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IRELAND

COUNTY KILKENNY

Wexford

Kilkenny

Waterford

Getting There

Tours

Gallery

Cork

Kerry

Clare

Tipperary

Galway

Mayo

Places of Interest

THOMASTOWN AND AROUND

Thomastown Castle

Thomastown
Situated on the River Nore, Thomastown is fifteen miles south-east of Kilkenny City. It has a population of over 1,600. It is the second largest town in Kilkenny County. It is home to a large number of archaeological and ecclesiastic remains. The town was originally called Grennan until in the eleventh century it came into the ownership of Thomas Fitz-Anthony Walsh who was one of the earlier Norman invaders who came with Strongbow from Wales, (It is no wonder so many people have the surname “Walsh”). ‘Grennan’ survives on a number of buildings in the town. From a navigational stance, Thomastown was very important, as it provided Kilkenny city with an intermediate town between it and the sea outlet at Waterford. It was also strategic in terms of defense and today numerous fortification ruins still exist. Important historical buildings that exist today are: The old town wall, Saint Mary’s Church, Grennan Castle and the Thompel church. Nearby, Dysett Castle was the home of the famous eighteenth century philosopher and cleric Bishop Berkeley. Berkeley gave his name to the famous university in San Francisco, California.

Jerpoint Abbey

Jerpoint Abbey
Jerpoint Abbey, 2km south of Thomastown was founded in 1158. Once a thriving medevial town it had fallen to ruin by the 1600s. The Cromwellian invasions being the most likely reason. Jerpoint Abbey is regarded as one of the most interesting Cistercian ruins in Ireland. Because so many of the domestic areas withing Jerpoint are still intact, this offers us a unique insight into the lives of the monks at the time. The abbey was self-sufficient and had its own gardens, watermills, cemetery, granary and kitchens. The oldest parts of the abbey are the Irish-Romanesque transepts and chancel, which contains faded wall paintings. The east window dates from the fourteenth century and the fantastic central tower was added in the fifteenth century. Wooden steps still follow the run of the night stairs. By going up them, you will reach the roof and can look down on the Dublin-Waterford railway. The restored cloister piers carry carvings which are similar to the drawings found on Medieval manuscripts. The abbey was dissolved in 1540 and its 1880 acres were presented to the Earl of Ormonde. According to local legend, St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) is buried near the abbey. While retreating in the Crusades, the Knights of Jerpoint removed his body from Myra and reburied him in the Church of St. Nicholas to the west of the abbey.

Inistioge

Inistioge
Regarded as one of the more prettiest villages in Kilkenny, Inistioge lies in a setting of rolling hills, bridges, church spirals and tree lined roads. The South Leinster Way – a long distance hiking route passes through this area. Woodstock House and Gardens is located close to the main village. The house once the home of an English landlord was burnt to the ground in the war of Independence in 1920. There are no plans to restore the house but the gardens and woods are beautiful to walk in. Today people come to Inistioge to fish on the river or eat in some of the restaurants in the village. The village came to prominence as a result of Meaves Binchy’s book ‘Circle of Friends’ – the film of which was in the village. Inistioge is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters. Here it is related that in the year of our Lord, 962, a victory was gained over Amlaeibh, son of Sitric, by the Ossorians, at Inistioge, where many of the Danes were slain, together with Batbarr, son of Nira. St. Columba has long been associated with Inistioge. Perhaps the saint or a follower prevailed upon a local chieftain named Teoc to grant the site located by the stream at the mouth of the deep glen, as a place upon which to establish a monastic community.