Bennettsbridge
Encyclopedia
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
in Ireland.
It is situated on the river Nore
River Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
city, in the centre of the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. It is located in the province
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
in the south-east of the island of Ireland. Bennettsbridge is a census town
Census town
In India, a census town is one which has:# A minimum population of 5,000# At least 75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits# A density of population of at least 400 persons per km2.In Ireland, a census town is;...
with a population of 685.
The village is on the R700 road
R700 road
The R700 road is a regional road in Ireland which runs northwest-southeast from Kilkenny City centre to New Ross in County Wexford.En route it passes through Bennettsbridge, Thomastown and Inistioge before crossing the River Barrow into County Wexford....
at a stone bridge crossing of the Nore between Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
and Thomastown
Thomastown
-Landmarks:Kilfane Glen is a restored historic 1790s garden of romantic era with waterfall, woodland walks and cottage orne. The garden is listed as an Irish Heritage garden and was awarded assistance in 1993 by the European Union Cultural Commission...
. It has become a craft centre in recent years, with several pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
and craft
Craft
A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
producers located at the old mill beside the weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
.
The village is part of the parish of Tullaherin
Tullaherin
Tullaherin is a townland and parish in County Kilkenny, Ireland.It is the site of a 9th century round tower, an 11th-13th century ruined church and two ogham stones.The present church at Tullaherin was built about 1840....
which contains an almost intact 9th century round tower
Irish round tower
Irish round towers , Cloigthithe – literally "bell house") are early medieval stone towers of a type found mainly in Ireland, with three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man...
.
History
Royal Irish Constabulary
The armed Royal Irish Constabulary was Ireland's major police force for most of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. A separate civic police force, the unarmed Dublin Metropolitan Police controlled the capital, and the cities of Derry and Belfast, originally with their own police...
police station in the village.
Geography
Bennettsbridge is located along the river Nore at a ford of the river about 10 kilometres (6 mi) from GowranGowran
Gowran is a village and former town in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Gowran Park race course is located nearby. Gowran is located on the N9 national primary road where it is crossed by the R702 regional road.-History:...
. There are two old mills downstream from the bridge. Ducks and swans and other river life are present in abundance.
Transport
R700 road
The R700 road is a regional road in Ireland which runs northwest-southeast from Kilkenny City centre to New Ross in County Wexford.En route it passes through Bennettsbridge, Thomastown and Inistioge before crossing the River Barrow into County Wexford....
regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
which carries much tourist traffic in the summertime from the Rosslare ferries
Rosslare Europort
Rosslare Europort is a modern seaport located at Rosslare Harbour in County Wexford, Ireland, near the southeastern-most point of Ireland's coastline, handling passenger and freight ferries to and from Wales and France....
, through Kilkenny and on into the midlands and Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
.
Bennettsbridge railway station opened on 2 September 1861, but closed permanently on 15 February 1965.
Landmarks
Nore Valley Park, 3.2 km from Bennettsbridge, includes a camping and caravan park, activity centre, open farm, farm trail, Crazy GolfMiniature golf
Miniature golf, or minigolf, is a miniature version of the sport of golf. While the international sports organization World Minigolf Sport Federation prefers to use the name "minigolf", the general public in different countries has also many other names for the game: miniature golf, mini-golf,...
course and a picnic and barbecue area. There is lake fishing at Wallslough Village.
Nicholas Mosse Pottery was established by Nicholas Mosse in 1976. It is located at an old riverside mill in Bennettsbridge. It is possible to watch potters at work as they produce pottery in the style of Irish Spongeware which was the traditional pottery of Ireland used in the 18th Century.
Stoneware Jackson is another important pottery studio. The pieces are hand-thrown, featuring two-color glazing and Celtic motifs.
Bennett's bridge
River Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
and so comprehensive rebuilding programme was initiated in the eighteenth-century.
Other Eighteenth-Century Bridges include; Green's Bridge in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
City, Castlecomer
Castlecomer
Castlecomer is a town in the barony of Fassadinin, County Kilkenny in Ireland.The Irish name for the town translates to "The castle at the confluence of the rivers"; the "rivers" refers to the rivers Deen, Brocagh and Clohogue while the "castle" refers to the castle built by the Normans in 1171...
; Thomastown
Thomastown
-Landmarks:Kilfane Glen is a restored historic 1790s garden of romantic era with waterfall, woodland walks and cottage orne. The garden is listed as an Irish Heritage garden and was awarded assistance in 1993 by the European Union Cultural Commission...
Bridge on the River Nore; Graiguenamanagh
Graiguenamanagh
-Recreation:Walking and hillclimbing are among the more popular pursuits of Graiguenamanagh area and with the South Leinster Way meandering through the lovely Barrrow Valley and traversing nearby Brandon Hill, scope is provided for the a gentle stroll or a vigorous,day-long hike. The Barrow's...
Bridge on the River Barrow and Inistioge
Inistioge
Inistioge is a small scenic village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is situated on the River Nore, southeast of Kilkenny. Historically, the name has been spelt as Ennistioge, Ennisteage, and in other ways....
Bridge on the River Nore; and bridges in Goresbridge
Goresbridge
Goresbridge is a village on the R702 regional road in east County Kilkenny, Ireland, on the River Barrow.-History:Goresbridge is named for the New Bridge built in 1756 by Colonel Ralph Gore the first and last Earl of Ross. The bridge remains of significant importance in the area for its...
, Kells
Kells, County Kilkenny
Kells is a village in County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is about 15 km south of Kilkenny. It is situated on high ground to the south of the Kings River.Kells Priory though in ruins, is one of the best preserved in Ireland....
, Threecastles, Dinin Bridge and the bridge at Mount Juliet.
Bennett's Bridge is an important element of the civil engineering and transport heritage of County Kilkenny and are included in the of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) Building Survey.
People
- Noel SkehanNoel SkehanNoel Skehan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Bennettsbridge club and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1963 and 1985. Skehan is regarded as one of the greatest hurling goalkeepers of all-time.Skehan's status as one of the all-time greats...
, former Kilkenny hurling goalkeeper. - Hubert ButlerHubert ButlerHubert Marshal Butler was an Irish essayist who wrote on a wide-range of topics, from local history and archaeology to the political and religious affairs of eastern Europe before and during World War II.-Early life:...
, the essayist. - James McGarryJames McGarryJames McGarry is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Bennettsbridge and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1999 to 2008.-Club:...
, former Kilkenny hurling goalkeeper.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland