County Kilkenny

Ask a question about 'County Kilkenny' Start a new discussion about 'County Kilkenny' Answer questions from other users Full Discussion Forum

The [[Kingdom of Osraige]] was one of the ancient [[Kingdoms of Ireland]]. The [[Kings of Osraige]], the [[FitzPatrick (surname)|Mac Giolla Phádraig]] family, reigned over [[Kingdom of Osraige|Osraige]] and Cill Chainnigh was their stronghold. The [[Kingdom of Ossory]] existed from at least the 2nd century until the 13th century AD. The current [[ecclesiastical]] [[diocese]]s of that area is still known as [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory|Ossory]]. The medieval [[Diocese of Ossory]] and was established in 549 AD, and its 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 [[The Three Sisters (Ireland)|Three Sisters]] the rivers [[River Barrow|Barrow]] and [[River Suir|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. The name Osraige is said to be from the Usdaie, a [[List of Celtic tribes#Ireland|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, County Kilkenny|Stonyford]] which is of typical Roman type and probably dates to the 1st century AD. The Osraighe themselves claimed to be descended from the [[Érainn]] people. Others propose that the [[Iverni]]c groups included the Osraige of the [[Kingdom of Osraige]]/[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory|Ossory]]. 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, [[County Wexford|Wexford]] and [[County Waterford|Waterford]]. [[File:MarriageAoifeStrongbow.jpg|thumb|''The Marriage of Aoife and Strongbow'' (1854) by [[Daniel Maclise]], a romanticised depiction of the union between the [[Aoife MacMurrough]] and Strongbow in the ruins of [[Waterford]].]] [[Pope Adrian IV]] gave Norman King [[Henry II of England]] permission to claim Ireland [[1154]]. The Cisternians came to [[Jerpoint Abbey|Jerpoint]] and Kilkenny around 1155/60. Jerpoint Abbey is founded by Donal MacGiollaPhadruig, King of Ossory 1158. In 1168, [[Dermot MacMurrough]] the [[King of Leinster]] was driven out of his kingdom by [[Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair|Rory O'Connor]] the [[High King of Ireland]] with the help of [[Tighearnán Ua Ruairc|Tiernan O'Rourke]]. [[Dermot MacMurrough|MacMurrough]] looked for help from [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] and got help from a [[Cambro-Norman]] lord notable [[Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke]], known to history as Strongbow. MacMurrough secured the services of Richard, promising him the hand of his daughter [[Aoife MacMurrough|Aoife of Leinster]] and the succession to Leinster. Richard and other [[Welsh Marches|Marcher]] barons and knights by King Henry assembled an army. The army, under [[Raymond FitzGerald|Raymond le Gros]], took [[Wexford]], [[Waterford]] and [[Dublin]] in 1169 and 1170, and Strongbow joined them in August 1170. The day after the capture of Waterford, he married MacMorrough's daughter, Aoife. The [[Lordship of Ireland]] was a [[lordship]] created in the wake of the [[Norman invasion of Ireland]] in 1169—71. Kilkenny formed part of the lordship of Leinster. Strongbow became Lord of Leinster in 1171. Following the [[Norman invasion of Ireland|Norman invasion]], the island of '''[[Ireland]]''' was divided into thirty-two '''[[county|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 Republic have been subdivided, giving a modern total of twenty-nine [[administrative counties|counties for administrative purposes]] rather than twenty-six. == Demographics == {{Historical populations|state=collapsed |1653|19185 |1659|18427 |1821|181946 |1831|193686 |1841|202420 |1851|158748 |1861|124515 |1871|109379 |1881|99531 |1891|87261 |1901|79159 |1911|74962 |1926|70990 |1936|68614 |1946|66712 |1951|65235 |1956|64089 |1961|61668 |1966|60463 |1971|61473 |1979|69156 |1981|70806 |1986|73186 |1991|73635 |1996|75336 |2002|80339 |2006|87558 |2011|95360 |footnote= }} As of the 2006 census, by the [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]], County Kilkenny's population was 87,558. There were 35,669 [[Irish language|Irish]] speakers as of 2006. There were 39,809 people currently working in County Kilkenny and 4,133 people on the live register as of August 2008. There were 1,251 births and 546 deaths in 2007. Disposable household income per person as of 2005 was 18,032 euros and the index of disposable household was 89.4. The main religion is Catholic, however there are Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish and other religious traditions living in Kilkenny. == Climate == {{See also|Climate of Ireland}} {{climate chart|Kilkenny |1.4|7.7|87 |1.6|7.9|65.7 |2.3|10.0|62.8 |3.4|12.4|51.6 |5.6|15.1|61.9 |8.4|18.1|50.5 |10.4|19.9|52.7 |9.9|19.6|70.7 |7.9|17.2|72.5 |6.1|13.9|85.5 |2.8 |10.1|74 |2.1|8.4|88 | source= | float=right | clear=both }} [[File:Pasture at Listerlin, Co.Kilkenny - geograph.org.uk - 213470.jpg|thumb|left|Pasture at Listerlin, County Kilkenny.]] The '''climate of County Kilkenny''', like the [[climate of Ireland]], is a changeable [[oceanic climate]] with few extremes. It is defined as a [[temperate]] [[oceanic climate]], or ''Cfb'' on the [[Köppen climate classification]] system. Kilkenny lies in plant [[Hardiness zone]] 9. Weatherwise, the county is generally representative of wide river valleys in the region with low temperatures on cloudless nights, and 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 was {{convert|33.3|°C|°F}}, at [[Kilkenny Castle]] on 26 June 1887. The [[Met Éireann]] Kilkenny [[Weather station|Weather Observing Station]], 2 km north-west of [[Kilkenny|Kilkenny City]] centre, on the Duningstown Road, opened in May 1957, and observations ceased in April 2008. A climatological station is currently in operation within 1 km of the old site, and as of March 2010, was providing live weather data to the general public and climate data to [[Met Éireann]]. The maximum temperature recorded at the [[Met Éireann|Met]] [[Weather station|Station]] was {{convert|30.8|°C|°F}} on 2 August 1995. Extremes recorded at the station include the highest air [[temperature]] of {{convert|31.5|°C|°F}} on 29 June 1976, the lowest air temperature of {{convert|-14.1|°C|°F}} on 2 January 1979 and the lowest ground temperature of {{convert|-18.1|°C|°F}} on 12 January 1982. The maximum daily sunshine was 16.3 hours on 18 June 1978. The warmest and sunniest month on record in Kilkenny was August 1995 with a total of 274.9 hours [[Sunlight|sunshine]] and very high temperatures throughout. The maximum daily sunshine was 16.3 hours on 18 June 1978. The overall trend in temperatures has been on the rise with a marked increase from 1988 onwards. Annual temperatures are running over 0.5 degrees above 20th century levels. The maximum daily [[rain]]fall recorded at Kilkenny station was {{convert|66.4|mm|in}} on 17 July 1983. The late 1950s and early 1960s were wet but rainfall had been steady throughout the century. 2002 was a very wet year and since 2005 annual rainfall has been increased steadily, with 2009 being the wettest year since records commenced in 1958. At the centre of the county, [[Kilkenny]] is in a sheltered location, over 60 km inland and is surrounded by hills over 200m, which ensures that it is not a [[wind]]y location. The highest wind gust of 77 knots, from a south-west direction, was recorded on 12 January 1974. {{Weather box |collapsed= |open= |metric first= Yes |single line= Yes |location= Kilkenny [[Weather station|Weather Observing Station]] 1961–1990 |temperature colour= |Jan record high C= 14.1 |Feb record high C= 15.1 |Mar record high C= 18.5 |Apr record high C= 23.5 |May record high C= 26.0 |Jun record high C= 31.5 |Jul record high C= 31.4 |Aug record high C= 30.5 |Sep record high C= 25.6 |Oct record high C= 22.2 |Nov record high C= 17.4 |Dec record high C= 14.8 |year record high C= 31.5 |Jan high C= 7.7 |Feb high C= 7.9 |Mar high C= 10.0 |Apr high C= 12.4 |May high C= 15.1 |Jun high C= 18.1 |Jul high C= 19.9 |Aug high C= 19.6 |Sep high C= 17.2 |Oct high C= 13.9 |Nov high C= 10.1 |Dec high C= 8.4 |year high C= 13.4 |Jan mean C= 4.6 |Feb mean C= 4.8 |Mar mean C= 6.1 |Apr mean C= 7.9 |May mean C= 10.3 |Jun mean C= 13.3 |Jul mean C= 15.2 |Aug mean C= 14.7 |Sep mean C= 12.6 |Oct mean C= 10.0 |Nov mean C= 6.4 |Dec mean C= 5.3 |year mean C= 9.3 |Jan low C= 1.4 |Feb low C= 1.6 |Mar low C= 2.3 |Apr low C= 3.4 |May low C= 5.6 |Jun low C= 8.4 |Jul low C= 10.4 |Aug low C= 9.9 |Sep low C= 7.9 |Oct low C= 6.1 |Nov low C= 2.8 |Dec low C= 2.1 |year low C= 5.2 |Jan record low C= -14.1 |Feb record low C= -11.1 |Mar record low C= -7.9 |Apr record low C= -5.4 |May record low C= -3.7 |Jun record low C= 0.5 |Jul record low C= 2.3 |Aug record low C= 1.2 |Sep record low C= -1.6 |Oct record low C= -4.4 |Nov record low C= -7.0 |Dec record low C= -10.8 |year record low C= -14.1 |Jan chill= |Feb chill= |Mar chill= |Apr chill= |May chill= |Jun chill= |Jul chill= |Aug chill= |Sep chill= |Oct chill= |Nov chill= |Dec chill= |year chill= |precipitation colour= |Jan precipitation inch= |Jan precipitation cm= |Jan precipitation mm= |Feb precipitation inch= |Feb precipitation cm= |Feb precipitation mm= |Mar precipitation inch= |Mar precipitation cm= |Mar precipitation mm= |Apr precipitation inch= |Apr precipitation cm= |Apr precipitation mm= |May precipitation inch= |May precipitation cm= |May precipitation mm= |Jun precipitation inch= |Jun precipitation cm= |Jun precipitation mm= |Jul precipitation inch= |Jul precipitation cm= |Jul precipitation mm= |Aug precipitation inch= |Aug precipitation cm= |Aug precipitation mm= |Sep precipitation inch= |Sep precipitation cm= |Sep precipitation mm= |Oct precipitation inch= |Oct precipitation cm= |Oct precipitation mm= |Nov precipitation inch= |Nov precipitation cm= |Nov precipitation mm= |Dec precipitation inch= |Dec precipitation cm= |Dec precipitation mm= |year precipitation inch= |year precipitation cm= |year precipitation mm= |rain colour= |rain colour= |Jan rain mm = 87 |Feb rain mm = 65.7 |Mar rain mm = 62.8 |Apr rain mm = 51.6 |May rain mm = 61.9 |Jun rain mm = 50.5 |Jul rain mm = 52.7 |Aug rain mm = 70.7 |Sep rain mm = 72.5 |Oct rain mm = 85.5 |Nov rain mm = 74 |Dec rain mm = 88 |year rain mm = 822.9 |Jan snow inch= |Jan snow cm= |Jan snow mm= |Feb snow inch= |Feb snow cm= |Feb snow mm= |Mar snow inch= |Mar snow cm= |Mar snow mm= |Apr snow inch= |Apr snow cm= |Apr snow mm= |May snow inch= |May snow cm= |May snow mm= |Jun snow inch= |Jun snow cm= |Jun snow mm= |Jul snow inch= |Jul snow cm= |Jul snow mm= |Aug snow inch= |Aug snow cm= |Aug snow mm= |Sep snow inch= |Sep snow cm= |Sep snow mm= |Oct snow inch= |Oct snow cm= |Oct snow mm= |Nov snow inch= |Nov snow cm= |Nov snow mm= |Dec snow inch= |Dec snow cm= |Dec snow mm= |year snow inch= |year snow cm= |year snow mm= |Jan humidity= 80 |Feb humidity= 74 |Mar humidity= 68 |Apr humidity= 64 |May humidity= 64 |Jun humidity= 65 |Jul humidity= 65 |Aug humidity= 66 |Sep humidity= 69 |Oct humidity= 76 |Nov humidity= 78 |Dec humidity= 82 |year humidity= 71 |unit precipitation days= |Jan precipitation days= |Feb precipitation days= |Mar precipitation days= |Apr precipitation days= |May precipitation days= |Jun precipitation days= |Jul precipitation days= |Aug precipitation days= |Sep precipitation days= |Oct precipitation days= |Nov precipitation days= |Dec precipitation days= |year precipitation days= |unit rain days= |Jan rain days= |Feb rain days= |Mar rain days= |Apr rain days= |May rain days= |Jun rain days= |Jul rain days= |Aug rain days= |Sep rain days= |Oct rain days= |Nov rain days= |Dec rain days= |year rain days= |unit snow days= |Jan snow days= 5.1 |Feb snow days= 5.0 |Mar snow days= 3.1 |Apr snow days= 0.8 |May snow days= 0.1 |Jun snow days= 0.0 |Jul snow days= 0.0 |Aug snow days= 0.0 |Sep snow days= 0.0 |Oct snow days= 0.0 |Nov snow days= 0.5 |Dec snow days= 2.6 |year snow days= 17.3 |Jan sun= 53.0 |Feb sun= 64.7 |Mar sun= 102.9 |Apr sun= 145.5 |May sun= 169.6 |Jun sun= 154.5 |Jul sun= 144.2 |Aug sun= 139.5 |Sep sun= 114.6 |Oct sun= 84.0 |Nov sun= 66.6 |Dec sun= 45.9 |year sun= 1284 |source 1= |date=December 2010}} ==Local government and politics== {{See also|Politics of the Republic of Ireland}} The County of Kilkenny is be divided into five [[Local Electoral Area]]s including [[Ballyragget]], [[Callan, County Kilkenny|Callan]], [[Kilkenny]], [[Piltown]] and [[Thomastown]]. Local government in County Kilkenny is the [[Kilkenny County Council]] which elects 26 councilors and has a [[Council Manager (Republic of Ireland)|County Manager]]. County Kilkenny is in the [[South-East Regional Authority]] and the Southern and Eastern Region [[Regional Assemblies in Ireland|Regional Assembly]]. Kilkenny is currently part of the [[Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)|Carlow–Kilkenny constituency]]. The method of election is the [[Single transferable vote]] form of [[proportional representation]] (PR-STV). ===Local Government=== {{See also|Local government in the Republic of Ireland}} 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]]. The second tier of local government consists of [[Kilkenny Borough Council]] which is a [[Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland|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 in the Republic of Ireland|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. {{Local government in the Republic of Ireland}} === Regional Authority === {{See also|Regional Authorities in Ireland|South-East Regional Authority}} County Kilkenny is in the [[South-East Regional Authority]]. The [[Regions of the Republic of Ireland|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]], [[County Waterford]], 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 === {{See also|Regional Assemblies in Ireland}} County Kilkenny is in the Southern and Eastern Region [[Regional Assemblies in Ireland|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 === {{See also|Dáil Éireann|Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)}} Kilkenny is currently part of the [[Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)|Carlow–Kilkenny constituency]] which is a [[Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland|parliamentary constituency]] represented in [[Dáil Éireann]], the lower house of the [[Ireland|Irish]] parliament of the [[Oireachtas]]. The present form of the constituency was created for the [[Irish general election, 1948|1948 general election]], and it currently elects 5 deputies ([[Teachta Dála|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 (UK Parliament constituency)|North Kilkenny]] [[List of former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency]]. In 1921 the [[Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)|Carlow–Kilkenny]] Dáil Éireann constituency was created and has stayed apart from between 1937 and 1948 when there was just a [[Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)|Kilkenny constituency]]. The TDs serving the area are currently [[John J. McGuinness]], [[Phil Hogan]], [[Bobby Aylward]], [[M. J. Nolan]] and [[Mary White (Green Party politician)|Mary White]]. {{Kilkenny constituencies}} {{Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland}} === Architecture === {{See also|Architecture of Ireland}} The '''architecture of County Kilkenny''' contains features from all eras since the [[Stone Age]] including [[Norman architecture|Norman]] and [[Anglo-Irish]] [[castle]]s, [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] urban buildings, towns and villages with unique architectures, [[Palladian architecture|palladian]] and [[rococo]] [[country houses]], [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] and [[Gothic Revival architecture|neo-Gothic]] [[cathedral]]s 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 grave]]s, [[Ringfort]]s, [[Irish round tower]]s, [[Castle]]s, [[Church (building)|Churches]] and [[Cathedral]]s, [[Abbey]]s and [[Priory|priories]], [[bridge]]s and [[road]]s, and [[townhouse]]s of varying style. ==== Early architecture ==== {{See also|Early history of Ireland|Passage grave|Ringfort|Irish round tower}} [[File:Kilmogue Portal Dolmen - geograph.org.uk - 103548.jpg|thumb|Leac an Scail, Kilmogue Portal [[Dolmen]].]] 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. A [[Neolithic]] house was identified in [[Granny, County Kilkenny|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. [[Passage grave]]s consisted of a central burial chamber, with a long passageway to the entrance. [[Knockroe]] contains a passage tomb which is protected by listing order. From some time beginning around the Iron Age, Ireland has thousands of [[ringfort]]s, or "raths". [[Carigeen]], [[Danesfort]], [[Dunbell big]] and [[Tullaroan]] all contain ring forts protected by preservation order. The [[Irish round tower|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 tower at [[St Canice's Cathedral]] in [[Kilkenny|Kilkenny City]] is a good example. Other round towers are situated around the county such as [[Tullaherin]] round tower, one near [[Bennettsbridge]], [[Kells, County Kilkenny|Kells]], [[Johnstown, County Kilkenny|Johnstown]], and [[Aghaviller]] near [[Knocktopher]]. ==== Castles ==== ''See also:[[List of castles in Ireland#County_Kilkenny| List of Castles in County Kilkenny]]'' [[Image:KilkennyCastle.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kilkenny Castle]]]] [[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 [[Irish pound|£]]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. [[Image:Foulksrath Castle 02.jpg|thumb|right|[[Foulksrath Castle]]]] [[Foulksrath Castle]] is a 15th century [[Anglo-Norman]] [[tower house]] located in [[Jenkinstown, County Kilkenny|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, Kilkenny|St. Mary's Cathedral]]. [[St. Lachtain's Church]], [[Freshford, County Kilkenny|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 ==== ''See also:[[List_of_abbeys_and_priories_in_Ireland#County_Kilkenny|List of abbeys and priories in County Kilkenny]]'' [[Image:Jerpoint Abbey E 1997 08 28.jpg|thumb|left|East front of [[Jerpoint Abbey]]]] [[Jerpoint Abbey]] is a [[Cistercians|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, [[Kingdom of Osraige|King of Osraige]]. Jerpoint is notable for its stone carvings, including one at the tomb of Felix O'Dulany, [[Bishop of Ossory|Bishop]] of the [[Diocese of Ossory]] when the abbey was founded. [[Image:Graiguenamanach Choir Window SE 1997 08 27.jpg|thumb|right|[[Duiske Abbey]] in [[Graiguenamanagh]]]] [[Duiske Abbey]] in [[Graiguenamanagh]] founded in 1204 was one of the first and largest [[Cistercians]] [[monastery|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. [[Image:Kells-Priory.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kells Priory]] in [[Kells, County Kilkenny|Kells]]]] [[Kells Priory]] is one of the largest medieval historic monuments in [[Ireland]]. It is a [[National Monument (Ireland)|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 house]]s spaced at intervals along and within walls which enclose a site of just over {{convert|3|acre|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, County Kilkenny|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 ==== [[Image:Bennetsbridge42.jpg|thumb|left|Bennett's bridge in [[Bennettsbridge]] over the [[River Nore]].]] 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. 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]] 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, County Kilkenny|Kells]], Threecastles, Dinin Bridge and the bridge at [[Mount Juliet Golf & Spa Hotel|Mount Juliet]]. === Tourist attractions === {{See also|List of tourist attractions in Ireland}}[[Image:Dunmore cave, County Kilkenny.jpg|thumb|left|Dunmore Cave]] In County Kilkenny [[Jerpoint Abbey]] near [[Thomastown]], [[Kells Priory]] at [[Kells, County Kilkenny|Kells]]. [[Kilkenny|Kilkenny City]] including [[St Canice's Cathedral]] and [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny|St Mary's Cathedral]], [[Rothe House]] and [[Kilkenny Castle]]. [[Image:Jenkinstown Castle.jpg|thumb|right|Jenkinstown Castle, ca 1830]] [[Dunmore Cave]] is a [[show cave]] in Ballyfoyle, with a tourist centre established at the site. As well as a variety of [[speleothem|cave formations]], it is also one of the most documented archaeological sites in Ireland. [[Jenkinstown Park]] is about {{convert|10|km|mi}} north of the town of [[Kilkenny]] and {{convert|11|km|mi}} south of [[Castlecomer]] off the [[N78 road (Ireland)|N78 road]]. == Infrastructure == {{See also|Communications in Ireland|Internet in Ireland|Water supply and sanitation in the Republic of Ireland}} === Transport === {{See also|Transport in Ireland|Rail transport in Ireland|Roads in Ireland|Bus Éireann|List of airports in Ireland}} [[Iarnród Éireann]] (Irish Rail) provides rail services from [[Rail transport in Ireland#Dublin to Waterford|Dublin to Waterford]] which pass through [[Kilkenny railway station|MacDonagh Station]] in [[Kilkenny]] and [[Thomastown railway station]]. [[Waterford railway station]] is located just outside County Kilkenny. The stations served are Dublin Heuston, Newbridge, Kildare, [[Athy railway station|Athy]], [[Carlow railway station|Carlow]], [[Muine Bheag halt|Muine Bheag]] (Bagenalstown), [[Kilkenny railway station|Kilkenny]], [[Thomastown railway station|Thomastown]], [[Waterford railway station|Waterford Plunkett]]. Since Kilkenny is a stub station, reversal is necessary. Non Passenger trains such as the DFDS Freight train from Ballina - Waterford avoid Kilkenny by using Lavistown loop which joins both lines going into Kilkenny. All direct services are operated by 22000 railcars. There is a service every 2 hours. [[Bus Éireann]] and [[JJ Kavanagh and Sons]] provide bus services throughout the county. [[Kilkenny Airport]] is a small airport located just 1.5KM West of Kilkenny. There are 6 powered resident aircraft and two gliders based at the aerodrome. === Hospitals === {{See also|Healthcare in the Republic of Ireland|List of hospitals in the Republic of Ireland}} '''[[Hospital]]s in County Kilkenny''' include three [[public hospital|public]] and one [[private hospital|private]] hospitals. [[St. Luke's General Hospital]] is a general medical and surgical hospital built in 1942. It is situated on the Freshford Road and provides a range of local and regional services, including general medicine, general surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics. [[St. Canice's Psychiatric Hospital|St. Canice's]] is a psychiatric hospital, opened in 1852 and located on the Dublin Road. It provides a range of mental health services including acute and long stay care, out-patient services throughout the county including addiction counselling services, respite care community hostel facilities and day care facilities. [[Lourdes Regional Orthopaedic Hospital|Lourdes]] is the regional orthopaedic hospital based outside Kilkenny in [[Kilcreene]]. [[Aut Even Hospital|Aut Even]] is a private hospital based outside the city of [[Kilkenny]]. In [[Castlecomer]] there is [[Castlecomer District Hospital]]. There are also health centres based around County Kilkenny including in [[Ballyhale]], [[Ballyragget]], [[Bennettsbridge]], [[Callan, County Kilkenny|Callan]], [[Castlecomer]], [[Clogh, County Kilkenny|Clogh]], [[Castlecomer]], [[Freshford]], [[Gowran]], [[Graiguenamanagh]], Marley and [[Tinnahinch]] in [[Graiguenamanagh]], [[Inistioge]], [[Johnstown, County Kilkenny|Johnstown]], [[Loughboy]] in [[Kilkenny]], [[Stoneyford, County Kilkenny|Stoneyford]], [[Kilmacow]], [[Mullinavat]], [[Paulstown]], [[Rosbercon]], [[Thomastown]], [[Urlingford]] and [[Windgap, County Kilkenny|Windgap]]. == Culture == [[The Riordans]] (1965 to 1979) made by [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] (then called ''Telefís Éireann'') was set in the fictional [[townland]] of Leestown in County Kilkenny. Its use of [[Outside broadcasting|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 [[Ireland|Irish]] [[soap opera]] and inspired the creation of its British equivalent, ''[[Emmerdale|Emmerdale Farm]]'' (now called ''Emmerdale'') by [[Yorkshire Television]] in 1972. === Notable people === {{See also|List of Kilkenny people}} * [[Edmund Ignatius Rice]], founder of the [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|Irish Christian Brothers]] and the [[Presentation Brothers]] *[[James Hoban]] (1762–1831) was an [[architect]], born near [[Callan, County Kilkenny|Callan]], best known for designing the [[White House]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]. *[[Seamus Moore (singer)|Seamus Moore]], an [[Singer|Novelty Singer]] best known for ''[[The JCB Song]]'' ===County Anthem=== The song [[The Rose of Mooncoin]] is the traditional anthem of the county at GAA fixtures. === GAA === [[Image:Kilkenny.svg|thumb|right|Kilkenny Flag]] In [[hurling]], the dominant sport in the county, [[Kilkenny GAA]] compete annually in the [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]], which they have won thirty-three 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 GAA|Cork]] and [[Tipperary GAA|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 [[List of Kilkenny senior hurling team captains|senior hurling captain]] is [[Michael Fennelly (hurler)|Michael Fennelly]]. 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 GAA|Limerick]] that August. === 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 [[steeplechase]]s 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 racing|National Hunt]] and Flat meetings all year round. === Golf === [[Mount Juliet Golf & Spa Hotel|Mount Juliet Golf Course]] is a [[golf]] resort situated in [[Thomastown]]. It was the venue for the 2002 and 2004 [[WGC-CA Championship|WGC-American Express Championship]], having previously hosted the [[PGA European Tour|European Tour]]'s [[Irish Open (golf)|Irish Open]] on three occasions between 1993 and 1995. The par 72, {{convert|7300|yd|m|adj=on}} [[Jack Nicklaus]] designed golf course opened in 1991, and was 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]], Callan Golf Club in [[Callan, County Kilkenny|Callan]], Castlecomer Golf Club in [[Castlecomer]], Mountain View Golf Course in [[Ballyhale]] and Carrigleade Golf Course in [[Graiguenamanagh]]. ==See also== {{Portal|Ireland}} {{Commons|County Kilkenny|County Kilkenny}} * [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]] * [[List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland#County Kilkenny|List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Kilkenny)]] * [[List of Kilkenny people]] * [[List of tourist attractions in Ireland]] * [[Lord Lieutenant of Kilkenny]] * [[High Sheriff of County Kilkenny]] * [[High Sheriff of Kilkenny City]] ==External links== {{Commons category|County Kilkenny}} {{GeoGroupTemplate}} *[http://www.kilkennycoco.ie/ Kilkenny County Council Website] *[http://www.kilkenyweather.com/ Live Weather and Climate for Kilkenny] {{County Kilkenny}} {{Ireland counties}}