Kilkenny Cill Chainnigh
Location
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52°38′52″N 7°15′22″W / 52.6477, -7.2561
Irish grid reference S506563
Statistics
Province:	Leinster
County:	County Kilkenny
Area:	3. Basic concept of GPS operation A GPS receiver calculates its position by carefully timing the signals sent by the constellation of GPS Satellites high above the Earth The Irish grid reference system is a system of geographic Grid references commonly used in Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland Poetic description This dinnseanchas poem named Ard Ruide (Ruide Headland poetically describes the kingdoms of Ireland Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of Since the late 16th century the Island of Ireland has been divided into 32 counties ( Irish language contae or condae County Kilkenny ( is a landlocked county in Ireland. The county takes its name from the city of Kilkenny and has a population of 87558 Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 74 km²
Elevation:	60 m (196 ft)
Population (2006)	22,179
Website: www.kilkennycity.ie

Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh, meaning Church of Cainneach) is the county town of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. A county town is the 'capital' of a County in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland. County Kilkenny ( is a landlocked county in Ireland. The county takes its name from the city of Kilkenny and has a population of 87558 Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Kilkenny is located in Leinster and is located on the River Nore. The River Nore ( or) is one of the Three Sisters rivers which flow into the Atlantic Ocean at Waterford Harbour in Ireland. Kilkenny City and environs has a population of approx. 25,000. Kilkenny is Ireland's smallest city both by area and population. Kilkenny, spanning the river Nore, is the only city in the Ireland that is not tidal. Characteristics A tide is a repeated cycle of sea level changes in the following stages Over several hours the water rises or advances up a beach in the flood 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. A Regional Technical College ( RTC) is a type of College in Ireland now replaced by an Institute of Technology ( IT) A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects The National University of Ireland Maynooth ( NUIM) was founded in 1997 by the Universities Act 1997 as a constituent university of the National St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, Ireland is primarily a Secondary school for boys

Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Transport 4 Architecture 4.1 St. Canice's Cathedral 5 Industry 6 Sport 6.1 Hurling 6.2 Soccer 6.3 Gaelic football 6.4 Rugby 6.5 Golf 6.6 Ice Hockey 7 Music 8 Tourism 9 Festivals 10 Awards 11 Additional reading 12 Gallery of Images 13 See also 14 External links 15 References

Name

Kilkenny City is named after Cainnech of Aghaboe. WikipediaPersondata --> Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe, (515/516 - 600 was also known as Saint Canice in Ireland, Saint Kenneth Kilkenny was granted a Royal Charter in 1609 by King James I of England. A Royal Charter is a Charter granted by the Sovereign on the advice of the Privy council to legitimize an incorporated body such as a city company James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625 was King of Scotland as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James This gave it city status. 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. The Local Government Act 2001 (No37 of 2001 was enacted by the Oireachtas of the Republic of Ireland on 21 July 2001. A city council is a form of Local government, usually covering a City or other Urban area, such as a Town. A borough is an Administrative division of various countries In principle the term borough designates a self-governing Township although in practice

History

Kilkenny was an important town, even from pre-Christian times. Its origins appear to be focused on the high ground now occupied by St Canice's Cathedral. The round tower here is the only above ground remnant of the early medieval monastery founded by the Irish saint - Canice himself. The surrounding area of the Irishtown, as it has been known since the Norman invasion, is therefore the oldest part of the city. The earliest church is presumed to have been built of wood being replaced eventually in the later medieval period by a romanesque-style stone church. This was in turn replaced by the current imposing medieval cathedral.

A number of other religious sites around the city have given their names to many of the streets including Michael St. , John St, Abbey Street and Patrick St.

The Norman presence in the town is still the most palpable. Located at a prominent bend in the River Nore, where an outcrop of rock presents a natural vantage point, the castle is built. 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 (840 A. D. ), amongst others. Though the religious origins of the city are well documented, it is not known as yet quite how early these secular structures are. Later medieval life in the city was often lively with a series of walls built to protect the good burghers.

The kingdom of "Ossory", delineated by the rivers Suir and Nore, was governed by Kilkenny. In early Norman times - until 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.

Friar John Clyn witnessed the effects of the Black Death in kilkenny, after its spread in August 1348:^[1]

The pestilence gathered strength in Kilkenny during Lent, for between Christmas day and 6 March, eight Friars Preachers died. John Clyn of the Friars Minor, Kilkenny was a 14th century Irish monk and Chronicler who lived at the time of the Black Death. The Black Death, or the Black Plague, was one of the deadliest Pandemics in human history widely thought to have been caused by a bacterium named Yersinia Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. 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.

The Statutes of Kilkenny (1366) got their name from the then Irish Parliament in Kilkenny. The Statutes of Kilkenny were a series of thirty-five acts passed at Kilkenny in 1366, aimed at curbing the decline of the Hiberno-Norman Lordship The Parliament of Ireland (Irish Parlaimint na hEireann) was a Legislature that existed from mediæval times until 1800. The statutes contained nineteen clauses, their general provision being to reduce the influence of the Irish on the Normans. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. 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. Early Irish law refers to the statutes that governed everyday life and politics in Ireland during the Gaelic period.

Kilkenny was the capital of Confederate Ireland between 1642 and 1649, until it surrendered during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Confederate Ireland refers to the period of Irish self-government between the Rebellion of 1641 and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649 The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland (1649-53 refers to the re-conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell

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. Kilkenny College or KCK is a co-educational Secondary school located in Kilkenny, in the South-East of Ireland. This school has had several notable students, including both Jonathan Swift and George Berkeley. Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 George Berkeley (ˈbɑrkli (12 March 1685 14 January 1753 also known as Bishop Berkeley, was a Philosopher. 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 College, Kilkenny, Ireland is primarily a Secondary school for boys Events 21 June - British Parliament repeals the Declaratory Act 1720, thereby conceding Irish legislative independence from Great Britain Henry Grattan (3 July 1746 &ndash 6 June 1821 was a member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the The Penal Laws in Ireland (Na Péindlíthe refers to a series of laws imposed under British rule that sought to discriminate against Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters in favour 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. Hurling (in Irish, iománaíocht or iomáint) is an outdoor team Sport of ancient Gaelic origin administered by the Gaelic

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. The Kingdom of Ossory (historically Osraige; Modern Irish Osraí) was an ancient kingdom of Ireland. Ossory ( Irish: Deoise Chnoc Osraí) is a Roman Catholic Diocese in the ancient Province of Leinster, Ireland, bounded on the south

Transport

Kilkenny railway station opened on 12 May 1848. Kilkenny railway station (MacDonagh Station serves the city of Kilkenny in County Kilkenny. Events Thomas Francis Meagher flies the Irish Tricolour in Waterford, the first recorded usage of the flag which is now the national flag ^[2] Kilkenny acquired railway links to Dublin in 1850, Waterford in 1854, Portlaoise in 1876 and Castlecomer in 1919. "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Events Crumlin Road Courthouse in Belfast is completed Arts and literature Sport Births Waterford ( or Windy fjord;) is a city in Ireland. It is the primary city of the South East region and the fifth largest in the country Events Quarrel between Tenant League and Archbishop Cullen League appeals to Rome. Portlaoise (older spelling Portlaoighise; former name Maryborough in Irish Port Laoise a shortening of Port Laoighse) is the County Events Great Northern Railway (Ireland (GNR(I or GNRI forms by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway (INW Northern Railway of Ireland and Ulster Railway Castlecomer (Caisleán an Chomair is the main Town in north County Kilkenny, Ireland. Events 21 January - Dáil Éireann meets for the very first time in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin. Córas Iompair Éireann closed the Castlecomer and Kilkenny Junction lines in 1962. Córas Iompair Éireann ( abbreviated CIÉ) is a statutory authority which is owned by the Irish Government. Events March 13 - Irish artists leave Dublin Airport for the Congo to entertain United Nations troops there Kilkenny railway station was renamed McDonagh in 1966. St Enda's Park (Páirc an Naomh Éanna is a large public Park in Rathfarnham in Ireland. Events February 13 - The Bishop of Clonfert protests over the content of The Late Late Show. Kilkenny remains an important stop on Iarnród Éireann's Intercity route between Dublin and Waterford. rail transport in Ireland Iarnród Éireann ( IÉ;; in English, Irish Rail) is the national Railway system operator of the Republic Inter-city rail services are express Train passenger services which cover longer distances than Commuter trains Africa Inter-city services are reasonably Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Waterford ( or Windy fjord;) is a city in Ireland. It is the primary city of the South East region and the fifth largest in the country

Unlike other countries, the location of railway stations in Ireland was closely related to military matters rather than trade or public transport. Kilkenny railway station is a fine example of this peculiarity, with the military barracks being closely positioned to the railway station - a very short march for troops. In 2008,it was proposed that an extra 2 railway links would potentially link up to Kilkenny, one going to Dublin via Waterford and one going to Galway.

Architecture

A view of Kilkenny Castle. Kilkenny Castle ( is a Castle in Kilkenny, Ireland. It was the seat of the Butler family The city was also the location of an Irish Parliament and is Ireland's smallest city. The Parliament of Ireland (Irish Parlaimint na hEireann) was a Legislature that existed from mediæval times until 1800.

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, 1. 6 km (1 mi) 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 of Kilkenny is often referred to as "The Marble City"

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. St Mary’s is the Roman Catholic cathedral for the Dioceses of Ossory Kilkenny Castle ( is a Castle in Kilkenny, Ireland. It was the seat of the Butler family WikipediaPersondata --> Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe, (515/516 - 600 was also known as Saint Canice in Ireland, Saint Kenneth This is about Irish-style round towers See Round tower for other types of towers 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. The Order of Preachers ( Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum) after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is

St. Canice's Cathedral

The 13th century cathedral of St Canice is the second longest cathedral in Ireland . WikipediaPersondata --> Saint Cainnech of Aghaboe, (515/516 - 600 was also known as Saint Canice in Ireland, Saint Kenneth The site on which the cathedral stands has been a site of Christian worship since the 6th century. The architectural style of the cathedral is Early Gothic and it is built of limestone. The cathedral has been carefully preserved in its original style and form. It is richly endowed with many stained glass windows including the East window which is a replica of the original 13th century window. The cathedral contains some of the finest 16th century monuments in Ireland . The memorials stretch right across the social spectrum from the great figures of the house of Ormonde to the humble shoemaker and carpenter. The baptismal font is original and the ancient stone of enthronement for bishops still exists under the seat of the mediaeval throne in the North Transept, where to this day the bishops of Ossory are enthroned. The continental carvings on the choir stalls and the hammerbeam roof are not to be missed. Beside the cathedral stands the 9th century round tower. It may once have been a watchtower and a refuge and it can be climbed to give an unsurpassing vantage point to view the city of Kilkenny and the surrounding countryside (weather permitting).

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. Brewing is the production of Alcoholic beverage and Alcohol fuel through fermentation. Smithwick's (pronounced /smɪθɪks/, 'smith-icks' is an Irish red ale style beer from Kilkenny in Ireland. 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. Diageo plc () is the largest multinational beer wine and spirits company in the world Smithwick's Ale now forms only a small percentage of production there. Smithwick's (pronounced /smɪθɪks/, 'smith-icks' is an Irish red ale style beer from Kilkenny in Ireland. Another product is Kilkenny ale , a close relation of Smithwicks ale. Kilkenny is an Irish cream ale which originated in Kilkenny Ireland Some 80% of beer produced at the brewery is Budweiser, a brand not owned by Diageo, but produced under licence. Budweiser is an American-style lager and is one of the most popular beers in the United States.

Kilkenny is also home to the head offices of Glanbia foods, one of the world's top dairy companies. Glanbia PLC () is an international food company whose head offices are located in Kilkenny, Ireland. 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. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

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, Premier Recruitment and other businesses. KCLR 96FM is an Irish Radio station which broadcasts to Carlow and Kilkenny in Ireland. PricewaterhouseCoopers (or PwC is one of the world's largest Professional services firms

There are two retail warehouse parks in Kilkenny 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. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Waterford ( or Windy fjord;) is a city in Ireland. It is the primary city of the South East region and the fifth largest in the country

Sport

Further information: Sport in Ireland

Hurling

See also Kilkenny GAA

County Kilkenny's chief claim to sporting fame lies in the ancient Irish game of hurling, and the city is one of the centres of hurling in the county. Sport on the island of Ireland is popular and widespread Levels of participation and spectating are high but as in other western regions participation The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association ( Kilkenny GAA) (Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste Cill Channaigh is one of the 32 county boards Hurling (in Irish, iománaíocht or iomáint) is an outdoor team Sport of ancient Gaelic origin administered by the Gaelic The Kilkenny county team have won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 30 times. The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association ( Kilkenny GAA) (Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste Cill Channaigh is one of the 32 county boards The GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in Ireland. They are in fact the current champions, having overcome Limerick GAA in the 2007 All-Ireland Championship final. The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA (Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Luimneach or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the The 121st All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship commenced in May 2007 and was retained by holders Kilkenny after overwhelming Limerick in the final

Kilkenny is also home to St. Kieran's College, a secondary school that is possibly the country's top hurling academy. St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, Ireland is primarily a Secondary school for boys 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. Edward Peter Keher (born 11 November, 1941 in Inistioge, County Kilkenny) better known as Eddie Keher, is a former Irish Brian Cody (born in 1954 in Kilkenny, Ireland) is an Irish Hurling manager and former player currently managing the Kilkenny Denis Joseph Carey (born 11 November, 1970) better known as D

As well as the famous inter-county team, Kilkenny has many local hurling clubs including O'Loughlin Gaels, James Stephens and the 2007 All-Ireland club champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks. The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual Hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. Ballyhale Shamrocks is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the Parish of Ballyhale in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

Soccer

Kilkenny City AFC played in the first division of the Football League of Ireland until January 2008. Kilkenny City AFC is an Irish football club The club played in the First Division of the Football League of Ireland until 18 January The Football League of Ireland, usually known simply as the League of Ireland or later the eircom League (from the league's sponsorship by Irish telecommunications PortalCurrent events International holidays January 1 - New Year's Day January 1 - Independence It entered the league as EMFA in 1986, but resigned their position in the league after 22 years citing “lack of finance, poor results and paltry attendances”. 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 Football Association of Ireland ( FAI; Irish: Cumann Peile na h-Éireann) is the governing body for the sport of association football (soccer

The Kilkenny Floodlit Football League was formed in 2002 with 10 teams in on division. Since then the league has gone from strength to strength and today has 34 teams competing in 3 divisions. At the end of each season all clubs compete for the Floodlit Cup and the Floodlit Shield. All profits go to the O’Neill Centre/Enable Ireland here in Kilkenny.

Gaelic football

Gaelic football is also played in Kilkenny, although it is not as popular as it is in most Irish counties. Gaelic football ( Irish: Peil, Peil Ghaelach, or Caid) commonly referred to as " football " is a form of Football It lags well behind the other traditional GAA game of hurling. The Gaelic Athletic Association ( GAA) ( Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael /'kʊmˠən̪ˠ 'l̪ˠuh Indeed, Kilkenny GAA's county football team is not considered good enough at present to compete in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, although they have recently been promoted to play in Division Four of the National Football League. The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association ( Kilkenny GAA) (Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste Cill Channaigh is one of the 32 county boards The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. For the latest competition see 2008 or the Hurling equivalent: 2008 The National Football

Rugby

Kilkenny Rugby Football Club has a very strong and successful Rugby Union club based at Foulkstown on the Waterford Road. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short 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.

Golf

Kilkenny is home to Mount Juliet Golf Course which hosted the World Golf Championship - American Express Championship in 2002 & 2004 as well as the Irish Opens of 1993-95. Mount Juliet Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus was opened in 1991 and is one of Ireland's best Golf courses recently voted Best Parkland Golf Course by Backspin The par 72, 7300 yard layout boasts rolling fairways, many feature water hazards and contoured greens, all superbly blended into the spectacular setting of this famous old Irish Estate.

Ice Hockey

Despite the city's lack of an ice rink, Kilkenny is home to the Kilkenny City Storm ice hockey team, who play in the Irish Ice Hockey Association Development League. The Irish Ice Hockey Association (IIHA is the Official Governing Body of both ice and Inline hockey sports in Ireland. The Storm are one of the top two teams in the league, which is currently in its inaugural year. The Storm consists of both local and foreign players, who travel to Dundalk Ice Dome every week for training and matches, with the players themselves footing transport and ice rental costs. Dundalk Ice Dome is a large ice arena located in Dundalk Retail Park Dundalk, County Louth, Republic of Ireland. The team also enjoys moderate success as an inline hockey team, playing in the Northern Inline Hockey League. Inline hockey, often referred to simply as Roller hockey in the United States, is a team Sport played on a smooth plastic surface such as

Music

Kilkenny has a rich and vibrant music scene which reaches out to all walks of life. The Tholsel High Street Kilkenny, Ireland was built in 1761 by Alderman William Colles (b

The medieval Kilkenny Castle and the Zoo nightclub are just some of the current music venues, that host up and coming local acts.

Cleere's pub and theatre in Parliament Street is one of the best venues for touring Irish and international bands - indie, jazz, blues - a good mix. They also have a trad music session once a week as does Ryan's on Friary Street. John Street caters to the more mainstream musical tastes with a number of nightclubs playing charts etc. The Kilkenny Arts Festival embraces Musical acts of all ages and styles.

More classical tastes can be catered for in St. Canices Cathedral itself where classical music and choirs often perform. The Klikenny Choir and a gospel choir meet frequently and sing in the churches especially.

Tourism

Kilkenny is a popular tourist destination in Ireland as well a weekend getaway for the Irish themselves. Well regarded for its cultural life it always tended to attract a more refined visitor. Recent years have seen its popularity with Stag and Hen parties rise dramatically. These are drawn to the 'vibrant nightlife' in the city, mainly on John Street. The streets thrive with life at night and the pubs enjoy an atmosphere to which everyone flocks to enjoy the craic.

Art galleries, craft and design workshops, a cartoon studio, theatre and a film club, historic buildings such as the castle with its public gardens and even a small museum are some of the culprits making Kilkenny unusually attractive considering its size. Similarly sized towns in many other parts of the country are often cultural backwaters.

Festivals

Kilkenny plays host to the annual Smithwicks Cat Laughs Comedy festival which makes Kilkenny the "Comedy Capital of the World". The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival is a Comedy Festival held each year in Kilkenny, Ireland There is also 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 Stewart, Shania Twain, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Andrea Bocelli. Recently it has been announced that Dolly Parton is to be the 2008 headliner at the concert. Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Country music Singer / Songwriter, Author, actress

Awards

Kilkenny was named as the Academy of Urbanism European Great Town for 2008. The Academy Chairman, John Thompson, said "it is great to have an Irish town coming through in this year's awards, especially Kilkenny which is coming to terms with economic growh without losing its wonderful character and humour". ^[3]

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. Harry N Abrams Inc is a book publishing company in New York City, New York founded in 1949 by Harry Nathan Abrams to publish high-quality art and illustrated books O'Carroll "Historic Kilkenny" (Kilkenny People Ltd. The Kilkenny People is a local paper circulated in County Kilkenny, Ireland. 1994)
• The Heritage Council, Kilkenny, A conservation Plan for the Walls of Kilkenny.

Gallery of Images

Jerpoint Abbey

Kilkenny Beer

Smithwick's Beer, formerly brewed in Kilkenny

The Tholsel, Kilkenny

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Kilkenny)
• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

External links

• Kilkenny.ie Portal Site for Kilkenny
• Kilkenny Borough Council
• Irish Architecture Online - Kilkenny City
• Kilkenny GAA official site for hurling and football in the county
• Kilkenny Floodlit Football League
• Kilkenny and District Soccer League
• Kilkenny hurling fansite
• Photos of Kilkenny on Flickr
• Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
• Mount Juliet Golf Course
• Kilkenny Tourism website
• Kilkenny's architectural highlights on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage website

• Kilkenny is at coordinates 52°38′52″N 7°15′22″W / 52.6477, -7.2561 (Kilkenny)Coordinates: 52°38′52″N 7°15′22″W / 52.6477, -7.2561 (Kilkenny)

References

1. ^ Williams, Dr. Smithwick's (pronounced /smɪθɪks/, 'smith-icks' is an Irish red ale style beer from Kilkenny in Ireland. The Tholsel High Street Kilkenny, Ireland was built in 1761 by Alderman William Colles (b A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Bernadette. (2007). The Annals of Ireland by Friar John Clyn. Dublin: Four Courts Press. ISBN 978 1 84682 034 2
2. ^ Kilkenny station. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-09-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris.
3. ^ Academy of Urbanism

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