Kilkenny

Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh) is the county seat of County Kilkenny, Ireland, with a population (including environs) of 20,735. The city is located on the River Nore and is the only city that is not tidal in the republic. It is also the only city in the republic that is not a county borough and so its administration is a "borough council" rather than "city council" as with the other cities. The city is also the only city of the republic that has neither an institute of technology nor university although National University of Ireland, Maynooth maintains an outreach center in the city. The city is famed for its history and night life.

Architecture

The city is famous for its many mediæval buildings and is referred to as the "Marble City" for hundreds of years, but the black stone with decorative white fossils that forms the backbone of many of Kilkenny's fine buildings is actually polished limestone which has been quarried from around the city for centuries.

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The city is dominated by Kilkenny Castle and Saint Canice's Cathedral. The latter is named for Saint Canice, who also gave his name to the town (Cill Chainnigh is Irish for "Church of Canice"). Also of notice is the Dominican 'Black Abbey', founded in 1225, lying on Parliament Street.

Related Topics:
Kilkenny Castle - Saint Canice - Dominican

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