198-665: Osraige (Old Irish) or Osraighe (Classical Irish), Osraí (Modern Irish), anglicized as Ossory , was a medieval Irish kingdom comprising what is now County Kilkenny and western County Laois , corresponding to the Diocese of Ossory . The home of the Osraige people, it existed from around the first century until the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. It was ruled by the Dál Birn dynasty, whose medieval descendants assumed
396-462: A Monterey cypress , beech , silver fir and two coastal redwood at Woodstock Gardens in Inistioge . In Thomastown there is a common lime at Coolmore House , an English/common oak at Stoneen Kilfawe , an English/common oak at Mount Juilliet Estate and a Wellingtonia, giant sequoia , Monterey cypress , sweet/Spanish chestnut and a holm oak/evergreen oak at Kilfane Glebe . There
594-453: A Viking settlement just north of Dublin itself. Sigtrygg's nephew, Ivar Haraldsson , plundered Rathlin Island just off the north coast of Ulaid in 1038 and again in 1045. The latter attack saw Ímar kill Ragnall Ua Eochada, the heir-apparent of Ulaid and brother of Niall mac Eochaid, along with three hundred Ulaid nobles. In retribution Niall again attacked Finn Gall. In 1087, a son of
792-613: A coalition of Ulster's powers that included the king of the Cenél nEógain , Máel Sechnaill Mac Lochlainn , and the chief prelates in the province such as the archbishop of Armagh and the bishop of Down. Once again however the Normans won, capturing the clergy and many of their relics. In 1178, after John de Courcy had retired to Glenree in Machaire Conaille (another name for Conaille Muirtheimne), Mac Duinn Sléibe, along with
990-558: A combined force of native Irish, led by a king called Conchobar, and their Norse allies, led by Eyvind Urarhorn, defeated a major Viking expedition launched by the Earl of Orkney , Einar Sigurdsson , who was aiming to re-assert his father's lordship over the seaways between Ireland and Scotland. In 1022, Niall mac Eochaid, the king of Ulaid, inflicted a major defeat on Sigtrygg's Dublin fleet, decimating it and taking its crew captive. Niall followed up this victory in 1026 attacking Finn Gall,
1188-480: A hoard of 43 silver and bronze items dated to 970 AD was discovered in a rocky cleft deep in Dunmore Cave , containing silver ingots and conical buttons woven from fine silver. The cave was the site of a recorded Viking massacre in 928. In 1984, a series of commemorative cast stone panels sculpted by Joan Smith were installed as a facade on the buttress walls of Ossory Bridge which forms part of
1386-452: A large amount of their treasure. Later that same month Ua Cerbaill along with Eochaid held a meeting with Mac Lochlainn where Eochaid requested the kingship of Ulaid in return for the hostages of all Ulaid, which included the son of every chief along with his own daughter. Eochaid also gave Mac Lochlainn a considerable amount of treasure along with the territory of Bairrche , and the townland of Saul. In turn, Mac Lochlainn swore an oath to
1584-410: A little boat, from the east, over the pure-colored sea, my Domnoc brought the gifted race of Ireland's bees. ~ Félire Óengusso [REDACTED] Media related to Virgilius of Salzburg at Wikimedia Commons Modern Counties Laois and Kilkenny preserve many of the ancient and medieval site associated with the kingdom of Osraige. A long and well-attested sculptural tradition of stone carving, especially
1782-595: A major conflict was fought in the woods of Osraige near Freshford when Mac Murchadha and his Norman allies under Robert FitzStephen , Meiler FitzHenry , Maurice de Prendergast , Miles FitzDavid, and Hervey de Clare (Montmaurice) defeated a numerically superior force under Domnall Mac Giolla Phádraig, king of greater-Osraige, at the pass of Achadh Úr following a feigned retreat in a three-day battle. Shortly thereafter, de Prendergast and his contingent of Flemish soldiers defected from Mac Murchada's camp and joined king Domnall's forces in Osraige before quitting Ireland for
1980-458: A massive campaign of destruction deep into Osraige, laying waste to it from end to end, and officially subjected it to Leinster. Much of the background drama and initial action of the Norman advance played out on the battlefields and highways of Osraige. The kingdoms of Osraige and Leinster had also witnessed increased mutual hostility prior to the Normans. Significantly, Diarmaid Mac Murchadha ,
2178-706: A network of habitats, ecological 'corridors' essential for wildlife to flourish and move between habitats. Flora of County Kilkenny includes the endangered autumn crocus , also rare species such as the bog orchid , the Killarney fern and the tufted salt-marsh grass . There are also vulnerable species like lesser snapdragon , meadow barley , small-white orchid , opposite-leaved pondweed , betony , red hemp nettle , narrow-leaved helleborine , lanceolate spleenwort , annual knawel and basil thyme . Surveys of woodlands of County Kilkenny include A Woodland Survey of Kilkenny , undertaken in 1997 to identify woodlands in
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#17327918357632376-400: A nominal token of submission. Later still, another auxiliary force under Raymond FitzGerald (le Gros) landed just opposite Osraige's border at Waterford , and won a skirmish with its inhabitants. By 1169, Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow) had also landed with a major force outside of Waterford, married Mac Murchadha's daughter Aoife and sacked the city. Later that year,
2574-485: A notice of intention is given and prohibit the cutting of hedges within the bird nesting period. The main threats come mainly from invasive species, heavy grazing and damaging activities such as non-native planting, native felling and dumping. There are instances of felling (both legal and illegal) of ash trees for the production of hurleys . There are around 180 significant trees in County Kilkenny included in
2772-401: A number of parishes or parts of parishes. Both civil parishes and baronies are now largely obsolete (except for purposes such as legal transactions involving land) and are no longer used for local government purposes. For religious administration, the county was divided into parishes. Every parish had at least one church. The barony boundaries and the parish boundaries were not connected. From
2970-619: A number of weirs and rapids. The wide and meandering Rivers Nore and Barrow are used for angling, boating and water sports. Special Areas of Conservation, under the European Union Habitats Directive , in County Kilkenny includes Hugginstown Fen south-west of Ballyhale , The Loughans near Urlingford , Cullahill Mountain on the Castlecomer Plateau near Johnstown , Spahill and Clomantagh Hill which form part of an escarpment which links
3168-457: A pre-Norman fortification existed at the site upon which Kilkenny Castle is built; likely the ancient capital of the kingdom. St. Ciarán is said to have founded the influential monastery of Seirkieran , in present-day Clareen . Saighir was the first episcopal seat within the kingdom and was the burial site of the Kings of Osraige . There, the ruins of a monastic site, earthworks, a holy well ,
3366-775: A result, the battle of Móin Dairi Lothair (modern-day Moneymore) took place between them and an alliance of Cruthin kings, in which the Cruthin suffered a devastating defeat. Afterwards the Northern Uí Néill settled their Airgíalla allies in the Cruthin territory of Eilne , which lay between the River Bann and the River Bush. The defeated Cruthin alliance meanwhile consolidated themselves on Dál nAraidi. The Dál nAraidi king Congal Cáech took possession of
3564-450: A scion from a different lineage emerged as king. Tóim Snáma was opposed by the sons of Cellach mac Fáelchair (died 735), and presumably Dúngal mac Cellaig (died 772). In 769, he was successful in the battle versus them and they were put to flight. In 770, he was slain, presumably by Dúngal his successor. During this time the churches of Osraige witnessed a flourish of growth and activity, with notable clerics from Osraige being recorded in
3762-479: A smaller portion of the southernmost part of Osraige bordering Waterford. Additionally, the Ua Caellaighe clan of Mag Lacha and Ua Foircheallain in the extreme north Osraige declared their independence from Mac Giolla Phádraig rule under Fionn Ua Caellaighe. Thus the north and south fringes of the kingdom broke apart from the centre, each with subsequent competing dynasts until the arrival of the Normans. While
3960-565: A time. In 1170, MacMurchada died, leaving Strongbow as the de facto king of Leinster, which in his understanding, included Osraige. At Threecastles , Strongbow and Mac Giolla Phádraig agreed to the Treaty of Odogh (Ui Duach) in 1170, in which de Prendergast saved the life of the prince of Osraige from a treacherous assassination. Osraige was afterwards invaded by Strongbow's troops and an Ua Briain force from Thommond. In 1171, King Henry II of England landed in nearby Waterford Harbour with one of
4158-711: A type of sorceress in the Orkneyinga saga , as the mother of Earl Sigurd the Stout and the creator of the famed raven banner . This would make Earl Sigurd of Orkney a possessor of Ossorian maternal lineage. Sigurd also appears briefly in St Olaf's Saga as incorporated into the Heimskringla and in the Eyrbyggja Saga . There are various tales about his exploits in the more fanciful Njal's Saga as well as
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#17327918357634356-601: Is 313 metres (1,027 ft), and located North-West of the town of Castlecomer and near the border with Laois . The highest point of the Culla Hills is in Laois at 279 metres (915 ft), but its undulating slopes spread over a considerable area of Kilkenny in the north-westerly area. In the west of the county the Slieveardagh Hills and Booley Hills extend westwards to County Tipperary. The highest point in
4554-482: Is a fossil assemblage containing Cyclostigma and Archaeopteris and Archaeopteris hibernica . Most of the county is principally limestone of the upper and lower group, corresponding with the rest of Ireland. A large area in the north and east contains beds of coal, surrounded by limestone strata, alternated with shale, argillaceous ironstone, and sandstone. This occurs eastward of the Nore around Castlecomer , along
4752-571: Is a secondary source for Ossory's opposition to the victorious Dalcassian forces returning from the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, as well as the only known source for information about the important Synod of Ráth Breasail which may have occurred on the northern borders of Ossory, near present-day Mountrath in 1111. The kingdom of Ossory and some of its primary saints are mentioned by the Welsh clergyman Meredith Hanmer in his Chronicle of Ireland , which
4950-844: Is also a Turkey oak at Threecastles House in Kilkenny , an ash and two English/common oak at Ballytobin House in Callan , a common lime , Wellingtonia giant sequoia and two Monterey cypress at Shankill Castle in Paulstown , an English/common oak at Ballykeefe House in Kilmanagh, an English/common oak at Fanningstown House in Owning and a beech at Castlecomer Golf Club in Castlecomer . The climate of County Kilkenny, like
5148-743: Is circumstantial evidence which indicates that early in his reign, Cerball may have even sent emissaries to establish international diplomacy with the Carolingian Empire 's western-third under Charles the Bald who was also dealing with Viking threats. He established dual marriage alliances with the High King Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid and successfully forced Máel Gualae , king of Munster to recognize Osraige's formal independence from Munster in 859. The later Icelandic Landnámabók uniquely names Cerball as king of Dublin and
5346-458: Is currently in operation within 1 km of the old site, and as of March 2010, was providing live weather data to the general public and climate data to Met Éireann . The maximum temperature recorded at the Met Station was 30.8 °C (87.4 °F) on 2 August 1995. Extremes recorded at the station include the highest air temperature of 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) on 29 June 1976,
5544-575: Is divided into 4 local electoral areas – Callan–Thomastown (6), Castlecomer (6), Kilkenny city (7) and Piltown (5) – which return a total of 24 members to Kilkenny County Council. The 2019 Kilkenny local elections had a voter turnout of 53%, a decrease of 4.1% on the 2014 election . The highest turnout was in Callan–Thomastown (56.4%) and the lowest was in Kilkenny city (50.4%). In the 2019 local elections, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael emerged as
5742-457: Is elevated. Along the west of the Barrow and Nore is mostly covered by hills of nearly equal elevation except along the left bank of the river Suir. Here there is a rich area of land between the river and the hills. The county is subdivided into twelve baronies which are in turn divided into civil parishes and townlands . There are about 800 townlands in Kilkenny. Each barony was made up of
5940-612: Is named after him) and was an important and successful administrator for the Crown; being made seneschal of all Leinster from 1215 to at least 1223. Upper Ossory was formally incorporated into the Henry VIII 's Lordship of Ireland by the submission of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory under the policy of surrender and regrant in 1537. This ironically had the effect of preserving Gaelic culture in Upper Ossory long into
6138-469: Is part of the county's biodiversity and is an environmental, economic, amenity and resource. Fauna of County Kilkenny includes hedgehogs , otters , badgers , red foxes , and bats such as Leisler's bat , Daubenton's bat , the brown long-eared bat and the common pipistrelle . There is also sika deer , fallow deer , stoat , red squirrel and pygmy shrew . The bird nesting period is from 1 March until 1 September. Woodlands, trees and hedgerows form
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6336-514: Is recorded allying with rival bands of Vikings to defeat them during his early career as king. He was also close enough to the Norse–Gaels that he features under the name " Kjarvalr Írakonungr " in several medieval Icelandic pedigrees through his daughters. Cerball was likely the most powerful king of his day in Ireland, even plundering the lands of his brother-in-law the high king, which resulted in
6534-532: Is situated on the River Nore in the centre of the county. Kilkenny city is approximately 50 km (31 mi) from Waterford , 124 km (77 mi) from Dublin and 150 km (93 mi) from Cork . The River Nore flows through the county, and the River Suir forms the border with County Waterford . Brandon Hill is the highest point with an elevation of 515 m (1,690 ft). Most of
6732-618: Is sometimes personified in the character of Mícheál Dubh Mac Giolla Ciaráin (Dark Michael), a fictional prince of Osraige in several poems including Ossorie, A Song of Leinster by Rev. James B. Dollard and especially Welcome to the Prince , an eighteenth-century Jacobite poem written in Irish by William Heffernan "Dall" ("the Blind") , and translated into English by James Clarence Mangan . Nordic literary history records several members of
6930-573: Is still known as Ossory . The medieval Diocese of Ossory and was established in 549 AD, and its territory corresponded to the medieval Kingdom of Ossory . In historic times, Kilkenny replaced Aghaboe as the chief church in Osraige. The kingdom was bounded by two of the Three Sisters the rivers Barrow and Suir and the northern limit was, generally, the Slieve Bloom Mountains . The Osraige —their name means people of
7128-532: Is the enemy of valor.' When Cerball heard that, his drunkenness left him and he seized his arms. A third of the night had passed at that time. This is how Cerball came out of his chamber: with a huge royal candle before him, and the light of that candle shone far in every direction. Great terror seized the Norwegians, and they fled to the nearby mountains and to the woods. Those who stayed behind out of valor, moreover, were all killed. When daybreak came
7326-697: Is to these boundaries that Ulaid entered the historic period in Ireland in the 6th century, though the Dál nAraidi still held territory west of the Bann in County Londonderry. The emergence of the Dál nAraidi and Dál Fiatach dynasties may have concealed the dominance of earlier tribal groupings. By the mid-6th century, the Dál Riata possessions in Scotland came under serious threat from Bridei I , king of
7524-631: The Clanna Rudraige , a late form of group name. According to historical tradition, the ruling dynasties of the Ulaid were either of the Ulaid population-group or the Cruthin . Medieval Irish genealogists traced the descent of the Ulaid from the legendary High King of Ireland , Rudraige mac Sithrigi . The Cruthin on the other hand is the Irish term for the Picts , and are stated as initially being
7722-891: The Saga of Gunnlaugr Serpent-Tongue , Thorstein Sidu-Hallsson's Saga , the Vatnsdæla Saga and in the tale of Helgi and Wolf in the Flateyjarbók . He also appears in the Irish propagandistic work Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib as an opponent of Brian Boruma at the Battle of Clontarf , and his death there is recorded in the Annals of Ulster . The kingdom of Ossory also features prominently in twelfth-century Norman literature. Two works by Gerald of Wales on Ireland, Topographia Hibernica and Expugnatio Hibernica pay special attention to some kings of Ossory, its geography and
7920-531: The "Three Sisters" ( Irish : Cumar na dTrí Uisce ). Like many other Irish kingdoms , the tribal name of Osraighe also came to be applied to the territory they occupied; thus, wherever the Osraige dwelt became known as Osraige. The kingdom's most significant neighbours were the Loígis , Uí Ceinnselaig and Uí Bairrche of Leinster to the north and east and the Déisi , Eóganacht Chaisil and Éile of Munster to
8118-672: The Airthir —in whose lands lay Emain Macha—were originally an Ulaid tribe before becoming one of the Airgíalla. Towards the end of the 5th century, the Ulaid sub-group Dál Riata , located in the Glens of Antrim , had started settling in modern-day Scotland , forming a cross-channel kingdom. Their first settlements were in the region of Argyll , which means "eastern province of the Gael". It
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8316-682: The Cruthin or Érainn , for example: Ptolemy 's Geographia , written in the 2nd century, places the Uoluntii or Voluntii in the southeast of what is now Ulster, somewhere south of the River Lagan and north of the River Boyne . To their north were the Darini and to their south were the Eblani . Muirchú 's "Life of Patrick", written in the 7th century, also says that the territory of
8514-579: The Forest Inventory Planning System (1998) which estimated Kilkenny had 2251 ha of mixed woodland and broadleaf woodland not dominated by beech, representing 1.09% of the county and the National Forest Inventory 2004 and 2006 which estimated that 4430 ha of the county is native forested land, Scots pine was regarded as non-native, representing 2.15% of the county. The best quality sites in
8712-555: The Orkney islands during his reign, yet scholars regard this as an interpolation borrowed from the influential narrative found in the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland , likely composed by Cerball's eleventh century descendant Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic . Cerball's descendant king Gilla Pátraic mac Donnchada (r. 976–996) proved an able ruler, and by the late 10th century the hereditary ruling descendants of Osraige had adopted
8910-521: The River Barrow and River Suir are natural boundaries to the east and south of the county. County Kilkenny is bordered by Laois , Carlow , Wexford , Waterford and Tipperary . The main rivers in County Kilkenny, called the Three Sisters , are the Nore , Barrow and Suir . The River Nore bisects the county and flows through Ballyragget , Kilkenny City and the villages of Bennettsbridge , Thomastown and Inistioge . The River Suir forms
9108-635: The River Barrow . On the River Barrow, from the villages of Goresbridge and Graiguenamanagh , there is a navigable river with traditional barges to the River Shannon or to Dublin Bay . Kilkenny's river network helps drain the land giving the county a highly fertile lower central plain. Kings River and the Dinan are used for canoeing and kayaking as they contain stretches of peaceful waterways and
9306-565: The Slieveardagh Hills with the Castlecomer Plateau, Galmoy Fen north of Johnstown, Lower River Suir south of Thurles , the freshwater stretches of the Barrow / River Nore and Thomastown Quarry , near Thomastown . In 2005 Coan Bogs was defined as a Natural Heritage Area under section 18 of the Wildlife Act 2000. The blanket bog consists of two small areas of upland blanket bog located near Castlecomer in
9504-493: The Synod of Ráth Breasail om 1111 AD. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory still to this day provides a very close outline of the kingdom's borders. In the earliest times, the chief church in Osraige was undoubtedly Seir Kieran ( County Offaly ), the chief church of St Ciarán , but at some time in history it had been eclipsed by Aghaboe ( County Laois ), chief church of Saint Cainnech , and later moved to Kilkenny , which
9702-464: The Three Collas invaded Ulaid, destroyed its ancient capital Emain Macha, and restricted Ulaid to the eastern part of its territory: east of the Lower Bann and Newry River . It is said that the territory the Three Collas conquered became the kingdom of Airgíalla . Another tradition that survived until the 11th century dated the fall of Emain Macha to 450 AD—within the time of Saint Patrick —which may explain why he chose Armagh, near Emain Macha, as
9900-425: The Tree Register of Ireland , compiled by the Tree Council of Ireland , based on characteristics such as age, height, diameter, historical or folklore connections. The tallest tree in Kilkenny is a silver fir of 5.39 x 43m located at Woodstock Gardens in Inistioge and the tree with the largest girth is a common lime of 9.01 x 27m located at Coolmore House in Thomastown . At present, under
10098-448: The Ulothi lay between the Lagan and the Boyne. In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology —which survives in texts from the 8th century onward—the pre-historic Ulaid are said to dominate the whole north of Ireland, their southern border stretching from the River Boyne in the east to the River Drowes in the west, with their capital at Emain Macha (Navan Fort) near present-day Armagh , County Armagh . According to legend, around 331 AD
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#173279183576310296-405: The climate of Ireland , is a changeable oceanic climate with few extremes. It is defined as a temperate oceanic climate , or Cfb on the Köppen climate classification system. Kilkenny lies in plant Hardiness zone 9. Weatherwise, the county is generally representative of wide river valleys in the region with low temperatures on cloudless nights, and is significant in that it records some of
10494-433: The kingdom of the Isles . The Mac Dúinn Shléibe kings desperately maintained the independence of Ulaid from the Mac Lochlainn rulers of the Northern Uí Néill. By the beginning of the 12th century the Dál nAraidi, ruled by the Ó Loingsigh (O'Lynch), had lost control of most of Antrim to the Ua Flainn (O'Lynn) and became restricted to a stretch of land in south Antrim with their base at Mag Line (Moylinny). The Ua Flainn were
10692-442: The province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region . It is named after the city of Kilkenny . Kilkenny County Council is the local authority for the county. At the 2022 census the population of the county was 103,685. The county was based on the historic Gaelic kingdom of Ossory ( Osraighe ), which was coterminous with the Diocese of Ossory . Kilkenny is the 16th-largest of Ireland's 32 counties by area and
10890-412: The 13th century was renamed Dún Phádraig , which became Anglicised as Downpatrick. When Ireland was being organised into a diocesan system in the 12th century, the following dioceses where created based on the territory of the main dynasties of the Ulaid: the diocese of Down, based on the territory of the Dál Fiatach, with its cathedral at Bangor, however later moved to Downpatrick by John de Courcy; and
11088-573: The 17th to mid-19th centuries, civil parishes were based on early Christian and medieval monastic and church settlements. The civil parishes are divided into townlands (See List of townlands in County Kilkenny ). As the population grew, new parishes were created and the civil parish covered the same area as the established Church of Ireland . The Roman Catholic Church adapted to a new structure based on towns and villages. There 2,508 civil parishes in Ireland, which often break both barony and county boundaries. For statistical purposes at European level,
11286-426: The 21st-largest in terms of population. It is the third-largest of Leinster's 12 counties in size, the seventh-largest in terms of population, and has a population density of 50 people per km2. Kilkenny borders five counties – Tipperary to the west, Waterford to the south, Carlow and Wexford to the east, and Laois to the north. Kilkenny city is the county's seat of local government and largest settlement, and
11484-418: The 9th and 10th centuries, the Vikings had founded several bases in Ulaid, primarily at Annagassan , Carlingford Lough , Lough Neagh , and Strangford Lough . There was also a significant port at Ulfreksfjord, located at Latharna, present-day Larne, County Antrim. All but Ulfreksfjord were destroyed by the combined efforts of the Ulaid and the Northern Uí Néill, however as a result they deprived themselves of
11682-433: The Bishop of Armagh amongst other nobles for his good behaviour. Mac Lochlainn then give Bairrche to Ua Cerbaill for his part in mediating what turned out to be short-lived reconciliation. Over the following century, the Airgíallan Mughdorna would settle Bairrche, and from them derives its present-day name of Mourne. Despite his oath, Muirchertach had Eochaid seized and blinded, after which his allies abandoned him, and he
11880-478: The Boneless, who had a son named Gilla Pátraic. Derbforgaill, daughter of Tadhg Mac Giolla Pádraig was married to Toirdelbach Ua Briain , king of Munster and de facto high king of Ireland. From him, she bore two sons: Tadhg and Muirchertach Ua Briain , who also later became high king. She reposed in 1098 in Glendalough. The monastic settlements of Saighir , Aghaboe and Kilkenny were planted by Christian saints . The activity of Christian religious leaders under
12078-482: The Carlow–Kilkenny Dáil constituency was created and continued until the creation of a separate Kilkenny constituency in 1937, which existed until 1948. The county is part of the South constituency for elections to the European Parliament . The constituency has 5 seats. County Kilkenny takes its name from the city of Kilkenny . Kilkenny is the anglicised version of the Irish Cill Chainnigh , meaning Church (Cell) of Cainneach or Canice . This probably relates to
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#173279183576312276-481: The Corcu Loígde appear to have been the dominant political groups in Munster, before the rise of the Eóganachta marginalized them both. Ptolemy 's 2nd-century map of Ireland places a tribe he called the "Usdaie" roughly in the same area that the Osraige occupied. The territory indicated by Ptolemy likely included the major late Iron Age hill-fort at Freestone Hill and a 1st-century Roman burial site at Stonyford, both in County Kilkenny. Due to inland water access via
12474-403: The Dál Fiatach capital, Dún De Lethglaise ( Downpatrick ), forcing the Ulaid over-king, Ruaidrí Mac Duinn Sléibe (Rory MacDonleavy), to flee. A week later, Mac Duinn Sléibe returned with a great host from across Ulaid, and despite heavily outnumbering de Courcy's forces, were defeated. In another attempt to retake Dún De Lethglaise, Mac Duinn Sléibe followed up with an even greater force made up
12672-455: The Dál Riata. In retaliation Mac Lochlainn led a force consisting of the Northern Uí Néill and Airgíalla into Ulaid killing many and expelling Eochaid from the kingship. In September Eochaid tried to reclaim the kingship, however was expelled by his own people who feared reprisals from Mac Lochlainn, upon whose command had Eochaid confined by Ua Cerbaill. The next month Mac Lochlainn led another raid into Ulaid, receiving their hostages along with
12870-402: The Dál nAraidi, and his ally Cenn Fáelad of Ciannachta were killed at Dún Cethirinn. By the 8th century the territory of the Ulaid shrunk to east of the Bann into what is now the modern-day counties Antrim , Down and Louth . In either 732 or 735, the Ulaid suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Cenél nEógain led by Áed Allán in the battle of Fochart in Magh Muirthemne, which saw
13068-455: The Earl . The name of the kingdom survives in The Red Book of Ossory ; a fourteenth-century register of the Roman Catholic diocese of Ossory, and which is associated with Richard Ledred who was bishop of Ossory, from 1317 to 1360. The book contains copies of documents which would have been important for the administration of the diocese: constitutions, taxations, memoranda relating to rights and privileges, deeds and royal letters, as well as
13266-534: The English and Irish, but to little effect. In The Book of Rights , the Osraige are labeled as Síl mBresail Bric ("the seed of Bresail Bric") after Bressail Bricc , a remote ancestor of the Ossorians. Bressail Bricc had two sons; Lughaidh, ancestor of the Laigan , and Connla , from whom the Ossorians sprang, through Óengus Osrithe . Thus, the people of Osraige were also sometimes collectively referred to as Clann Connla . Over time as lineages multiplied, surnames were eventually adopted. The following clans were
13464-445: The Inishowen peninsula in 1197. De Courcy would style himself as princeps Ultoniae , "master of Ulster", and ruled his conquests like an independent king. The Uí Echach Coba in central and western Down however escaped conquest. In 1199 King John I of England sent Hugh de Lacy to arrest de Courcy and take his possessions. In 1205, de Lacy was made the first Earl of Ulster, founding the Earldom of Ulster , with which he continued
13662-419: The Lagin pedigree of the Osraige is a fabrication, invented to help them achieve their goals in Leinster. Francis John Byrne suggests that it may date from the time of Cerball mac Dúnlainge. The Osraighe themselves claimed to be descended from the Érainn people, although scholars propose that the Ivernic groups included the Osraige. Prior to the coming of Christianity to Ireland, the Osraige and their relatives
13860-537: The Nore Valley. Conifer forests are found on the upland areas. Habitats of international and national importance, are designated under European Union and national legislation. The four categories of designated site in effect in County Kilkenny are Special Areas of Conservation , Natural Heritage Areas, Statutory Nature Reserves and Wildfowl Sanctuaries. The 2008–2014 county development plan recorded 36 designated natural heritage sites of international and national importance in County Kilkenny, covering approximately 4.5% of
14058-462: The Nore, Barrow and Suir rivers, the Osraige may have experienced greater intercourse with Britain and the continent, and there appears to have been some heightened Roman trading activity in and around the region. Such contact with the Roman world may have precipitated wider exposure and later conversion to Early Christianity . From the fifth century, the name Dál Birn (" the portion of Birn "; sometimes spelt dál mBirn ) appears to have emerged as
14256-536: The Norman battles fought therein. Gerald also writes about a fabulous tale involving the werewolves of Ossory. This legend was repeated in Fynes Moryson 's 17th-century writing, Description of Ireland and in a much later book, The Wonders of Ireland , by P. W. Joyce, published in 1911. In addition, Ossory features prominently as a setting for scenes in the Norman-French lay The Song of Dermot and
14454-489: The Normans, thus became targeted by the expelled Mac Giolla Phádraigs and their Ossorian followers for resettlement. This caused a land war in Upper Ossory between those clans already residing there, the new English settlers, and the incoming clans from south and central Osraige driven out by Earl Marshal, which lasted more than a century and a half before the Mac Giolla Phádraigs established full supremacy over
14652-759: The North-East, the North-West and in the South of the county. In the north of the county the uplands of the Castlecomer district, the Castlecomer Plateau includes the Culla Hills to the west of the Nore Valley with Castlecomer Hills and Slieve Marcy to the east. These hills are divided by the valley of the Dinan river which joins the Nore from the east. The highest point of the Castlecomer Hills
14850-486: The Northern Uí Néill and resulted in Dál Riata losing possession of its Scottish lands. The Annals of Ulster record that in 668, the battle of Bellum Fertsi (modern-day Belfast) took place between the Ulaid and Cruithin, both terms which then referred to the Dál Fiatach and Dál nAraide respectively. Meanwhile, the Dál nAraidi where still resisting the encroaching Northern Uí Néill and in 681, Dúngal Eilni, king of
15048-559: The Norwegians, and more than half of the army was killed there, and those who escaped fled to their ships. This defeat took place at Achad mic Erclaige. Cerball turned back afterwards with triumph and great spoils. Fragmentary Annals of Ireland , FA277 The early twelfth-century Irish epic Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib portrays the Dalcassian struggle against Osraige and its brief subjugation by Brian Boru . It records some early Viking activity in and around Osraige and ends with
15246-632: The Osraige in open battle before finally overcoming them through magic, trickery and guile. The account mentions that at this defeat, the Ossorians fled like wild deer (" ossa " in Irish), a pun on their tribal name. It appears that soon thereafter following this defeat, the hereditary Dál Birn kings were displaced for a period by the Corcu Loígde of south Munster. The Dál Birn remained in control of their northern territory while Corcu Loígde kings ruled
15444-695: The Ossorian ruling lineage in the sagas. King Cerball mac Dúnlainge himself is listed as "Kjarval, king of the Irish" ( Kjarvals Írakonungs ) in the Icelandic genealogies recorded within Njal's Saga , and through his daughters is reckoned as an ancestor of several important Icelandic families. His reign is directly referenced in the Icelandic Landnámabók where he is listed as one of the principle rulers of Europe. His daughter, Eithne , appears as
15642-422: The Ossorians as they were returning home through Osraige after the battle of Clontarf, but some authors doubt the validity of this story, as the source is widely considered later Dalcassian propaganda. During the period after the decline of Viking threats, many of Ireland's smaller kingdoms became dominated by larger ones, in a natural yet bloody evolution towards centralized monarchy. Various families contended for
15840-637: The Picts , resulting in them seeking the Northern Uí Néill's aid. The king of Dál Riata, Áedán mac Gabráin , had already granted the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland to the Cenél Conaill prince and saint, Columba , who in turn negotiated an alliance between the Northern Uí Néill and Dál Riata in 575 at Druim Ceit near Derry . The result of this pact was the removal of Dál Riata from Ulaid's overlordship allowing it to concentrate on extending its Scottish domain. That same year either before or after
16038-734: The Planning and Development Act 2000, there are 4 Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) in County Kilkenny for the protection of trees, groups of trees and woods of amenity value. These include Oldcourt in Inistioge , Keatingstown, Barna in Freshford , Sawney's Wood in Castlecomer and the Castle Gardens in Kilkenny City . Important trees in county Kilkenny include two cedars of Lebanon at Kildalton Agricultural College in Piltown ,
16236-568: The Ring Road over the River Nore connecting the N10 from Carlow to Waterford . The facade symbolically depicts the history of the south Kilkenny area from the time of the mythological figure of Oengus Osrithe to the late twentieth century. The Diocese of Ossory was first established in the fifth century with the mission of St. Ciarán of Saighir , the borders of which were permanently set at
16434-466: The Slieve Blooms". The majority of Osriage was divided up and partitioned amongst various Norman adventurers, especially those within the household of William Marshal who arrived to take charge of lands which were claimed by his wife's inheritance. Likely arriving under Marshal was Sir Thomas FitzAnthony who was granted extensive lands in lower Ossory and elsewhere ( Thomastown , County Kilkenny
16632-584: The Slieveardagh Hills is Knocknamuck at 340 metres (1,120 ft). The Booley Mountains partly divide from Tory Hill to the valley of the Kilmacow River which flows into the Suir . In the south of the county is Brandon Hill , at 515 metres (1,690 ft) and is near the Barrow and Graiguenamanagh . The area enclosed between the rivers Nore and Barrow towards their point of joining
16830-485: The Southern Regional Assembly. Until 2014, the second tier of local government consisted of Kilkenny Borough Council which was a town council . The city of Kilkenny was allowed to use the title of "Borough Council" instead of "Town Council", but Kilkenny Borough Council had no additional responsibilities. Since the enactment of the aforementioned Act on 1 June 2014, which abolished the borough,
17028-464: The Ulaid in 1002 and 1005. At Craeb Telcha in 1003 the Northern Uí Néill and Ulaid fought a major battle, the Ulaid inauguration site. Here Eochaid mac Ardgail, and most of Ulaid's nobility were slaughtered, along with the Northern Uí Néill king. The result was a bloody succession war amongst the princes of the Dál Fiatach, who also had to war with the Dál nAraidi who eyed the kingship. In 1005, Brian Boru, marched north to accept submissions from
17226-579: The Ulaid people, as in the Dál Fiatach . The Ulaid feature prominently in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology . According to legend, the ancient territory of Ulaid spanned the whole of the modern province of Ulster , excluding County Cavan , but including County Louth . Its southern border was said to stretch from the River Drowes in the west to the River Boyne in the east. At
17424-517: The Ulaid were an actual branch of the Érainn. Also claimed as being related to the Ulaid are the Dáirine , another name for the Érainn royalty, both of which may have been related or derived from the Darini of Ptolemy. There is uncertainty however over the actual ancestry of the people and dynasties within the medieval over-kingdom of Ulaid. Those claimed as being descended from the Ulaid people included medieval tribes that were said to be instead of
17622-508: The Ulaid, and set-up camp at Emain Macha possibly with the intention of exploiting the symbolism it held for the Ulaid. From here, Boru marched to the Dál nAraidi capital, Ráith Mór, where he received only the submissions of their king and that of the Dál Fiatach. This however appears to have been the catalyst for a series of attacks by Flaithbertach Ua Néill , king of the Cenél nEógain, to punish
17820-431: The Ulaid. In 1006, an army led by Flaithbertach marched into Leth Cathail and killed its king, followed by the slaying of the heir of Uí Echach Cobo at Loughbrickland . The battle of Craeb Telcha resulted in the inability of the Ulaid to provide any useful aid to Boru, when in 1006 he led an army made up of men from all over Ireland in an attempt to force the submission of the Northern Uí Néill. Having marched through
18018-693: The Wise and his son Alexander ; Harald Fairhair , king of Norway ; Eric Anundsson and his son Björn Eriksson rulers of Sweden; Gorm the Old , king of Denmark; and Alfred the Great , king of England . Cerball features prominently in the annals and other historical texts, especially in The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland as an archetype of a Christian king who consistently vanquishes his enemies, especially pagan Vikings . In this chronicle, Cerball
18216-484: The aftermath of Thomas Becket 's murder and the Revolt of 1173–74 , Osraige continued to be a theatre of conflict. Raymond FitzGerald plundered Offaly and travelled through Osraige to win a naval engagement at Waterford. Later, a force from Dublin inflicted a defeat on Hervey de Clare in Osraige. In 1175, the prince of Osraige assisted a force under Raymond FitzGerald to relieve the city of Limerick which had been besieged by
18414-421: The annals and at least one, St. Fergal , gaining international fame as an early astronomer and was ordained bishop of Salzburg in modern-day Austria . However, it is noteworthy that bishop Laidcnén son of Doinennach, abbot of Saighir was slain in 744. Because Osraige is bounded by major rivers, this period witnessed the establishment of several significant Viking bases on and around the kingdom's borders in
18612-625: The arrival of St. Patrick ; however, some modern scholars dispute this. St. Patrick is believed to have traversed through Osraige, preaching and establishing Christianity there on his way to Munster. An early Irish church was founded in Osraige, perhaps in connection with St. Patrick's arrival in the territory, known as " Domhnach Mór " (" great church ", located at what is now St. Patrick's graveyard in Kilkenny). St. Cainnech of Aghaboe founded two churches in Osraige which later grew in importance: Aghaboe and Kilkenny, each of which successively held
18810-402: The battle of Leth Cam in 827, when they attempted to remove Airgíalla from Northern Uí Néill dominance. The Dál Fiatach may have been distracted by the presence of at least one Viking base along Strangford Lough , and by the end of the century, the Dál nAraidi had risen to dominance over them. However, this only lasted until 972, when Eochaid mac Ardgail restored Dál Fiatach's fortunes. During
19008-706: The border between County Waterford and County Kilkenny. The Barrow forms part of the county's eastern boundary. Tributaries of the Barrow in the county include the Gowran River and the Ballyvalden River (with its tributary the Monefelim River ). Although County Kilkenny lies inland it has access to the sea via Belview Port, Port of Waterford , on the Suir Estuary and via New Ross on
19206-414: The border of Osraige. He secured the allegiance of the Irish princes and travelled through Osraige to Dublin, ordering several castles to be constructed in the region. The last recorded king of central Osraige was Maelseachaill Mac Gilla Patráic , who died in either 1193 or 1194. However, the kingdom and a continuous succession of rulers remained intact in the north, subsequently called " Upper Ossory " into
19404-425: The border with Laois. It is generally accompanied by culm , which was used extensively for burning lime. The natural environment and resources of County Kilkenny includes its rivers, wildlife (mammals, birds, plants), woodlands, hedgerows, and diverse landscapes and geological features. The main land use is grassland, dairy farming and tillage farming especially around Kilkenny City and in the fertile central plain of
19602-433: The border with the neighbouring kingdom of Laois. Other longphort settlements emerged at Woodstown (c.830–860) and Waterford in 914. Consequently, Osraige endured much tumult and warfare but subsequently emerged politically dominant, becoming a major force in southern Ireland and even one of the most militarily active kingdoms on the island by the middle of the ninth century. Originally granted semi-independent status within
19800-411: The century. 2002 was a very wet year and since 2005 annual rainfall has been increased steadily, with 2009 being the wettest year since records commenced in 1958. At the centre of the county, Kilkenny is in a sheltered location, over 60 km inland and is surrounded by hills over 200m, which ensures that it is not a windy location. The highest wind gust of 77 knots, from a south-west direction,
19998-508: The church and round tower , now St. Canice's Cathedral, which was built in honour of St. Canice . The Kingdom of Osraige was one of the ancient Kingdoms of Ireland . The Kings of Osraige , the Mac Giolla Phádraig family, reigned over Osraige and Cill Chainnigh was their stronghold. The Kingdom of Ossory existed from at least the 2nd century until the 13th century AD. The current ecclesiastical dioceses of that area
20196-478: The city of Kilkenny was burned. Additionally, major changes to the structure and practices of the Irish Church brought it away from its historic orthodox practices and more in line with the massive Gregorian Reform movement which was already taking place on the continent. Significantly, the Synod of Rath Breasail was part of this movement, likely held in the northernmost territory of Osraige in 1111. By
20394-502: The coarb of Patrick and Donnchad mac Briain. In 1027, he blinded his relative Tadc mac Gilla Pátraic. In 1033, Donnchad also took the kingship of Leinster and held the Fair of Carman to celebrate his over-kingship. In 1039, he led a hosting as far as Knowth and Drogheda., and he died the same year. Gofraid mac Arailt , King of the Isles , through his daughter Mael Muire, appears to have been
20592-497: The conquest of the Ulaid. The earldom would expand along the northern coast of Ulster all the way to the Cenél nEógain's old power-base of Inishowen . Until the end of the 13th century, the Dál Fiatach, still led by the Mac Dúinnshléibe, retained a fraction of their power being given the title of rex Hibernicorum Ulidiae , meaning "king of the Irish of Ulaid". The Gaelic title of rí Ulad , meaning "king of Ulster", upon
20790-554: The convention of Druim Ceit, the king of Dál Riata was killed in a bloody battle with the Dál nAraidi at Fid Euin. In 563, according to the Annals of Ulster, an apparent internal struggle amongst the Cruthin resulted in Báetán mac Cinn making a deal with the Northern Uí Néill, promising them the territories of Ard Eólairgg ( Magilligan peninsula ) and the Lee, both west of the River Bann. As
20988-415: The county and A survey of broadleaved woodlands in three special Areas of Conservation, Barrow-Nore, River Unshin and Lough Forbes (2000) which covers some of County Kilkenny, and National Survey of Native Woodlands (NSNW) 2003–2008 which was one of the largest ecological surveys to be completed in Ireland and did its fieldwork in the county in 2003. Estimates of the woodlands in County Kilkenny include
21186-567: The county council is solely responsible for local services. The county is part of the Dáil constituency of Carlow–Kilkenny (5 TDs ). The constituency has been in use since the 1948 general election . Kilkenny has been represented through several parliamentary constituencies in the past. From 1918 to 1921, County Kilkenny was divided between the United Kingdom parliamentary constituencies of North Kilkenny and South Kilkenny . In 1921
21384-555: The county has a hilly surface of moderate elevation with uplands in the north-east, the north-west and the South of the county; the middle is lower by comparison. The county is located at 52°35′N 7°15′W / 52.583°N 7.250°W / 52.583; -7.250 and has an area of 512,222 acres (2,072.89 km ; 800.347 sq mi). [1] The county extends from 52 degrees 14 minutes to 52 degrees 52 minutes north latitude, and from 6 degrees 56 minutes to 7 degrees 37 minutes west longitude. The north–south length of
21582-476: The county in terms of their conservation value include Kylecorragh Wood (SAC) along the River Nore , Grenan Wood (SAC), Knockadrina, Garryricken North (NHA/SNR), Ballytobin/Ballaghtobin, Brownstown Wood (NHA/SAC), Kyleadohir Wood (NHA/SNR), Brown's Wood, Thomastown , Ballykeeffe Wood , Cullentragh, Rossenarra, Newrath and Garryricken South. The most threatened forested area in the county is Greatwood. The main governmental organisations responsible for ensuring
21780-504: The county is 45 miles (72 km); and its greatest breadth from east to west, is about 23 miles (37 km) and its narrowest part is about 12 miles (19 km) from where it widens irregularly towards the north. Kilkenny extends southward from Laois to the valley of the Suir and eastward from the Munster – Leinster border to the River Barrow . The River Nore bisects the county, and
21978-563: The county is part of the South-East Region , a NUTS III entity; this is in turn part of the level II NUTS entity, Southern Region . Local government in County Kilkenny is governed by the Local Government Acts. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 established a unitary structure of local government . This single-tier structure consists of Kilkenny County Council . For the purposes of local government, Kilkenny
22176-417: The county. County Kilkenny is comparably low compared to other mountain ranges in Ireland with the highest peak being Brandon Hill ( Irish : Cnoc Bhréanail ), at 515 metres (1,690 ft) above sea level . The majority of rest of the county is hilly except for the centre of the county, just south of the city of Kilkenny , which is comparably lower than the rest of the county. There are highlands in
22374-460: The creation of Irish high crosses developed under the Dál Birn / Mac Giolla Phádraig kings of Osraige. Nearly all of Ireland's earliest stone high crosses are found within the ancient kingdom of Osraige or close to its borders. Great examples of this tradition include the fine crosses still preserved at Kinitty , Ahenny and Killamery , amongst other sites. Some historians have asserted that
22572-474: The creation of other later pseudo-chronicles such as Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib . Within the Fragmentary Annals , editor and translator Joan Radner has detected a strong focus on Ossorian tradition, especially relating to king Cerbhall mac Dunglange, suggesting the hypothetical Osraige Chronicle as a possible source. The men from two fleets of Norsemen came into Cerball son of Dúnlang's territory for plunder. When messengers came to tell that to Cerball, he
22770-492: The deer", and is traditionally claimed to be taken from the name of the ruling dynasty's semi-legendary pre-Christian founder, Óengus Osrithe . The Osraige were probably either a southern branch of the Ulaid or Dál Fiatach of Ulster , or close kin to their former Corcu Loígde allies. In either case it would appear they should properly be counted among the Érainn . Authoritative scholars, such as T. F. O'Rahilly believed that
22968-495: The deer— inhabited much of modern County Kilkenny and parts of neighbouring County Laois . To the west and south, Osraige was bounded by the River Suir , to the east the watershed of the River Barrow marked the boundary with Leinster, and to the north it extended into and beyond the Slieve Bloom Mountains . The River Nore ran through the Kingdom. Osraige formed the easternmost part of the kingdom and province of Munster until
23166-783: The development of forestry within Kilkenny are the National Parks and Wildlife Service (under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage ) and the Forest Service (under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine ). There are legislative measures which recognise the importance of trees woodlands and hedgerows and provide for their protection including the Forestry Act 1946 and Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. These prohibit trees from being cut down unless
23364-518: The diocese of Connor, based on the territory of the Dál nAraidi. Around 1197 the diocese of Down was split in two with the creation of the diocese of Dromore, based on the territory of the Uí Echach Cobo , with its cathedral at Dromore. The chief churches, or more accurately monasteries, of the main sub-kingdoms of Ulaid were: Although Francis John Byrne describes the few La Tène artefacts discovered in Ireland as 'rather scanty', most of
23562-500: The diocese of Osraige. The politics and history of the kingdom are well-attested to in the various Irish Annals in which Osraige is often presented as a major kingdom. The Osraige appear as the final opponents of their southern neighbours the Déisi in the cycle The Expulsion of the Déisi . While portrayed as unconquerable in battle, the Osraige are eventually overcome by the Déisi in the end by magic and treachery and thus cede to them
23760-477: The disputes of Ossorian succession. After Mac Murchadha's exile and return in 1167, tension was heightened between Osraige and Leinster by the blinding of Mac Murchadha's son and heir, Éanna mac Diarmat by the prince of greater Osraige, king Donnchad Mac Giolla Phádraig . Mac Murchadha's initial mercenary force under Robert FitzStephen landed close to the border of Osraige at Bannow , took Wexford and immediately turned west to invade Osraige, acquiring hostages as
23958-413: The earlier eleventh century Osraige Chronicle which lionized king Ceabhall mac Dúnlainge and survives with the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland . The kingdom is mentioned in countless surviving poems, songs and other medieval Irish texts. Lebor na gCeart (" The Book of Rights ") aims to list the stipends paid to and by the kings of Osraige. The work Cóir Anmann (" The Fitness of Names ") claims to give
24156-719: The early-12th century, fighting had erupted within the dynasty and split the kingdom into three territories. In 1103, Gilla Pátraic Ruadh , king of Osraige and many of the Ossorian royal family were killed on campaign in the north of Ireland. Two new claimants to the throne then emerged, both scions of the Mac Giolla Phádraig clan. Domnall Ruadh Mac Gilla Pátraic was the king of greater Osraige, often called Tuaisceart Osraige ("North Osraige") or Leath Osraige ("Half-Osraige"); and Cearbhall mac Domnall mac Gilla Pátraic in Desceart Osraige ("South Osraige"),
24354-677: The economic advantages provided by prosperous Viking settlements. In 1000 the Viking king of Dublin , Sigtrygg Silkbeard , was expelled by Brian Boru the High King of Ireland , and was refused sanctuary by the Ulaid. Eventually Sigtrygg was forced to return to Dublin and submitted to Brian. Sigtrygg didn't forget the Ulaid's refusal, and in 1001 his fleet plundered Inis Cumhscraigh and Cill Cleithe in Dál Fiatach, taking many prisoners. Sigtrygg's forces also served in Brian's campaigns against
24552-409: The embarrassing account of the Ossorians seeking to attack the victorious and wounded Dalcassian troops returning after the Battle of Clontarf . The Ossorians are recorded as intimidated when they see the wounded Dalcassian troops tying themselves upright to stakes, and withdraw from outright combat, giving harassing pursuit instead. Ironically, Radner suggests this chronicle may have been influenced by
24750-508: The end of the fifth century the Osraige ceded a swath of southern territory to the displaced and incoming Déisi sometime before 489. The traditional accounts states that the landless, wandering Déisi tribe were seeking a home in Munster , through the marriage of their princess Ethne the Dread to Óengus mac Nad Froích , king of Munster. As part of her dowry, Ethne asked for the Osraige to be cleared off their land but were repulsed several times by
24948-544: The episcopal see after Saighir. Additionally, a host of other early monastics and clerics laboured for the gospel in Osraige, making a lasting impact on the region which still exists down to the present. There is confusion among scholars as to the correct enumeration of the Corcu Loígde kings over Osraige, but by the reign of Scandlán Mór (d. 643 ca.) the Dál Birn dynasts regained control of their own territory, but not without intermittent dynastic competition. The late seventh century witnessed an increase in hostilities between
25146-494: The etymology of the name Osraige , along with one its kings, Cú Cherca mac Fáeláin . The kingdom of Osraige with some of its noteworthy characteristics and clans gains some mention in the Dindsenchas (literally "place-lore"), a composite collection of prose and metrical verse which aided in the rote memory of the topography and place-named of Ireland- some of it preserving Irish pre-literary oral tradition. Regarding Osraige,
25344-407: The extinction of Dál Fiatach was usurped by the encroaching Ó Néills of the Cenél nEógain. Ulaid was the location where the future patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick , was held during his early captivity. It is here that he made the first Irish converts to Christianity , with the Dál Fiatach the first ruling dynasty to do so. Patrick died at Saul , and buried at Dún De Lethglaise , which in
25542-509: The forces of Domnall Mór Ua Briain . Later, Gerald of Wales relates a defeat of the men of Kilkenny and their prince by a Norman force from Meath. The noted adventurer Robert le Poer won lands in Osraige, but was later killed there against the natives. In 1185, Prince John, then Lord of Ireland and future King of England, travelled from England to Ireland to consolidate the Anglo-Norman colonisation of Ireland, landing at Waterford near
25740-413: The future, since the Crown no longer dealt harshly with the territory. In 1541, The Mac Giolla Phádraig was ennobled as Baron Upper Ossory . Other members of the family were later created Earl of Upper Ossory and Baron Castletown , the last of whom, Bernard FitzPatrick, 2nd Baron Castletown , died in 1937. Because they clung to the last fragments of the kingdom, that Ossorian lineage is marked as one of
25938-426: The greater portion of southern Osraige around the fertile Nore valley until the latter part of the sixth century and the rise of Eóganachta dominating Munster. The new political configuration, probably the result of an Uí Néill -Eóganachta alliance against the Corcu Loígde, caused a reduction in Osraige's relative status. In 582, Fergus Scandal mac Crimthainn , the king of Munster, was slain by Leinstermen and Osraige
26136-472: The high-kingship. Allegiance with Osraige could make or break a king's bid for the high-kingship, although the kings of Osraige never attempted the position themselves. King Donnchadh mac Gilla Pátraic , arguably Osraige's most powerful ruler who brought the kingdom to the zenith of its power, plundered Dublin, Meath and successfully conquered neighbouring Leinster in 1033, held the Óenach Carmán and ruled both kingdoms until his death in 1039. In 1085 and 1114,
26334-571: The highest summer and lowest winter temperatures in Ireland. The highest air temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3 °C (91.9 °F), at Kilkenny Castle on 26 June 1887. The Met Éireann Kilkenny Weather Observing Station , 2 km north-west of Kilkenny City centre, on the Duningstown Road, opened in May 1957, and observations ceased in April 2008. A climatological station
26532-430: The king of Airgíalla, Murchard Ua Cerbaill (Murrough O'Carroll), attacked the Normans, killing around 450, and suffering 100 fatalities themselves. Despite forming alliances, constant inter-warring amongst the Ulaid and against their Irish neighbours continued oblivious to the threat of the Normans. De Courcy would take advantage of this instability and over the following years, despite some setbacks, set about conquering
26730-423: The king of Ulaid, Áed Róin , decapitated. As a result, the Cenél nEógain brought Conaille Muirthemne under their suzerainty. The taking over of the Ulaid's ancestral lands by first the Northern Uí Néill and the end of their glory led to a constant antagonism between them. It was in the 8th century that the kingdom of Dál Riata was overrun by the Dál nAraidi. The Dál Fiatach dynasty held sway over Ulaid until
26928-604: The king of Ulaid, allied with two grandsons Ragnall, attacked the Isle of Man in a failed attempt to oust Godred Crovan , king of Dublin and the Isles . At the end of the 11th century, the Ulaid had a final revival under Donn Sléibe mac Echdacha, from whom descended the Mac Dúinn Shléibe—anglicised MacDonlevy—kings that ruled Ulaid in the 12th century, with the Dál Fiatach kingship restricted to their dynasty after 1137. They developed close ties with
27126-417: The kingdom of Osraige being officially dis-joined from the province of Munster. During his lifetime he is recorded to have even ruled over Dublin (from 872 to 888) and as far as Orkney due to his interconnections with his Viking neighbours. Princess Land (sometimes spelt Lann ) was a noteworthy figure in Irish politics during a critical time in Osraige's history, witnessing its dramatic rise to power under
27324-401: The kingdom, eventually known as Upper Ossory , survived intact under the hereditary lordship until the reign of King Henry VIII of England , when it was formally incorporated as a barony of the same name. The ancient Osraige inhabited the fertile land around the River Nore valley, occupying nearly all of what is modern County Kilkenny and the western half of neighbouring County Laois . To
27522-571: The lands of the Cenél Conaill and Cenél nEógain, Boru led his army across the River Bann at Fersat Camsa (Macosquin) and into Ulaid, where he accepted submissions from the Ulaid at Craeb Telcha, before marching south and through the traditional assembly place of the Conaille Muirtheimne at i n-oenach Conaille . Flaithbertach Ua Néill continued his attacks on Ulaid in 1007, attacking the Conaille Muirtheimne. In 1011,
27720-454: The largest injections of English military strength into Ireland. On the banks of the Suir , Henry secured the submission of many of the kings and chiefs of southern Ireland; including Tuaisceart Osraige's king, Domnall Mac Giolla Phádraig. In 1172, the Norman adventurer Adam de Hereford was granted land by Strongbow in Aghaboe, north Osraige. After Henry was recalled from Ireland to deal with
27918-402: The lowest air temperature of −14.1 °C (6.6 °F) on 2 January 1979 and the lowest ground temperature of −18.1 °C (−0.6 °F) on 12 January 1982. The maximum daily sunshine was 16.3 hours on 18 June 1978. The warmest and sunniest month on record in Kilkenny was August 1995 with a total of 274.9 hours sunshine and very high temperatures throughout. The maximum daily sunshine
28116-476: The main seat of English power in Ireland, with Parliament meeting there as early as 1293 and recurring many times until 1536. The Bruce Invasion of Ireland saw Edward Bruce temporarily seize Gowran , once a seat of the kings of Osraige. By 1352, the unified formation of modern County Kilkenny had taken shape. In 1367, the Statutes of Kilkenny were enacted attempting to quell intermarriage and commerce between
28314-582: The man who would one day become king of Leinster and invite the Normans into Ireland, was himself fostered as a youth in north Osraige, in the territory of the Ua Caellaighes of Dairmag Ua nDuach who sought to undermine their Mac Giolla Phádraig overlords. In the 1150s, high king Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn made a devastating punitive campaign on the divided Osraige, burning and pillaging the whole kingdom and subjected it to Leinster overlordship. Thus, Diarmaid Mac Murchadha came to intervene several times in
28512-565: The maternal grandfather of Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic, the Osraige king of Leinster . Thus the Mac Giolla Phádraigs or Fitzpatricks of Ossory are probably matrilineal descendants of the Uí Ímair . King Cerball was an ally of their (probable) founder Ívar the Boneless , the Viking king of Waterford . It is also possible that Donnchad's father, Gilla Pátraic mac Donnchada, was somehow a relation of Ívar
28710-573: The men of Osraige and their neighbors to the south-east in Leinster , especially with the Uí Ceinnselaig . In the middle years of the eighth century, Anmchad mac Con Cherca was the most militarily active king in Munster, and was the first Ossorian king to gain island-wide notice by the chroniclers. Upon his death in 761, Osraige witnessed civil war over the throne and Tóim Snáma mac Flainn ,
28908-416: The mid-sixteenth century. After the initial Norman Invasion of Ireland , the famous and formidable William Marshal arrived in Osraige by 1192 and acquired claims to the land through his marriage to Isabel de Clare , daughter of Strongbow and Aoife Mac Murchada, daughter of Diarmait Mac Murchada. Marshal began stone construction on the large fortification at Kilkenny Castle which was completed by 1195 and
29106-611: The middle of the 9th century, after which it was attached to Leinster. Osraige was largely a buffer state between Leinster and Munster . Its most significant neighbours were the Loígsi, Uí Cheinnselaig and Uí Baircche of Leinster to the north and east and the Déisi Muman, Eóganacht Chaisil and Éile of Munster to the south and west. Ulaid Ulaid ( Old Irish , pronounced [ˈuləðʲ] ) or Ulaidh ( Modern Irish , pronounced [ˈʊlˠiː, ˈʊlˠə] )
29304-482: The most powerful and numerous of the two groupings. The terms Ulaid and Cruthin in early sources referred to the Dál Fiatach and Dál nAraidi respectively, the most powerful dynasties of both groups. The general scholarly consensus since the time of Eoin MacNeill has been that the Ulaid were kin to the Érainn , or at least to their royal families, sometimes called the Clanna Dedad , and perhaps not their nebulous subject populations. T. F. O'Rahilly notably believed
29502-448: The most southerly part of Ulaid, Conaille Muirtheimne, had been conquered by Donnchad Ua Cerbaill , king of Airgíalla. The part of Muirtheimne called Cualigne was subsequently settled by the Airgíallan Uí Méith (from which Omeath derives its name). The earliest Irish land charter to survive is that of the grant in 1157 of land to the Cistercians in Newry, which lay in Uí Echach, by the High King Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn . This grant
29700-431: The name for the ruling lineage of Osraige, and this name remained in use through to the twelfth century. From this period, Osraige was originally within the sphere of the province of Leinster. Yet, T. F. O'Rahilly considered Loegaire Bern Buadach, the mythical ancestor Dál Birn, was the 'same personage as the Loegaire Buadach of the Ulidian tradition' and, therefore, were not Laigin. Several sources indicate that towards
29898-437: The names of its topographic features and roads are explained, as well as a reference to horse fighting . The twelfth-century Banshenchas (literally "women-lore") composed by Gilla Mo Dutu Úa Caiside of Ard Brecáin, recites a number of key Ossorian kings and queens, and others who descend from them. Additionally, Osraige is mentioned in a poem attributed to king Aldfrith of Northumbria during his exile in Ireland, describing
30096-478: The native land-holders before the arrival of the Normans: Kingdom of Ireland titles : An important Ossorian genealogy for Domnall mac Donnchada mac Gilla Patric is preserved in the Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 502 , also known as The Book of Glendalough , tracing the medieval Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty back to Óengus Osrithe , who supposedly flourished in the first or second century. A celebrated king of Osraige (and likely Osraige's most famous monarch)
30294-431: The neighbouring districts in Ulaid shifting the focus of power. By 1181, Mac Duinn Sléibe and Cú Mide Ua Flainn, the king of Uí Thuirtre and Fir Lí in County Antrim, had come around and served loyally as sub-kings of de Courcy. Mac Duinn Sléibe, possibly inspired by the chance to restore Ulaid to its ancient extent, may have encouraged de Courcy to campaign westwards, which saw attacks on Armagh in 1189 and then Derry and
30492-407: The next morning, Cerball attacked all of them with his troops, and he did not give up after they had been slaughtered until they had been routed, and they had scattered in all directions. Cerball himself fought hard in this battle, and the amount he had drunk the night before hampered him greatly, and he vomited much, and that gave him immense strength; and he urged his people loudly and harshly against
30690-410: The ninth and early tenth centuries; with the Nore, Barrow and Suir watershed systems providing deep access into Osraige's interior. Vikings came into conflict with the Irish on the River Suir as early as 812 and a large fleet sailed up the Barrow and Nore rivers, inflicting a devastating rout on the Osraige in 825. A Norse longphort was planted by Rodolf son of Harald Klak at Dunrally between 850–62 on
30888-416: The north and south extremities of the kingdom were broken away, the majority of central Osraige around the fertile Nore valley maintained greater stability and is most often referred to simply as "Osraige" in most annals for the period. Despite its fracturing, Osraige was still powerful enough to oppose and inflict defeats upon Leinster. As retribution in 1156–7, the high king Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn led
31086-432: The oldest known or most continuously settled dynasties in Western Europe . By the late fourteenth century, members of the Butler dynasty purchased or inherited most of southern Osraige, purchased Kilkenny Castle and used it as an administration centre as part of the Earldom of Ormond (and later Earldom of Ossory ), from which County Kilkenny was shired. During this period, Kilkenny ranked very close behind Dublin as
31284-411: The onset of the historic period of Irish history in the 6th century, the territory of Ulaid was largely confined to east of the River Bann , as it is said to have lost land to the Airgíalla and the Northern Uí Néill . Ulaid ceased to exist after its conquest in the late 12th century by the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy , and was replaced with the Earldom of Ulster . An individual from Ulaid
31482-466: The overlordship of Ulaid in 626, and in 628 killed the High King of Ireland , Suibne Menn of the Northern Uí Néill in battle. In 629, Congal led the Dál nAraidi to defeat against the same foes. In an attempt to have himself installed as High King of Ireland , Congal made alliances with Dál Riata and Strathclyde , which resulted in the disastrous Battle of Moira in 637, in modern-day County Down, which saw Congal slain by High King Domnall mac Áedo of
31680-413: The patronage of the kings did much to increase the learning, literacy and culture within the kingdom. According to his vitae, Saint Patrick traversed Osraige on his route to Munster , preaching, converting, founding churches and leaving behind holy relics and a disciple named Martin. A number of other saints had connections to Ossory, working both within Ireland and abroad in Britain and Europe : In
31878-455: The powerful king Cerball mac Dúnlainge . Osraige's rulers remained major players in Irish politics for the next three centuries, though they never vied for the High Kingship . In the early 12th century, dynastic infighting fragmented the kingdom, and it was re-adjoined to Leinster. The Normans under Strongbow invaded Ireland beginning in 1169, and most of Osraige collapsed under pressure from Norman leader William Marshal . The northern part of
32076-515: The province of Munster, the war-like and victorious rule of king Cerball mac Dúnlainge birthed a dramatic rise in Osraige's power and prestige, despite a heavy influx of Viking marauders to Ireland's shores. Under the long reign of Cerball mac Dúnlainge between 843/4 to 888, Osraige was transformed from a relatively unimportant kingdom into one of Ireland's most powerful overlordships, which surpassed that of both Munster and Leinster and even threatened Uí Néill hegemony over southern Ireland. There
32274-402: The province of Ulster derives its name. Some of the dynasties in the over-kingdom claimed descent from the Ulaid, but others are cited as being of Cruithin descent. In historical documents, the term Ulaid was used to refer to the population group of which the Dál Fiatach was the ruling dynasty. As such, the title rí Ulad held two meanings: over-king of the Kingdom of Ulaid and king of
32472-459: The region. Subsequently, the chaos of this poorly recorded conflict caused the then bishop of Ossory, Felix Ua Duib Sláin , to permanently remove the episcopal see from Aghaboe and initiate construction of the cathedral in Kilkenny. Upper Ossory thus remained an independent Gaelic lordship until the mid-sixteenth century, with its Mac Giolla Phádraig rulers retaining claims to the kingship of all Osraige and being recorded as such, or sometimes "King of
32670-424: The ruined base of an Irish round tower , a medieval defensive motte, numerous early Christian cross-slabs, bases and gravestones can be found, next to a 19th-century Church of Ireland parish. St. Canice founded two important churches in the kingdom, at Aghaboe and Kilkenny , each, in turn, becoming the capital of the diocese after Saighir. Aghaboe Abbey served as Osraige's second ecclesiastical seat, before it
32868-422: The rule of her brother Cerball mac Dúnlainge , in which she had a hand. She was married to the famous High King of all Ireland, Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid (who reigned from 846 to 862) and gave birth to his formidable son Flann Sinna who was also High King from 879 to 916. (She is thus also the grandmother of High King Donnchadh Donn mac Flainn .) King Cearbhall's descendant, Gilla Pátraic mac Donnchada,
33066-408: The ruling dynasty had no links to that figure, and this was the case with the Ulaid. Ulaid was also known as Cóiced Ulad , the "Fifth of Ulster", and was one of the legendary five provinces of Ireland. After the subsequent loss of territory to the Airgíalla and Northern Uí Néill , the eastern remnant of the province that formed medieval Ulaid was alternatively known as in Cóiced , in reference to
33264-459: The ruling sept of the Airgíallan Uí Thuirtre as well as rulers of Fir Lí, both of which lay west of the River Bann. In a process of gradual infiltration by marital and military alliances as well as growing pressure from the encroaching Cenél nEógain, they moved their power east of the Bann. Once they had come to prominence in Antrim the Ua Flainn styled themselves as king of Dál nAraidi, Dál Riata, and Fir Lí, alongside their own Uí Thuirtre. By 1130,
33462-451: The same year Boru finally achieved hegemony over the entire of Ireland, Flaithbertach launched an invasion of Ulaid, and after destroying Dún Echdach (Duneight, south of Lisburn) and the surrounding settlement, took the submission of the Dál Fiatach, who had the Ulaid kingship, thus removing them from Boru's over-lordship. The next year, Flaithbertach raided the Ards peninsula and took an uncountable number of spoils. At Ulfreksfjord in 1018,
33660-402: The scholarly work of canon William Carrigan in researching and compiling his four-volume opus The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory , the history of the kingdom and its peoples is one of the most complete of any in Ireland. Furthermore, the Database of the Monasticon Hibernicum Project launched by Ailbhe Mac Shamhráin lists all known historic monastic foundations associated with
33858-415: The seventh century. Throughout this period, Ireland and Irish culture was thoroughly Christianized by the arrival of missionaries from Britain and the continent. Osraige appears to have seen a flourish of early Christian activity. Surviving hagiographic works, especially those relating to St. Ciarán of Saighir , attest that Osraige was the first Irish kingdom to receive a Christian episcopacy even before
34056-472: The site of his episcopacy, as it would then still be under Ulaid control. It may also explain why he was buried in eastern Ulster in the restricted territory of the Ulaid rather than at Armagh, as it had by then come under Airgíallan control. It is likely that the Airgíalla were not settlers in Ulaid territory, but indigenous tribes; most of whom were vassals of the Ulaid before casting off Ulaid overlordship and becoming independent. It has been suggested that
34254-508: The south and west. Some of the highest points of land are Brandon Hill (County Kilkenny) and Arderin (on the Laois-Offaly border). The ancient Slige Dala road ran southwest through northern Osraige from the Hill of Tara towards Munster ; which later gave its name to the medieval Ballaghmore Castle . Another ancient road, the Slighe Cualann cut into southeast Osraige west of present-day Ross, before turning south to present-day Waterford city. The tribal name Osraige means "people of
34452-656: The southern territory between the River Suir and the sea which the Déisi ever-after occupied. Strongly associated with the eleventh-century rule of Donnchad Mac Giolla Phádraig (who reigned as king over Leinster until his death in 1039 AD) are the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland which are famous for their heroic portrayal of the ninth-century Ossorian king Cerball mac Dúnlainge in his many victorious struggles against pagan Vikings in Ireland. The Fragmentary Annals of Ireland were believed to be commissioned by Donnchad Mac Giolla Phádraig as historical propaganda for Osraige's eleventh-century rise to power, and likely influenced
34650-426: The surname Mac Giolla Phádraig as their patronymic. By the late tenth century, Osraige was brought into conflict with the ambitious Dalcassian king Brian Boruma , who gained supremacy over all Ireland before being killed in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which the Ossorians did not partake. The Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib relates a story that victorious but wounded Dalcassian troops were challenged to battle by
34848-455: The surname Mac Giolla Phádraig . According to tradition, Osraige was founded by Óengus Osrithe in the 1st century and was originally within the province of Leinster . In the 5th century, the Corcu Loígde of Munster displaced the Dál Birn and brought Osraige under Munster's direct control. The Dál Birn returned to power in the 7th century, though Osraige remained nominally part of Munster until 859, when it achieved formal independence under
35046-533: The terms Ulidian and Ultonian . The Irish word for someone from Ulaid is Ultach (also spelt as Ultaigh and Ultagh ), which in Latin became Ultonii and Ultoniensis . Ulaid gave its name to the province of Ulster, though the exact composition of it is disputed: it may derive from Ulaidh with or without the Norse genitive s and Irish tír ("land, country, earth"), or else the second element may be Norse -ster (meaning "place", common in Shetland and Norway). The Ulaid are also referred to as being of
35244-402: The texts of songs composed by Bishop Ledred. The book now resides at the Church of Ireland RCB Library in Dublin, and has been digitized. Geoffrey Keating also records much information and tradition about Ossory in his major work, Foras Feasa ar Éirinn (literally "Foundation of Knowledge on Ireland", more usually translated "History of Ireland"). After Cogadh Gáedel re Gallaib , his work
35442-477: The townlands of Coan East and Smithstown. Bedrock geology for both areas is shale overlain locally by glacial till and blanket bog vegetation is well developed. Fiddown Island is a 62.6 ha state-owned Nature Reserve established in 1988. Near Fiddown along the River Suir it consists of a long narrow island of marsh/woodland covered in willow scrub and bordered by reed swamps – it is the only known site of its type in Ireland. The wildlife of County Kilkenny
35640-436: The two dominant parties, holding 20 of the 24 seats between them. The Labour Party hold 2 seats, the Green Party hold 1 seat, and there is 1 independent. Sinn Féin , which had held 3 seats, failed to gain a seat in the 2019 election. Council elections are held every 5 years, with the next election due to be held in May 2024. As the county is part of the South-East Region , some county councillors are also representatives on
35838-511: The unconquered part of Cóiced Ulad . The Ulaid are likely the Ούολουντιοι ( Uoluntii or Voluntii ) mentioned in Ptolemy 's 2nd century Geographia . This may be a corruption of Ούλουτοι ( Uluti ). The name is likely derived from the Gaelic ul , meaning " beard ". The late 7th-century writer, Muirchú, spells Ulaid as Ulothi in his work the Life of Patrick . Ulaid has historically been anglicised as Ulagh or Ullagh and Latinized as Ulidia or Ultonia . The latter two have yielded
36036-428: The various things he saw there about the year 685. Certain nobility of Osraige are mentioned in The Prophecy of Berchán , which hints ambiguously at the possibility of Ossorian inter-marriage with the Scottish kings. I found from Ara to Gle, in the rich country of Ossory, sweet fruit, strict jurisdiction, men of truth, chess-playing. King Aldfrith of Northumbria , Ro dheat an inis Finn Faíl . The kingdom
36234-410: The west and south, Osraige was bounded by the River Suir and what is now Waterford Harbour ; to the east, the watershed of the River Barrow marked the boundary with Leinster (including Gowran ); to the north, it extended into and beyond the Slieve Bloom Mountains . These three principal rivers- the Nore, the Barrow, and the Suir, which unite just north of Waterford City , were collectively known as
36432-404: Was 16.3 hours on 18 June 1978. The overall trend in temperatures has been on the rise with a marked increase from 1988 onwards. Annual temperatures are running over 0.5 degrees above 20th-century levels. The maximum daily rainfall recorded at Kilkenny station was 66.4 millimetres (2.61 in) on 17 July 1983. The late 1950s and early 1960s were wet but rainfall had been steady throughout
36630-465: Was Cerball mac Dúnlainge, who ruled Osraige vigorously from c. 846 to his death in 888 and was the direct male progenitor of the later medieval Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasts. The Icelandic Landnámabók describes Cerball (Carroll) ( Kjarvalur ) as ruler of Dublin and Earl of Orkney and opens with a list of the most prominent rulers in Viking-age Europe , listing this Ossorian king alongside Popes Adrian II and John VIII ; Byzantine Emperors Leo VI
36828-408: Was a Gaelic over-kingdom in north-eastern Ireland during the Middle Ages made up of a confederation of dynastic groups. Alternative names include Ulidia , which is the Latin form of Ulaid , and in Cóiced , Irish for 'the Fifth'. The king of Ulaid was called the rí Ulad or rí in Chóicid . Ulaid also refers to a people of early Ireland, and it is from them that
37026-416: Was again later relocated to Kilkenny sometime in the twelfth century. St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny city exhibits a well-preserved ninth-century round tower which can be climbed to the top. In April 2004, a geophysical survey using ground-penetrating radar discovered what were likely the original foundations of the twelfth-century cathedral of the diocese of Ossory and another very large structure which
37224-490: Was also founded by the same saint. The record of the Irish annals also points to Freshford, County Kilkenny being of some importance, while archaeological evidence suggests that Kilkieran , Killamery and Kilree (all County Kilkenny) and Domnach Mór Roigni (now Donaghmore, County Laois ) were also significant early ecclesiastical sites. Ossory is the only region in Ireland known to have two patron saints ; St. Ciarán of Saighir and St. Cainnech of Aghaboe . Due largely to
37422-401: Was drunk. The noblemen of Osraige were saying to him kindly and calmly, to strengthen him: 'What the Norwegians are doing now, that is, destroying the whole country, is no reason for a man in Osraige to be drunk. But may God protect you all the same, and may you win victory and triumph over your enemies as you often have done, and as you still shall. Shake off your drunkenness now, for drunkenness
37620-726: Was king of Osraige from 976 to 996, and was the source of the patronymic Mac Giolla Phádraig . His wife was Máel Muire ingen Arailt , likely an Uí Ímair bride. He was an implacable opponent of Brian Boruma in his expansion over southern Ireland, being captured by him in 983 and released the following year. Later in his reign, he devastated Mide , and was killed in battle against Donnduban mac Imair, prince of Limerick, and Domnall mac Fáelán, king of Déisi. In 1003, he killed his cousin, King Cellach. In 1016, he killed Donn Cuan mac Dúnlaing, king of Leinster, and Tadc ua Riain, king of Uí Drona. In 1022, he killed Sitriuc mac Ímair, king of Port Lairge ( Waterford ). In 1026, Donnchad spent Easter with
37818-424: Was known in Irish as an Ultach , the nominative plural being Ultaigh . This name lives on in the surname McAnulty or McNulty , from mac an Ultaigh ('son of the Ulsterman'). Ulaid is a plural noun and originated as an ethnonym ; however, Irish nomenclature followed a pattern where the names of population groups and apical ancestor figures became more and more associated with geographical areas even when
38016-461: Was largely responsible for forcing the Mac Giolla Phádraigs from their southern power base around the River Nore ; their ancient rights revoked and a decree of expulsion pronounced on the entire clan. The northern districts of Mag Lacha and Ui Foircheallain (henceforth called Upper Ossory ) which had formerly broken away from Osraige under Ua Caellaighe/Ua Faeláin and Ua Dubhsláine rule since 1103, and which had subsequently seen English settlement from
38214-408: Was made with the consent of the king of Ulaid, Cú Ulad Mac Dúinn Sléibe, and the king of Uí Echach, Domnall Ua hÁeda. The Annals of Ulster record that in April 1165 , the Ulaid, ruled by Eochaidh Mac Dúinn Sléibe, turned against Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn, and attacked the Uí Méith as well as the Uí Breasail in modern barony Oneilland East , County Armagh (which was also formerly part of Ulaid), and
38412-604: Was possibly a royal Mac Giolla Phádraig palace; noting that the site bears a strong resemblance to contemporaneous structures at the Rock of Cashel . Jerpoint Abbey , was founded near present-day Thomastown in 1160 by king Domnall Mac Goilla Phádraig . There is some debate as to whether Jerpoint was either Benedictine or Cistercian during its first twenty years, however by 1180, king Domnall Mac Goilla Phádraig brought Cistercian monks from nearby Baltinglass Abbey and it remained such thereafter. A well-preserved 30-meter, capless round tower can be seen at Grangefertagh . In 1999,
38610-399: Was posthumously published by Sir James Ware in 1633. Hanmer himself was briefly active in the Diocese of Ossory in 1598. In 1905, William Carrigan published his authoritative history of the kingdom in The History And Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory in four volumes. County Kilkenny County Kilkenny ( Irish : Contae Chill Chainnigh ) is a county in Ireland . It is in
38808-494: Was recorded on 12 January 1974. The geology of Kilkenny includes the Kiltorcan Formation which is early Carboniferous in age. The formation is located around Kiltorcan Hill near Ballyhale in the Callan and Knocktopher areas. It forms the uppermost part of the Old Red Sandstone and is the distinctive Upper Devonian – Lower Carboniferous unit in southern Ireland. It contains non-red lithologies , green mudstones , siltstones, fine sandstones and yellow sandstones. There
39006-420: Was reduced to a handful of followers. With sixteen of these closest associates, he was killed in 1166 . In 1170 Eochaid's brother Magnus who had become king of Ulaid expelled the Augustinian canons from Saul . Despite the turmoil amongst the Ulaid, they continued to survive but not for much longer. In 1177 Ulaid was invaded by the Normans led by John de Courcy , who in a surprise attack captured and held
39204-408: Was therefore ceded from Leinster as blood-fine payment and attached the kingdom to the province of Munster. Around that time (in either 581 or 583) the Ossorians (also referred to in the Fragmentary Annals as Clann Connla ) had slain one of the last usurping Corcu Loígde kings Feradach Finn mac Duach and reclaimed most of their old patrimony. The Dál Birn returned to full power by the first quarter of
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