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'Kilkenny' (Irish: ''Cill Chainnigh'' meaning ''Church of Canice'') is the county seat of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The city proper has a population of 8,661, but including environs is 22,179; it is the Republic of Ireland's smallest city both by area and population. Kilkenny is located on the River Nore and is famed for its history and nightlife.
Kilkenny was granted a Royal Charter in 1609 by King James I; its status as a city was most recently recognised by Section 10(7) of the Local Government Act 2001, which allows "the continued use of the description city", although it does not have a city council like the other Irish cities, but rather a borough council instead.
Kilkenny, spanning the river Nore, is the only city in the Republic of Ireland that is not tidal. It is also the only city in the Republic that has neither an institute of technology nor a university; although the National University of Ireland, Maynooth maintains an outreach centre at St. Kieran's College.

Contents

History

Transport

Architecture

Industry

Sport

Hurling

Soccer

Rugby

Music

Tourism

Festivals

Streets and Lanes of Kilkenny

The Future

Additional reading

External links

References

History

"Chill Channaig" - the church of Canice - was an important town, even from pre-Christian times. Located at a prominanent bend in the River Nore, where an outcrop of rock presents a natural vantage point, the present Norman castle is located. This was built on the site of earlier wattle and mud structures and was the site of the fortifications of the Fitzpatricks and the O'Carrolls (0840 A.D.), amongst others.
The kingdom of "Ossary", deliniated by the rivers Suir and Nore, wes goverened by Kilkenny.
In early Norman times - until the late 12th century - Kilkenny was the capital of Ireland.
The Statutes of Kilkenny (1366) got their name from the then Irish Parliament in Kilkenny. The statutes contained nineteen clauses, their general provision being to reduce the influence of the Irish on the Normans. They prohibited intermarriage as well as the customs and language of the Irish, which were considered to have had an adverse effect on the Norman settlers. The statutes also attempted to outlaw Brehon Laws. Kilkenny was the capital of Confederate Ireland between 1642 and 1649, until it surrendered during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
Kilkenny is the home of two noted schools, both of which are historically important. One is the Church of Ireland Kilkenny College, founded in 1538 and one of the oldest schools in the country. This school has had several notable students, including both Jonathan Swift and George Berkeley. St. Kieran's College, founded in 1782, was the first Roman Catholic secondary school in Ireland and was created as Grattan's Parliament caused some relaxation of the Penal Laws in the country. St. Kieran's is a noted centre of the ancient Irish sport of hurling and has seen many famous hurling stars wearing the school's colours.
Set approximately in the centre of the ancient Kingdom of Ossory, Kilkenny is still the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory and the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel and Ossory.

Transport

Kilkenny railway station opened on 12 May 1848.^[1] Kilkenny acquired railway links to Dublin in 1850, Waterford in 1854, Portlaoise in 1876 and Castlecomer in 1919. Córas Iompair Éireann closed the Castlecomer and Kilkenny Junction lines in 1962. Kilkenny railway station was renamed McDonagh in 1966. Kilkenny remains an important stop on Iarnród Éireann's Intercity route between Dublin and Waterford.

Architecture

A view of Kilkenny Castle. The city was also the location of an Irish Parliament and is Ireland's smallest city.

The city is famous for its many medieval buildings and has been referred to as the "Marble City" for centuries. The black stone with decorative white fossils that forms the backbone of many of Kilkenny's fine buildings was quarried locally, particularly from the Black Quarry located by the roadside, one mile south of the city, past the castle. An exposed rock face can still be seen from the road. Kilkenny Marble or Black Marble was exported to all corners of the British Empire.

The city is dominated by both Kilkenny Castle and Saint Canice's Cathedral, the latter built beside an excellent example of a well-preserved Round Tower. The Church of Ireland Cathedral is named after Saint Canice, who also gave his name to the town (''Cill Chainnigh'' is Irish for "Church of Canice"). Also of note is the Dominican 'Black Abbey', founded in 1225, lying just off Parliament Street.

Industry

The town has a history of brewing and is home to St. Francis Abbey Brewery which was founded in the early 18th Century by Messrs Cole and Smithwick. The Guinness Ireland Group had owned this brewery since the 1960s. At the beginning of the 21st Century, Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan plc to form Diageo, the world's largest alcoholic beverage business, and the brewery is now a part of Diageo Global Supply. Smithwick's Ale now forms only a small percentage of production there. Another product is Kilkenny ale , a close relation of Smithwicks ale. Some 80% of beer produced at the brewery is Budweiser, a brand not owned by Diageo, but produced under licence.
Kilkenny is also home to the head offices of Glanbia foods, one of the world's top dairy companies. Glanbia was formed by the merger of two dairy businesses: Avonmore and Waterford foods, it employs a total of around 4000 people and has interests in Ireland, the UK and the USA.
Recent developments in Kilkenny have attracted further investment from local businesses as well as attracting new industry. Leggetsrath Business Park was opened in 2003 and is home to Glanbia's innovation centre, Wellstone Clinic, KCLR (local radio station) headquarters, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Premiere Recruitment and other businesses.
There are two retail warehouse parks in Kilknenny City; Kilkenny Retail Park and Ormonde Retail Park. Kilkenny Retail Park has expanded with several big names occupying its premises; Byrne's toystore, Woodie's Home and DIY store, Carpet Right, Land of Leather and D.I.D Electricals with Meubles furniture coming soon.
Ormonde Retail Park on the Dublin Road is home to Chadwick's Builder-providers, Electrocity, Furniture Depot, Doyles Hire, Noyeks ltd and Pat Mc Donnell Paints. It is also set to expand in 2007/08 as a result of increased demand for such development and increasing competition from the likes of Carlow and Clonmel.
Hebron Business Park was constructed in 2002 and is a privately owned extension to the Hebron Industrial Estate, the main centre for industry in Kilkenny. The new link road to the N9 between Dublin and Waterford will improve access to Hebron Business Park and Industrial Estate.

Sport

Hurling

: ''See also Kilkenny GAA''
Kilkenny are the current all-Ireland champions senior hurling team, winning both the league and national cup. Kilkenny is one of the foremost counties in Ireland for proficiency in the ancient Irish game of hurling. This very fast and exciting field sport is indigenous to Ireland and is most popular in the geographical southern regions in the provinces of Leinster and Munster. Kilkenny is one of the counties where certain players (e.g. DJ Carey) can attain a celebrity status.
Kilkenny is also home to St. Kieran's College, a secondary school that is possibly the country's top hurling academy. Many of the most famous names of hurling history have worn the black and white of St. Kieran's, including Eddie Keher, Brian Cody and DJ Carey.
Kilkenny has many hurling clubs including O'Loughlin Gaels, James Stephens and the reigning All-Ireland club champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks.

Soccer

'Kilkenny City AFC' play in the first division of the Football League of Ireland. It entered the league as EMFA in 1986. Kilkenny and District Soccer League run leagues at schoolboy, youths and junior level throughout the county. It is affiliated to Leinster Football Association, Football Association of Ireland and the Schoolboy’s Football Association of Ireland.
The city of Kilkenny received some recognition when, during the 2006-07 season, it was featured in a gag on the long running British football show Soccer AM. Due to popular requests the Soccer AM crew included the Irish forecast in their satirical segment called Topless Weather. When crew member Sheephead delivered the forecast, he pointed at Ireland and said "Oh my God, it's Kilkenny" in reference to the city of Kilkenny and a play on the famous South Park joke.

Rugby

Kilkenny Rugby Football Club has a very strong and successful Rugby Union club based at Foulkstown on the Waterford Road. The club has provided many players for the Ireland team including Ernie Ridgeway, Bill Tector, Jack Notley, Willie Duggan, Ned Byrne, Ronan Kearney and Gary Halpin. Ian Dowling playing for the Munster Rugby team was the winner of a European Rugby Cup medal at Cardiff in May 2006.

Music

Kilkenny has a rich and vibrant music scene which reaches out to all walks of life. With such bands itchy trigger finger(ITF), Saving J, Atrax Mantis Kilkenny has become a tourist hotspot.
The medieval Kilkenny Castle and the Zoo nightclub are just some of the current music venues, that host up and coming local acts. Kilkenny is becoming a greater and grander place to love music. The Kilkenny Arts Festival embraces Musical acts of all ages and styles.

Tourism

Kilkenny is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland as well a weekend getaway for many. Well regarded for its vibrant nightlife it has become increasingly popular in recent years. The city streets thrive with life at night and the pubs enjoy an atmosphere for which everyone flocks to enjoy the craic.

Festivals

Kilkenny plays host to the annual Smithwicks Cat Laughs Comedy festival which makes Kilkenny the "Comedy Capital of the World". However, not only is Kilkenny a great place to have a laugh but it also has an annual Arts Festival, usually in late August. During this time Kilkenny is flooded with traditional and foreign music, beautiful paintings and sculptures and many other creative things.
The rhythm and roots festival brings more music, but from a broader spectrum, and the annual concerts in Nolan Park have brought acts such as Rod Stuart, Shania Twain, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Andrea Bocelli.
The hot air balloon festival in summer of 2006 was a huge success.
Kilkenny really is the number one spot for a holiday.

Streets and Lanes of Kilkenny

★ High Street

★ James Street

★ Kieran Street

★ Rose Inn Street

★ The Parade

★ Archers Street

★ Patrick Street - Upper & Lower

★ Ormonde Road

★ Colliers Lane

★ The Butter Slip

★ Irish Town

★ Dean Street

★ The Caste Gardens

★ The Castle Road

★ The Quay

★ New Street

The Future

There are two large new shopping centres being built in the city. The Macdonagh Junction shopping centre, being built at the city's train station, is set to open in late Autumn this year, bringing shops such as 3, New Look and many more.
The City Mart, part of the re-development of the old Cattle mart, has just started construction. It is rumoured to bring Tesco, M&S, River Island and many more shops.
These new shopping centres will bring a new lease of life to the City and will prevent the loss of shoppers to places such as Carlow and Waterford.
Kilkenny is also undergoing redevelopment with regards its streets. The parade, the junction of High Street with Patrick Street and Rose Inn Street, will be redeveloped soon, bringing a much needed new look to such an important area in the city.
Also Castle Road, Canal Square and the Canal in the city will be redeveloped, improving an already fantastic amenities.

Additional reading

★ Katherine Lanigan & Gerald Tyler, ''Kilkenny: Its Architecture and History'' (Appletree P, 1987) (ISBN 0-86281-180-5)

★ Robert Wyse Jackson, ''Story of Kilkenny'' (Mercier P, 1974) (ISBN 0-85342-391-1)

★ Mayor F White "The Castle on Kilkenny" (Folens, 1999)

★ Sean Kenny ''Every Stick and Stone That Stands Kilkenny'' (2003) (ISBN 0-9545741-0-9)

★ David Edwards, ''The Ormond Lordship in County Kilkenny, 1515-1642: The Rise and Fall of the Butler Family'' (Four Courts Press, 2000) (ISBN 1-85182-578-9)

★ John Leonard, ''A university for Kilkenny: Plans for a royal college in the seventeenth century'' (St Canice's Press, 1996) (ISBN 0-9528076-0-2)

★ Colm Corcoran, "The Life and Times of Kilkenny's Citizens"

★ Andrew Bush, ''Bonnettstown: A House in Ireland'' (Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1989) (ISBN 0-8109-0748-8)

★ Hogan, "Kilkenny"

★ Sparks, "Pen & picture"

★ Gleeson, "Ely O'Carroll's Territory"

★ Joseph C. O'Carroll "Historic Kilkenny" (Kilkenny People Ltd. 1994)

External links

★ Kilkenny.ie Portal Site for Kilkenny

★ Kilkenny Borough Council

★ Irish Architecture Online - Kilkenny City

★ Kilkenny and District Soccer League

★ Photos of Kilkenny on Flickr

★ Kilkenny City is Ireland's 2006 Entente Florale Entry

★ Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

★ Kilkenny Tourism website

★ Tourist attractions in Kilkenny

★ Kilkenny's architectural highlights on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage website

References

1. Kilkenny station