C (7 °F) on 2 January 1979 and the lowest ground temperature of −18.1 °C (−1 °F) on 12 January 1982. Kilkenny experiences an average of 4 days per year with snow lying, 9 days per year with hail, and 5 days per year with thunderstorms.

Environment

The Environment of County Kilkenny contains a great variety of natural heritage, including rivers and woodlands, hedgerows, mammals, birds, plants, and diverse landscapes and geological features.

The main land use is grassland, dairy farming and tillage farming especially around Kilkenny City and in the fertile central plain of the Nore Valley. Conifer forests are found on the upland areas.

Protected areas

Habitats of international and national importance, are designated under European Union and national legislation. The four categories of designated site in effect in County Kilkenny are Special Areas of Conservation, Natural Heritage Areas, Statutory Nature Reserves and Wildfowl Sanctuarys. At present there are 36 designated natural heritage sites of international and national importance in County Kilkenny, covering approximately 4.5% of the county.^[10]

Special Areas of Conservation have been, and are being designated, under the European Union Habitats Directive to conserve habitats and species of European importance. In County Kilkenny^[11] this includes Hugginstown Fen^[12] south-west of Ballyhale, The Loughans^[13] near Urlingford, Cullahill Mountain^[14] on the Castlecomer plateau near Johnstown, Spahill and Clomantagh Hill^[15] which forms part of an escarpment which links the Slieve Ardagh Hills with the Castlecomer Plateau, Galmoy Fen^[16] north of Johnstown, Lower River Suir^[17] south of Thurles, the freshwater stretches of the Barrow/River Nore^[18] and Thomastown Quarry^[19]

In 2005 Coan Bogs was defined as a Natural Heritage Area under section 18 of the Wildlife Act 2000.^[20] The blanket bog consists of two small areas of upland blanket bog located near Castlecomer in the townlands of Coan East and Smithstown.^[21] Bedrock geology for both areas is shale overlain locally by glacial till and blanket bog vegetation is well developed.^[22]

Fiddown Island is 62.6 (ha.) state owned Nature Reserve established in 1988.^[23] Near Fiddown along the River Suir it consists of a long narrow island of marsh/woodland covered in willow scrub and bordered by reed swamps - it is the only known site of its type in Ireland.^[24]

Gardens in County Kilkenny include Kilfane Glen in Thomastown, Woodstock Garden in Inistioge, the Discover Park in Castlecomer, Darver House garden in Jenkinstown, Coolcashin Garden near Johnstown, Emoclew Garden in Goresbridge, Shankill Gardens & Castle in Paulstown, Rothe Family Garden in Kilkenny, Dahlia garden in The Rower and the rose garden at Kilkenny Castle.

Flora

Flora in County Kilkenny includes the endangered Autumn Crocus as well as rare species such as the Bog Orchid, the Killarney Fern and the Tufted Salt-marsh Grass. There are also vulnerable species like Lesser Snapdragon, Meadow Barley, Small-white Orchid, Opposite-leaved Pondweed, Betony, Red Hemp Nettle, Narrow-leaved Helleborine, Lanceolate Spleenwort, Annual Knawel and Basil Thyme^[25]

Fauna

Fauna in County Kilkenny includes Hedgehogs, Otters, Badgers,Leisler's bats, foxes, Daubenton's bat, the Brown long-eared bat and the Common Pipistrelle. There is also Sika deer, Fallow deer, Stoat, Red Squirrel and Pygmy Shrew.^[25]

Demographics

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	%±
1653	19,185	—
1659	18,427	−4.0%
1821	181,946	887.4%
1831	193,686	6.5%
1841	202,420	4.5%
1851	158,748	−21.6%
1861	124,515	−21.6%
1871	109,379	−12.2%
1881	99,531	−9.0%
1891	87,261	−12.3%
1901	79,159	−9.3%
1911	74,962	−5.3%
1926	70,990	−5.3%
1936	68,614	−3.3%
1946	66,712	−2.8%
1951	65,235	−2.2%
1956	64,089	−1.8%
1961	61,668	−3.8%
1966	60,463	−2.0%
1971	61,473	1.7%
1979	69,156	12.5%
1981	70,806	2.4%
1986	73,186	3.4%
1991	73,635	0.6%
1996	75,336	2.3%
2002	80,339	6.6%
2006	87,558	9.0%
[26][27][28][29][30]

As of the 2006 census, by the Central Statistics Office, County Kilkenny's population was 87,558.^[31] There were 35,669 Irish speakers as of 2006.^[31] There were 39,809 people currently working in County Kilkenny^[32] and 4,133 people on the live register as of August 2008.^[33] There were 1,251 births and 546 deaths in 2007.^[34] Disposable household income per person as of 2005 was 18,032 euros and the index of disposable household was 89.4.^[35]

The main religion is Catholic, however there are Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish and other religious traditions living in Kilkenny.^[36]

Villages and Towns

County Kilkenny is bordered by Laois, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary. The county contains the town of Kilkenny, located at the center of the county, and the towns of Ballyragget, Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh to the north of the county and Mooncoin and Thomastown to the south.

• Ballyhale, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge
• Callan, Carigeen, Castlecomer, Castlewarren
• Flagmount, Freshford,
• Galmoy, Glenmore, Goresbridge, Gowran, Graiguenamanagh
• Inistioge
• Jenkinstown, Johnstown, Johnswell
• Kilkenny, Killinaspick, Kilmacow, Kilmoganny, Knocktopher
• Mooncoin, Mullinavat
• Paulstown, Piltown
• Redhouse
• Slieverue, Stoneyford
• Thomastown, Tullaroan
• Urlingford
• Windgap

Baronies

The county was also divided into subdivisions called baronies. Baronies are divided into townlands. There were 9 baronies and about 800 townlands in Kilkenny in 1802. Each barony was made up of a number of parishes or parts of parishes. Both civil parishes and baronies are now largely obsolete (except for some purposes such as legal transactions involving land) and are no longer used for local government purposes.

Baronies in County Kilkenny:

1. Callan (Callainn)
2. Crannagh (Crannach)
3. Fassadinin (Fásach an Deighnín)
4. Galmoy (Gabhalmhaigh)
5. Gowran (Gabhrán)
6. Ida (Uí Dheá)
7. Iverk (Uíbh Eirc)
8. Kells (Ceanannas)
9. Kilculliheen^[37] (Cill Choilchín)
10. Kilkenny City (Cill Chainnigh)
11. Knocktopher (Cnoc an Tóchair)
12. Shillelogher (Síol Fhaolchair)

For religious administration, the county was divided into parishes. Every parish had at least one church. The barony boundaries and the parish boundaries were not connected.

From the 17th to mid-19th centuries civil parishes were based on early Christian and medieval monastic and church settlements. The civil parishes are divided into townlands. See the List of townlands in County Kilkenny. As the population grew, new parishes were created and the civil parish covered the same area as the established Church of Ireland. The Roman Catholic Church adapted to a new structure based on towns and villages. There 2,508 civil parishes in Ireland, which frequently break both barony and county boundaries.

Governance

Local government in County Kilkenny is the Kilkenny County Council which elects 26 councilors and also has a County Manager. County Kilkenny is in the South-East Regional Authority and the Southern and Eastern Region Regional Assembly. Kilkenny is currently part of the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency. The method of election is the Single Transferable Vote form of proportional representation (PR-STV).

Local Government

Local government in County Kilkenny is governed by the Local Government Acts, the most recent of which (Local Government Act 2001) established a two-tier structure of local government. The top tier of the structure consists of Kilkenny County Council. Kilkenny County Council elects 26 councilors and also has a County Manager.

The second tier of local government consists of Kilkenny Borough Council which is a town council. The town of Kilkenny is allowed to use the title of "Borough Council" instead of "Town Council", but Kilkenny Borough Council has no additional responsibilities. Outside the borough the county council is solely responsible for local services.

Local government bodies in Kilkenny have responsibility for such matters as planning, roads, sanitation and libraries. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has responsibility for local authorities and related services.

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Regional Authority

County Kilkenny is in the South-East Regional Authority. The regional authorities were established by the 1991 Local Government Act and came into existence in 1994. The Regional Authority has two main functions: to promote the co-ordination of public service provision and to monitor the delivery of EU Structural Fund assistance in the regions.

The South-East Regional Authority is one of the eight regional authorities and membership of the Authority comprises 36 elected public representatives nominated by the six constituent Local Authorities within the Region: Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford City, Waterford County, and Wexford. The main function of the Regional Authority is to promote co-ordination, co-operation, joint action, joint arrangements, agreements, communication or consultation between local authorities or other public authorities in the region or between such authorities of other regions and to promote co-ordination, consistency and compatibility with programmes, plans policies, proposals or objectives of the Government or any Minister of the Government.

Regional Assembly

County Kilkenny is in the Southern and Eastern Region Regional Assembly under the context of Agenda 2000 for EU Structural Funds purposes (NUTS II level). The Regional Assembly was established and came into effect in July 1999. The main responsibilities are to manage the Regional Operational Programmes under the National Development Plan, to monitor the general impact of all EU programmes under the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework, to promote coordination in the provision of public services in the Assembly areas

There are no direct elections to the Regional Assemblies. Instead they are composed of elected representatives nominated by the local authorities from the membership of the Regional Authorities within each region.

Parliamentary Constituencies

Kilkenny is currently part of the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency which is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The present form of the constituency was created for the 1948 general election, and it currently elects 5 deputies (Teachtaí Dála, commonly known as TDs). The method of election is the Single Transferable Vote form of proportional representation (PR-STV).

Kilkenny has been represented through several parliamentary constituencies in the past. From 1918–1921 Kilkenny was part of the North Kilkenny United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. In 1921 the Carlow–Kilkenny Dáil Éireann constituency was created and has stayed apart from between 1937 and 1948 when there was just a Kilkenny constituency.

v • d • e Parliamentary constituencies in County Kilkenny Parliament of Ireland to 1800 Callan (????–1800) · Gowran (????–1800) · Inistioge (????–1800) · Knocktopher (????–1800) · Kilkenny City (????–1800) · Kilkenny County (????–1800) · St Canice (????–1800) · Thomastown (????–1800) Westminster 1801–1922 and First Dáil 1918 County Kilkenny (1801–1885) · Kilkenny City (1801–1885) · North Kilkenny (1885–1922) · South Kilkenny (1885–1922) Dáil Éireann 1918–present Carlow–Kilkenny (1921–1937) · Kilkenny (1937–1948) · Carlow–Kilkenny (1948– ) European Parliament 1979–present Leinster (1979–2004) · East (2004– ) Irish counties: Carlow · Cavan · Clare · Cork · Donegal · Dublin · Galway · Kerry · Kildare · Kilkenny · Laois · Leitrim · Limerick · Longford · Louth · Mayo · Meath · Monaghan · Offaly · Roscommon · Sligo · Tipperary · Waterford · Westmeath · Wexford · Wicklow

v • d • e Current Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland Carlow–Kilkenny · Cavan–Monaghan · Clare · Cork East · Cork North Central · Cork North West · Cork South Central · Cork South West · Donegal North East · Donegal South West · Dublin Central · Dublin Mid West · Dublin North · Dublin North Central · Dublin North East · Dublin North West · Dublin South · Dublin South Central · Dublin South East · Dublin South West · Dublin West · Dún Laoghaire · Galway East · Galway West · Kerry North · Kerry South · Kildare North · Kildare South · Laois–Offaly · Limerick East · Limerick West · Longford–Westmeath · Louth · Mayo · Meath East · Meath West · Roscommon–South Leitrim · Sligo–North Leitrim · Tipperary North · Tipperary South · Waterford · Wexford · Wicklow

Landmarks

Visitor Attractions

Dunmore Caves is a limestone cave in Ballyfoyle has tourist centre has been established at the site. The cave consistes of a series of chambers formed over millions of years.

Jenkinstown Park is about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the town of Kilkenny and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Castlecomer off the N78 road. Facilities include a picnic site, forest walks, deer park and a craft centre. A small garden to commemorate Thomas Moore's association with the house has been laid down on the site of the old house. Walks of 1 to 3 kilometres (0.62 to 1.9 mi) are available through a mixed broadleaf and conifer plantation.

Architecture

The architecture of County Kilkenny contains features from all eras since the Stone Age including Norman and Anglo-Irish castles, Georgian urban buildings, towns and villages with unique architectures, palladian and rococo country houses, Gothic and neo-Gothic cathedrals and buildings. In the late 20th century a new economic climate resulted in a renaissance of culture and design, with some at the cutting edge of modern architecture. County Kilkenny contains varied architecture including Passage graves, Ringforts, Irish round towers, Castles, Churches and Cathedrals, Abbeys and priories, bridges and roads, and town houses of varing style.

Early architecture

Passage graves consisted of a central burial chamber, with a long passageway to the entrance. Again, standing stones were often used for the walls, with slabs of stone over the roof. Newgrange in particular is more interesting in that the inner chamber uses corbelling to span the roof. The chamber and passageway were usually contained in an earthen mound, with the chamber at the centre (Newgrange is again notable in having exterior stonework on the mound). Knockroe contains a passage tomb which is protected by listing order.

From some time beginning around the Iron Age, Ireland has thousands of ringforts, or "raths". These consist of an earthen embankment around a central enclosure, sometimes sited on a raised mound. In some cases a souterrain (tunnel) forms part of the structure. These were built also as hill forts depending on the local terrain, or indeed promontory forts. Carigeen, Danesfort, Dunbell big and Tullaroan all contain ring forts protected by preservation order, which may have been occupied at various times, even in the mediaeval era.

The round stone tower is one feature of 'early historic architecture not usually found outside Ireland with only three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man. The best example is the tower at St. Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny City. Other round towers are situated around the county such as Tullaherin round tower, one near Bennettsbridge, Kilree near Kells, Fertagh near Johnstown and Aghaviller near Knocktopher.

Though there is no certain agreement as to their purpose, it is thought they were principally bell towers, places of refuge, or a combination of these. Viking raids on Ireland's shores and monasteries were relatively common. Generally they are found in the vicinity of a church or monastery, the door of the tower faces the west doorway of the church. In this way it has been possible to determine without excavation the approximate site of lost churches, where the tower still exists.

Castles

Kilkenny Castle is a castle in Kilkenny. It was the seat of the Butler family. Formerly the family name was FitzWalter. The castle was sold to the local Castle Restoration Committee in the middle of the 20th century for £50. Shortly afterwards it was handed over to the State, and has since been refurbished and is open to visitors. Part of the National Art Gallery is on display in the castle. There are ornamental gardens on the town side of the castle, and extensive land and gardens to the front. It has become one of the most visited tourist sites in Ireland.

Foulksrath Castle is a 15th century Anglo-Norman tower house located in Jenkinstown in County Kilkenny. It was built by the Purcell clan, who also constructed several others nearby. After over three centuries as owners, the family was reduced to living as peasants in the castle stables after it was confiscated by Oliver Cromwell and given to his officers after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

Churches

In Medieval times many fine churches in Ireland were also built such as St. Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny and St. Mary's Cathedral.

St. Lachtain's Church, Freshford was built in 1731, incorporating a portal from 1100 as its main entrance, all that is left of the original church is the beautiful Hiberno-Romanesque (Irish-Roman) architectural porch and doorway. The remainder of the present church was built for Protestant worship in 1731. In St. Lachtains time Freshford was a diocese. In 1225 a Bishops palace was built at Aghore (Achadh Ur), now Uppercourt. It was used as a summer residence for over 300 years.

Abbeys and priories

Jerpoint Abbey is a Cistercian abbey near Thomastown. It was constructed in 1180, probably on the site of an earlier Benedictine monastery built in 1160 by Domnall Mac Gilla Patraic, King of Osraige.^[38] Jerpoint is notable for its stone carvings, including one at the tomb of Felix O'Dulany, Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory when the abbey was founded.

Duiske Abbey in Graiguenamanagh founded in 1204 was one of the first and largest Cistercian monasteries in Ireland. What remains of the monastery is a large gothic church which beautifully dominates the town centre in Graiguenamanagh. The abbey derives its name from the river Duiske or Dúbh Uisce which flows through the town on its way to the river Barrow which also flows through this pretty town. Original floor tiles from the original building can be seen in the abbey along with the beautiful gothic and romanesque architecture.

The Black Abbey in Kilkenny, founded 1225, is a Dominican abbey with two-bay double-height lean-to lower aisle to south. It was extended, c.1325, with four-bay double-height transept to south having four-bay double-height lean-to lower aisle to west.

Kells Priory is one of the largest medieval historic monuments in Ireland. It is a National Monument and is in the guardianship of the Commissioners of Public Works. The priory is scenically situated alongside King's River, about fifteen kilometres south of Kilkenny. One of its most striking feature is a collection of medieval tower houses spaced at intervals along and within walls which enclose a site of just over 3 acres (12,000 m²). These give the priory the appearance more of a fortress than of a place of worship and from them comes its local name of "Seven Castles".

The Callan Augustinian Friary is situated in Callan. It is known locally as the "Abbey Meadow" and is located at the North East of the town on the banks of the Kings Rover. Edmund Butler of Pottlerath, a noted patron of literature, successfully petitioned Pope Pius II for the foundation of the friary in 1461. After Edmund died in 1462, the actual buildings were erected by his son, James, probably after 1467 when he received a papal dispensation to marry his concubine, to whom he was related.

Eighteenth-Century Bridges

There are many eighteenth-Century Bridges in County Kilkenny. These bridges are an important element of the civil engineering and transport heritage of County Kilkenny and so are included in the of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) Building Survey.^[39]

The Great Flood of 1763 washed away many of the major bridges crossing the River Nore and a comprehensive rebuilding programme was initiated. Many of the bridges are built to designs prepared by George Smith (1763-7), a pupil of George Semple (c.1700-82) and they feature Classical-style detailing indicating the lasting influence of the illustrations included in Andrea Palladio's I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura (1570). Smith designed Green's Bridge in Kilkenny Town, Castlecomer Bridge on the Dinin (Deen) River; Thomastown Bridge on the River Nore; Graiguenamanagh Bridge on the River Barrow and Inistioge Bridge on the River Nore.

Other eighteenth-Century Bridges include; the bridges in Goresbridge, Bennettsbridge, Kells, Threecastles, Dinin Bridge and the bridge at Mount Juliet.

History

Neolithic

Evidence of Neolithic settlement can be found throughout the county. There are great burial mounds including the portal tombs and dolmens at Owning, Harristown and Borrismore. There are passage graves at Clomantagh Hill and Knockroe. There were non-megalithe single-grave burial tombs, Linkardstown-type Cists, excavated at Jerpoint West. These are late Neolithic and before the single-grave rite of the Bronze Age.^[40]

A Neolithic house was identified in Granny near Waterford, making it the oldest house in County Kilkenny. The square house consisted of slot-trenches, internal floor surfaces, a hearth and wooden posts at each corner, one of the post-holes was radiocarbon-dated to 3997-3728 BC. A new form of early Neolithic pottery with a lip around the inside of the rim were found. This Granny pottery is similar to pottery found in the south-east of England.^[41]

Kingdom of Osraige

The Kingdom of Osraige was one of the ancient Kingdoms of Ireland. The Kings of Osraige, the Mac Giolla Phádraig family, reigned over Osraige and Cill Chainnigh was their stronghold. The Kingdom of Ossory existed from at least the 2nd century until the 13th century A.D. The current ecclesiastical dioceses of that area is still known as Ossory. The medieval Diocese of Ossory ^[43] and was established in the year 549 AD,^[44] and it territory corresponded to the medieval Kingdom of Ossory. In historic times Kilkenny replaced Aghaboe as the chief church in Osraige.

The kingdom was bounded by two of the Three Sisters the rivers Barrow and Suir and the northern limit was, generally, the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The Osraige —their name means people of the Deer— inhabited much of modern County Kilkenny and parts of neighbouring County Laois. To the west and south, Osraige was bounded by the River Suir, to the east the watershed of the River Barrow marked the boundary with Leinster, and to the north it extended into and beyond the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The River Nore ran through the Kingdom.

Osraige formed the easternmost part of the kingdom and province of Munster until the middle of the 9th century, after which it was attached to Leinster. Osraige was largely a buffer state between Leinster and Munster. Its most significant neighbours were the Loígsi, Uí Cheinnselaig and Uí Baircche of Leinster to the north and east and the Déisi Muman, Eóganacht Chaisil and Éile of Munster to the south and west.^[45]

The name Osraige is said to be from the Usdaie, a celtic tribe that Ptolemy's map of Ireland places in roughly the same area that Osraige would later occupy. The territory indicated by Ptolemy probably included the major late Iron Age hill-fort at Freestone Hill which produced some Roman finds. Also the interesting burial at Stonyford which is of typical Roman type and probably dates to the 1st century AD.^[46] The Osraighe themselves claimed to be descended from the Érainn people. Others propose that the Ivernic groups included the Osraige of the Kingdom of Osraige/Ossory^[47].

The Brigantes were the only Celtic tribe to have a presence in both England and Ireland, in the latter of which they could be found around Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford.^[48]

Counties

Following the Norman invasion, the island of Ireland was divided into thirty-two counties. The Republic of Ireland today is made up of twenty-six of the traditional thirty-two counties with the other six forming Northern Ireland. Two former counties in the have been subdivided, giving a modern total of twenty-nine counties for administrative purposes rather than twenty-six.

Infrastructure

Transport

Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) provides rail services from Dublin to Waterford which pass through MacDonagh Station in Kilkenny and Thomastown railway station. Waterford railway station is located just outside County Kilkenny.

Bus Éireann provide bus services throughout the county.

Kilkenny Airport is a small airport located just 1.5NM West of Kilkenny Town. There are 6 powered resident aircraft and two gliders based at the aerodrome.

Hospitals

There are three public hospitals and one private hospital in Kilkenny.^[49] St. Luke's is a general medical and surgical hospital built in 1942.^[50] It is based on the freshford road and provides a range of local and regional services. Local services include medical, general surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics. St. Canice's is a psychiatric hospital, opened in 1852 and located on the dublin road.^[51] It provides a range of mental health services including acute and long stay care, out-patient services throughout the county, addiction counselling services, respite care community hostel facilities and day care facilities.

Lourdes is the regional orthopaedic hospital outside the town in Kilcreene. Aut Even is a private hospital based outside Kilkenny City.^[52] In Castlecomer there is Castlecomer District Hospital.^[53]

Sport

In hurling, the dominant sport in the county, Kilkenny GAA compete annually in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, which they have won thirty-two times, the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, which they have won sixty-four times, and the National Hurling League, which they have won thirteen times. Kilkenny, along with Cork and Tipperary, are regarded as 'the Big Three' in the world of hurling. Brian Cody has been manager of the Kilkenny senior hurling team since 1998. The current senior hurling captain is Michael Fennelly.

GAA

The Kilkenny flag or county colours are black and amber. The County Kilkenny hurling team, Tullaroan, were the first Kilkenny team to wear the famous black and amber colours. In 1886, after winning the first-ever county championship in Kilkenny they held a fund-raising event in Tullaroan to provide the team with a playing strip. After intensive debate and consultations the club chose the black and amber stripes as the design for the jerseys that they would wear against Limerick that August.^[54]

Horse racing

Gowran Park is a horse racing course near Gowran. The first meeting was held in 1914 and the racecourse hosts 16 race days throughout the year including the Thyestes Chase (The Grand National of the South), one of the prestigious steeplechases in Ireland which has been won by three time Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner, Arkle in 1964 and Aintree Grand National winners Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde. It has 16 National Hunt and Flat meetings all year round.

Golf

Mount Juliet Golf Course is a golf resort situated in Thomastown. It was the venue for the 2002 and 2004 WGC-American Express Championship, having previously hosted the European Tour's Irish Open on three occasions between 1993 and 1995. The par 72, 7,300-yard (6,700 m) Jack Nicklaus designed golf course opened in 1991, and is considered to be one of Ireland's best courses, having being voted Best Parkland Golf Course by Backspin Golf Magazine in March 2008. It is famous for its rolling fairways, feature water hazards and contoured greens. There is also a full 18-hole putting course set in the grounds of Mount Juliet House, which is the venue for the annual National Putting Championship.

Kilkenny Golf Club is 18-hole championship parkland course within the town to the North West, close to town centre. It hosted several Professional Championship events. In 1984 and 1996, it was the venue for the All Ireland Mixed Foursome Finals and in 1985 hosted the All Ireland Cups and Shields Finals. The course is mostly flat terrain with an abundance of trees. Around Kilkenny City there is also a Driving Range in Newpark and a 18-hole all weather Par 3 golf course in Pocoke.

Other golf courses include Gowran Park Golf Course in Gowran^[55], Callan Golf Club in Callan^[56], Castlecomer Golf Club in Castlecomer^[57], Mountain View Golf Course in Ballyhale^[58] and Carrigleade Golf Course in Graiguenamanagh^[59].

Ice Hockey

Kilkenny City Storm is a mixed ice hockey team formed in 2007 in Kilkenny City.^[60] They play in the Irish Ice Hockey Association Recreational Division League.^[61] The Storm were one of the top two teams in the league in 2007, its inaugural year. The team also enjoys moderate success as an inline hockey team, playing in the Northern Inline Hockey League and the Irish inline hockey (roller hockey) league. The team consists of both local and foreign players who travel to Dundalk Ice Dome, the only permanent ice rink in the Republic, each week for training and matches. The players themselves fund the transport and ice rental costs.

Culture

The Riordans (1965 to 1979) made by Radio Telefís Éireann (then called Telefís Éireann) was set in the fictional townland of Leestown in County Kilkenny. Its use of Outside Broadcast Units and its filming of its episodes on location rather than in studio, broke the mould of broadcasting in the soap opera genre. It was the second Irish soap opera and inspired the creation of its British equivalent, Emmerdale Farm (now called Emmerdale) by Yorkshire Television in 1972.

Graiguenamanagh is also the hometown of Scuba Dice a local pop punk band which entered You're A Star in 2006 and came fourth in the competition they also have a loyal local following which continue to support them. Other local acts include; Saving J, the Kilkennys and Caboose.^[62][63]

Notable people

• Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Irish Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers

County Anthem

The song "The Rose of Mooncoin" is the traditional anthem of the county at GAA fixtures. ^[64]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: County Kilkenny

• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Kilkenny)
• List of Kilkenny people

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: County Kilkenny

Map of all coordinates from Google Map of all coordinates from Bing
Export all coordinates as KML
Export all coordinates as GeoRSS
Map of all microformated coordinates

• Kilkenny County Council Website

v • d • e Places in County Kilkenny, Ireland County seat: Kilkenny Cities1 Kilkenny Unincorporated towns2 Ballyragget · Callan · Castlecomer · Graiguenamanagh · Mooncoin · Thomastown Villages3 Aughamucky · Ballyhale · Bennettsbridge · Carigeen · Castlewarren · Freshford · Galmoy · Goresbridge · Gowran · Hugginstown · Inistioge · Jenkinstown · Johnstown · Johnswell · Kells · Killamery · Killinaspick · Kilmacow · Kilmoganny · Knocktopher · Mullinavat · Paulstown · Piltown · Redhouse · The Rower · Slieverue · Stoneyford · Tullaroan · Urlingford · Windgap Townlands Ballyda · Cantwell's Court · Flagmount · Hoodsgrove · Jeanville · Loughcullen · See List of townlands in County Kilkenny 1 A C.D.P. with defined boundaries.  2 A C.D.P. with undefined boundaries and a population above 1,000.  3 A C.D.P. with undefined boundaries and a population below 1,000.

v • d • e Counties of Ireland Connacht Galway (Galway City) · Leitrim · Mayo · Roscommon · Sligo Munster Clare · Cork (Cork City) · Kerry · Limerick (Limerick City) · Tipperary (North Tipperary • South Tipperary) · Waterford (Waterford City) Leinster Carlow · Dublin (Dublin City • Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown • Fingal • South Dublin) · Kildare · Kilkenny · Laois · Longford · Louth · Meath · Offaly · Westmeath · Wexford · Wicklow Ulster Cavan · Donegal · Monaghan · Antrim · Armagh · Down · Fermanagh · Derry · Tyrone Italics denote non-administrative counties. Parentheses () denote eponymous cities or non-traditional counties.

Coordinates: 52°35′N 7°15′W / 52.583°N 7.25°W / 52.583; -7.25