Province of Leinster

County Kilkenny

Known as The Marble County. For Kilkenny marble, a black carboniferous limestone that polishes like marble without being any. It is in the kerbstones, the shopfronts and the cathedral.

Did you know? Ireland's first witchcraft trial condemned Alice Kyteler of Kilkenny in 1324. She escaped abroad; her maid Petronilla de Meath was burned in her place.

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Through the ages — who held Kilkenny

8,000 BC – 4,001 BC Mesolithic hunter-gatherers The First Irish

4,000 BC – 2,501 BC Neolithic farming communities The Tomb Builders

2,500 BC – 501 BC Bronze Age Ireland The Age of Gold & Bronze

500 BC – AD 99 Iron Age Ireland The Iron Age

AD 100 – AD 399 Brigantes Ptolemy's Ireland

AD 400 – AD 546 Laigin (Leinster) The Five Fifths Patrick & the Rise of the Uí Néill

AD 547 – 1168 Osraige (Ossory) Saints & Scholars The Viking Storm Norse Cities & the Rise of Brian Kings with Opposition

1169 – 1333 Anglo-Norman Lordship of Ireland The Norman Invasion High Tide of the Colony

1334 – 1541 Earldom of Ormond (Butler) The Gaelic Resurgence The Kildare Ascendancy

1542 – 1607 Kingdom of Ireland (Tudor crown) The Tudor Conquest

1608 – 1640 Kingdom of Ireland The Plantation of Ulster

1641 – 1652 Confederate Ireland Confederate Ireland & Cromwell

1653 – 1800 Kingdom of Ireland Ascendancy Ireland

1801 – 1915 United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland The Act of Union An Gorta Mór — The Great Famine Land & Liberty

1916 – 1921 Irish Republic (declared, contested) The Revolution

1922 – 1936 Irish Free State Partition — Free State & Northern Ireland

1937 – 1948 Ireland (Éire) Éire

1949 – 2026 Republic of Ireland The Republic & the Troubles Peace & the New Ireland

Clans & surnames of Kilkenny

Archer Áirséir Norman · “the bowman” Aylward Aighleart Norse-English · “æthel-weard, 'noble guardian'” Brennan Ó Braonáin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Braonán, 'little drop / sorrow'” Brophy Ó Bróithe Gaelic sept · “descendant of Brothe” Butler de Buitléir Norman dynasty · “le botiler — the (chief) butler of Ireland” Cantwell Cantual Norman · “from Kentwell, Suffolk” Cody Mac Óda Norman · “son of Odo” Comerford Comartún Norman · “from Comberford, Staffordshire” Coogan Mac Cogadháin Gaelic sept · “son of Cogadhán — from cogadh, 'war'” Delaney Ó Dubhshláine Gaelic sept · “descendant of Dubhshláine, 'dark one of the Slaney'” Fitzpatrick Mac Giolla Phádraig Gaelic dynasty (Norman-styled) · “son of the devotee of Patrick” Grace Grás Norman · “le gras — 'the stout'” O'Shea Ó Séaghdha Gaelic sept · “descendant of Séaghdha, 'hawk-like, stately'” Purcell Puirséil Norman · “pourcel — 'piglet' (a herdsman's name)” Sherlock Scurlóg Norman-English · “'fair-locked' — bright-haired” Shortall Seartal Norman-English · “'short neck' (a nickname)” Tobin Tóibín Norman · “de St Aubyn” Walsh Breathnach Norman-Welsh · “'the Welshman' — soldiers who came with the Normans” Whelan Ó Faoláin Gaelic sept · “descendant of Faolán, 'little wolf'”

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On the ground in Kilkenny

Aghaviller · round tower · incomplete · 9.6 m
Ballyboodan Ogham Stone · ogham stone
Church Well, Aughatubbrid or Chatsworth · holy well
Grangefertagh · round tower · complete to cornice · 30 m
Kilkeasy · holy well
Kilkenny · round tower · complete to cornice · 30 m
Kilkieran High Crosses · high cross
Killamery · high cross
Killamery High Cross · high cross
Kilmogue Portal Tomb · dolmen
Kilree · round tower · complete to cornice · 27 m
Lady's Well, Danesfort · holy well
Saint Augustine's Well · holy well
Saint Catherine's Well, Rathbeagh · holy well
Saint Lachtain's Well, Freshford · holy well
Tullaherin · round tower · incomplete · 22.5 m
Tybroughney · holy well
15 castles · Burnchurch Castle, Cantwell's Castle, Clara Castle, Clomantagh Castle, Coolhill Castle and more

Every pin is placed by its documented coordinates. All the monuments of Ireland →

Quick answers

What is the Irish name for County Kilkenny?

Cill Chainnigh. Kilkenny is one of the 12 counties of Leinster (Cúige Laighean).

Who ruled County Kilkenny in the Middle Ages?

Around 1014 it was held by Osraige (Ossory); by 1450, Earldom of Ormond (Butler). The full era-by-era chronology is on this page.

What surnames come from County Kilkenny?

Names historically associated with Kilkenny include Archer, Aylward, Brennan, Brophy, Butler, Cantwell, Cody, Comerford, among others.

Trace your ancestors in Kilkenny

Free, from the holding institutions. How to begin: the six-step guide → · Spotted an error on this page? Suggest a correction.