KILKENNY, a county of Ireland in the province of Leinster, bounded north by Co. Leix, east by Carlow and Wexford, south by Waterford, and west by Waterford and Tipperary• Area 511,775 ac. or about Boo sq. miles. Pop. (1926), 70,965. The greater part of Kilkenny forms the south-eastern extremity of the central plain of Ireland and is composed largely of Carbonifer ous limestone. The Old Red Sandstone, with a Silurian core, forms the high ridge of Slievenaman in the south, and its upper laminated beds contain Archanodon, the earliest known fresh water mollusc, and plant remains, at Kiltorcan near Ballyhale. The Leinster granite appears mainly as inliers in the Silurian of the south-east. The high synclinal coalfield forms the most im portant feature of the north of the county. A prolongation of the field runs out south-west by Tullaroan. The coal of the basin is anthracite, and the most productive portions are at Castlecomer. Hematitic iron of a rich quality is found in the Cambro-Silurian rocks at several places ; and tradition asserts that silver shields were made about 85o B.C. at Argetros or Silverwood on the Nore. Manganese is obtained in some of the limestone quarries, and also near the Barrow. Marl is abundant in various districts. Pipeclay and potter's clay are found, and also yellow ochre. Copper occurs near Knocktopher.
The principal rivers, the Suir, the Barrow and the Nore, rise in the Slieve Bloom mountains (Co. Tipperary and Co. Leix), and flow into Waterford harbour. The Suir forms the boundary of the county with Waterford, and is navigable for small vessels to Carrick. The Nore, navigable to Inistioge, enters the county at its north-western boundary, and flows by Kilkenny to the Barrow, 9 m. above Ross, having received the King's river at Jerpoint and the Argula near Inistioge. The Barrow, navigable beyond the limits of Kilkenny into Kildare, forms the eastern boundary of the county from near New Bridge. Turloughs or temporary lakes are occasionally formed by the bursting up of underground streams.
Kilkenny is believed to have been created by King John. It had previously formed part of the kingdom of Ossory, and was one of the liberties granted to the heiresses of Strongbow with palatinate rights. There are ancient stone circles on Slieve Grian and on the hill of Cloghmanta. Many dolmens and raths (or
encampments) occur in the county. Five round towers are known, one adjoining the Protestant cathedral of Kilkenny, and others at Tulloherin, Kilree, Fertagh and Aghaviller. There are remains of a Cistercian monastery at Jerpoint, said to have been founded by Dunnough, King of Ossory, and of another of the same order at Graigue, founded in 1212. The Dominicans had an abbey at Rosbercon, founded in 1267, and another at Thomastown of which there are some remains. The Carmelites had a monastery at Knocktopher. There are remains of an Augustinian monastery at Inistioge, and of priories at Callan and Kells. There are also ruins of the castles of Callan, Legan, Grenan and Clonamery, besides the ancient portions of Kilkenny castle.
The surface occupied by bog or wet land is very small. Myrtle and arbutus grow in the open in winter. There is less rain than at Dublin, and vegetation is earlier than in the adjacent counties.
Along the banks of the Suir, Nore and Barrow are rich alluvial deposits. Above the coal-measures in the northern part of the county there is a moorland tract devoted chiefly to pasturage.
Above the limestone is a deep rich loam well adapted for the growth of wheat. The heath-covered hills afford excellent honey.
Oats, barley, turnips and potatoes are grown ; the cultivation of wheat has declined. Cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry are reared, the Kerry cattle being in considerable request.
The linen manufacture introduced in the 17th century to supersede the woollen manufacture gradually became extinct and that now carried on is also very small. There are, however, breweries, distilleries, tanneries and flour-mills, as well as marble polishing works. The Carboniferous sandstones furnish the hard pavement slabs sold as "Carlow flags." The black limestone with white shells in it at Kilkenny is quarried as an ornamental marble. Good slates are quarried at Kilmoganny, in the Silurian inlier on the Slievenaman range. The county is traversed from north to south by the Maryborough, Kilkenny and Waterford branch of the Great Southern railway, and the Waterford and Limerick line runs for a short distance through the southern part of the county. The administrative counties of Carlow and Kilkenny together return five members to the Dail Eireann.