Kilkenny, Ireland

Kilkenny, (Irish: Cill Chainnigh, meaning Church of Cainneach), is a city and county town of County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore, at the centre of County Kilkenny in the province of Leinster in the south-east of Ireland. The city of Kilkenny is administered by a borough council and has a Mayor. The population of the city and its environs is approximately 25,000 making it the smallest city in the Republic of Ireland both by area and population. The majority of the population of Kilkenny city live outside the borough boundary.

From an ecclesiastical foundation, Kilkenny was the ancient capital of the kingdom of Ossory. The town was established, then a city in 1609. Kilkenny was the capital of Confederate Ireland between 1642 and 1649. The seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel and Ossory are in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny is famous for its medieval building and castle. The city has been referred to as the "Marble City" for centuries. People from Kilkenny are often referred to as 'Cats'.

Kilkenny is 117 km (73 miles) from the capital Dublin and 48 km (30 miles) north of the nearest city Waterford. Wexford is 80 km (50 miles) to the south-east and Limerick is 122 km (70 miles) to the west.[1]

Traveling to Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

 

 

 

 

In early Norman times, up to the late 12th century, Kilkenny was the capital of the colony in Ireland. It also became the home of a preceptory of the Knights of St Thomas. By the late thirteenth century Kilkenny was under Norman-Irish control. The Norman presence in the town is still very evident. Kilkenny Castle was built on an outcrop of rock offering a natural vantage point at a prominent bend in the River Nore. This lies on the site of earlier wattle and mud structures and was the site of the fortifications of the Fitzpatricks and the O'Carrolls (AD 840), amongst others. A series of walls was built to protect the burghers. There were two townships Irishtown, and Englishtown. Irishtown had its charter from the bishops of Ossory and Englishtown which was established by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.

A account of the Black Death from a monastery in Cill Chainnigh, by Friar John Clyn in 1348

The pestilence gathered strength in Kilkenny during Lent, for between Christmas day and 6 March, eight Friars Preachers died. There was scarcely a house in which only one died but commonly man and wife with their children and family going one way, namely, crossing to death.