K I L K I L
Grace's Old Castle, Callan, and Thomastown. The county is within the Cork military district, and there are barrack stations at Kilkenny and Castlecomer. Previous to the Union Kilkenny returned sixteen members to Parliament, two representing the county. Since that period two members have been returned for the county, one for the city of Kilkenny, and one for New Ross, which, however, is situated chiefly in Wexford.
Population. – According to the census of 1659, the total popula tion of the county was 18,427, of whom 1442 were English and 16,935 Irish. In 1760 it was estimated at 62,832. In 1821 it had increased to 158,716, and in 1841 to 202,746, but in 1851 it had diminished to 159,514, in 1871 to 109,379, and in 1881 to 99,064, of whom 48,682 were males and 50,382 females. The total number of emigrants from 1st May 1851 to 31st December 18SO was 55,402, or 44 5 per cent, of the population in 1861. The marriage rate in 1880 to every 1000. of the population was 3 2, the birth-rate 22 1, and the death rate 20 0. In 1881 the Roman Catholics numbered 93,699; Protestant Episcopalians, 4963; Presbyterians, 197; Methodists, 131; and all other denominations, 74. There were resident in 1871 in the county 805 natives of England and 160 of Scotland. In 1871 the number of persons who spoke Irish only was 316, while 6424 could speak Irish and Eng lish. 44,779 could read and write, 15 369 could read but could not write, and 36, 521 could neither read nor write.
History. – Kilkenny received its name from St Cannech or Canice, abbot of Aghaboe in Queen's county, who died in 598, and whose see was removed to Kilkenny in the beginning of the 11th century. In the time of Ptolemy the county was inhabited by the Brigantes and the Cauci. Afterwards it formed part of the kingdom of Uisraigagh, modernized into Ossory, which was tributary sometimes to Leinster and sometimes to Munster. In 1210 Kilkenny was formed into a county by King John. During the Revolution it was held by the Irish, and it also strongly adhered to the cause of James II. against William III.
Antiquities. – Circular groups of stones of very ancient origin are to be seen on the summits of Slieve Grian and the hill of Clogh- manta. There is a remarkable cromlech at Kilmogue and a large number of cromlechs as well as raths in various parts of the county. Besides numerous forts and mounds there are five round towers, one adjoining the cathedral of Kilkenny, and others at Tulloherin, Kilree, Fertagh, and Aghaviller respectively. The monastic remains in the city of Kilkenny are mentioned under the notice of the town. There are interesting remains of a Cistercian monastery at Jerpoint, said to have been founded by Duunough, king of Ossory, and of another belonging to the same order at Graig, founded by the earl of Pembroke in 1212. The Dominicans had an abbey at Rosbercon founded in 1267, and another at Thomastown, of which there are still some remains. The Carmelites had a monastery at Knocktopher. There was an Augustinian monastery at Innistioge, and priories at Callan and Kells, of all of which there are still some remains. Of the old castles the most remarkable is Graney or Grandison Castle in Iverk, which is supposed to have been founded by the eighth earl of Ormonde in 1521, and of which three towers and the walls still remain. See Robertson, Antiquities and Scenery of the County of Kilkenny, 1851.
KILKENNY, the chief town of the above county, a
market-town, county of a city, and parliamentary borough,
is finely situated on the Nore, and on the Great Southern
and Western Railway, 73 miles south-west of Dublin and
32 north of Waterford. It consists of two distinct portions,
Englishtown or Kilkenny proper and Irishtown, separated
from each other by a small rivulet, but although Irishtown
still retains its name it is now included in the corporation of
Kilkenny. The city is irregularly built, but possesses several
spacious streets with many good houses, while its beautiful
environs and several imposing ancient structures give it an
unusually interesting and picturesque appearance. The Nore
is crossed by two handsome bridges erected towards the
close of last century. The old cathedral of St Canice, from
whom the town takes its name, dates from 1052, and with
the exception of the cathedral of St Patrick in Dublin is
the largest ecclesiastical building in Ireland, having a length
from east to west of 220 feet, and a breadth along the
transepts from north to south of 123 feet. It occupies a
commanding position on an eminence at the western
extremity of Irishtown. It is a cruciform structure in the
Early English style, with a low massive tower supported on
clustered columns of the black marble peculiar to the
district. The building was lately restored at a cost of
£15,000. It contains a large number of old sepulchral
monuments. On the eastern side of the north transept is the parish church, and a short distance from the south transept are the remains of a round tower, rising to the height of 100 feet. The episcopal palace near the east end of the cathedral was erected in the time of Edward III. and enlarged in 1735. Besides the old cathedral, the principal other churches are the Episcopal church of St Mary, a plain cruciform structure; that of St John, containing a portion of the old abbey of St John; and the Roman Catholic cathedral, erected in 1857 at a cost of £30,000, a cruciform structure in the late First Pointed style, with a massive central tower 186 feet in height. There are important remains of three old monasteries – the preceptory of St John s, founded in 1211; the Dominican abbey, founded in 1225, and now used as a Roman Catholic church; and the Franciscan abbey on the banks of the Nore, founded about 1230. But, among the ancient buildings, that next in importance and interest to the cathedral is the castle, occupying a commanding position on the summit of a precipice above the river Nore. It was originally built by Strongbow, but rebuilt by William le Mareschal in 1175, and again restored in the present century, and transformed into the princely residence of the marquis of Ormonde. The grammar school or college, which was originally founded by Pierce, earl of Ormonde, and re-endowed in 1684 by the duke of Ormonde, stands on the banks, of the river opposite the castle. In it Swift, Farquhar, Congreve, and Bishop Berkeley received part of their education. Adjoining the city is the Roman Catholic college of St Kyran, a Gothic building completed about 1840 at a cost of £20,000. The other principal public buildings are the new court-house, the tholsel or city court, the city and county prison, the barracks, and the county infirmary. There is still a small manufacture of coarse woollens and linens. In the neighbourhood there are large collieries, as well as quarries for marble, the manufactures connected with which are an important industry of the town. It also possesses corn-mills, brew eries, and a tannery. The population of the county of the city of Kilkenny in 1851 was 19,973, of the town proper 15,808; in 1871 the numbers were 15,748 and 12,710; and in 1881 they were 14,964 and 12,182.
The town of Kilkenny proper owes its origin to an English
settlement which took place in the time of Strongbow, and it
received a charter from William le Mareschal, who married
Strongbow's daughter. This charter was confirmed by Edward III.,
and from Edward IV. Irishtown received the privilege of choosing
a portrieve independent of Kilkenny. By Elizabeth the boroughs,
while retaining their distinct rights, were constituted one corpora
tion, which in 1608 was made a free borough by James I., and in
the following year a free city. From James II. the citizens received
a new charter, constituting the city and liberties a distinct county,
to be styled the county of the city of Kilkenny, the burgesses of
Irishtown continuing, however, to elect a portrieve until the passing
of the Municipal Reform Act. Frequent parliaments were held at
Kilkenny in the 14th century, and so late as the reign of Henry
VIII. it was the occasional residence of the lord-lieutenant. In
1642 it was the meeting-place of the assembly of confederate
Catholics. In 1648 Cromwell in the hope, by means of a plot, of
obtaining possession of the town, advanced towards it, but before his
arrival the plot was discovered. In 1650 it was, however, compelled
to surrender after a long and resolute defence. At a very early
period Kilkenny and Irishtown returned each two members to par
liament, but since the Union one member only has been returned
for the city of Kilkenny.
KILLARNEY, a market-town of Ireland, county of Kerry, is situated on a branch line of the Dublin and Cork Railway, 180 miles south-west from Dublin and 47 miles north from Cork. On account of the beautiful scenery in the neighbourhood, the town is much frequented by tourists. Within late years it has been greatly improved in appearance, and the streets are now spacious and well-paved, while many good houses and several imposing public buildings have been erected. The principal buildings are
