Kilkenny Ireland

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Town of Thomastown

Thomastown, KilkennyThis town, in beautiful surroundings in the Nore valley, is named after Thomas Fitzanthony Walsh, Seneschal of Leinster, who built a wall around it early in the thirteenth century and erected a castle. The castle was destroyed by Cromwell in 1650. There are some interesting monuments among the ruins of a large thirteenth-century church contains the old high altar of Jerpoint Abbey. Also close to the town of Thomastown is the Mount Juliet Estate, home of the world famous championship golf course.

Town of Inistioge

Inistioge, KilkennyThis is a charming village with a tree-lined square, lying in a pretty part of the Nore valley where the river winds between wooded banks flanked by hills. An Augustinian priory was founded here in 1210 by Thomas Fitzgerald, and the nave, tower and adjoining Lady Chapel remain. Some monuments of the Tighe family are in the tower, including an effigy by Flaxman of Mrs Mary Tighe (died 1810), the authoress of Psyche. On a rock above the river at the village are the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle.

Town of Graiguenamanagh

Graiguenamanagh Graigenamanagh, east of Kilkenny on the Carlow border, has a fine situation at a bend of the River Barrow, overlooked by Brandon Hill (1694 feet) on the south. The approach to the town from the West gives beautiful views, with the long ridge of the Blackstairs Mountains in the background. Graiguenamanagh was at one time a place of ecclesiastical importance; it is now a prosperous market town. Salmon and trout fishing is available on the River Barrow and there is also excellent coarse fishing.

Town of Callan

Callan, KilkennyCallan, in the centre of a fertile plain, is an ancient market town which was strongly fortified in medieval times. Corporate rights were granted to the town in 1271. In 1408 there was a battle here in which the Prince of Ossory and 800 of his men were slain by the English. There are some remains of the fifteenth-century Augustinian priory founded by Sir James Butler, and traces of the castle which was bombarded by Cromwell in 1650. In the main street stands a handsome memorial in Kilkenny limestone to Edmund Ignatius Rice (1762-1844), founder of the Irish Christian Brothers. James Hoban, architect of the White House at Washington. D.C., was born near Callan in 1762. Robert Fulton, designer of the first steamship was born here in 1765.

Town of Castlecomer

Castlecomer, KilkennyThis attractive little town in the hilly northern part of Kilkenny lies in a wooded valley where the River Dinin is joined by a tributary from the west. Though the centre of the country’s largest coalfield (now worked out) the neighbourhood has a scenic charm not usually associated with colliery areas. The district was once part of the terriority of the O’ Brenans, who were finally dispossessed in the seventeenth century, but are still numerous in the area. A biennial Brennan family rally has been held here.