Surroundings, Kilkenny

Dunmore Cave (National Monument), 6mi/10km north of Kilkenny, is reached by taking a side road from the N78. (Note: on many maps the cave is incorrectly shown further south near the N77).Above the entrance to the cave a Visitor Centre has been constructed (opening times given). Here can be seen items excavated from the cave (bones, coins, simple tools). Many of the items date from the 10th C. In 928, 40 people took refuge in the cave from the Vikings but were discoverd and cruelly slaughtered. Among the most impressive dripstone formations in the cave is a stalagmite over 19ft/6m high called the "Market Cross".The coin found in the cave date from 897 to 926.

The N77 leads north of Kilkenny to Ballyragget (10mi/17km), with the ruins of Ormond castle (15th-16th C.), a keep surrounded by walls and four round towers. One Countess of Ormond was renowned for leading her forces into battle.

4.5mi/7km east of Kilkenny, reached on a minor road which branches left off the N10, stands Clara Castle (15th C., National Monument), an unusually well-preserved six-story tower house which still has the original oak beams, giving an excellent impression of the character of a fortified dwelling of the period. Among features of particular interest are the forecourt, a passage with a "murder hole" (a hole in the roof through which intruders could be pelted with missiles), a fine fireplace and a secret room.

Over 1mi/2km from Clara Castle, east of Kilkenny, the R702 goes off on the right to Gowran, with a fine old parish church (c. 1275; National Monument) whose tower (14th or 15th C.), on the site of the original choir, has been incorporated in the present 19th C. church. The interior has fine pointed arches and columns of black marble; good sculpture and monuments (14th-17th C).

11mi/18km south of Kilkenny, reached on the N9 from Gowran or the R700 direct from Kilkenny, lies Thomastown, with a ruined 13th C. church (National Monument) and, in the Roman Catholic parish church, a High Altar from Jerpoint Abbey.

North of Thomastown (which lies to the south of Kilkenny) on the N9 it is well worth stopping in the village of Kilfane to see the over life-size effigy of Sir Thomas de Cantwell on his tomb (13th C., National Monument) in the church.

From Kilfane, south of Kilkenny, a minor road runs east to join the R703, which leads to Graiguenamanagh, on the River Barrow (fishing). In this little town is Duiske Abbey (National Monument), a Cistercian house. In the churchyard, on the south side of the chancel, are two small granite high crosses with carvings of Biblical scenes and abstract ornament.

5mi/8km southeast of Thomastown on the wooded banks of the River Nore, here spanned by a graceful 18th C. bridge, lies Inistioge, with the remains of an Augustinian abbey founded in 1210. The nave, Lady Chapel and tower of the church still survive. The tower, of which the lower part is square and the upper part octagonal, is now a mausoleum.

From Inistioge, southeast of Thomastown, Brandon Hill (1,677ft/511m) can be easily climbed. On the summit are a cairn and a stone circle; fine views of the Barrow and Nore valleys.

1.5mi/2.5km southwest of Thomastown stands Jerpoint Abbey (National Monument), one of Ireland's most beautiful monastic ruins. The abbey, founded in 1158, was occupied by the Cistercians from 1180 until its forced dissolution in 1540.The layout shows Cistercian influence. The church, with aisles, transepts and a projecting rectangular east end, is flanked on the south by the cloister (restored), round which are the conventual buildings. Of these only the sacristy, chapter house and day rooms on the east side have been preserved. Over the crossing, as the rule of the Order required, rises the handsome 15th C. tower (fine views from the top). The nave is divided into two parts, the monks' choir and the lay brothers' choir. The church has many fine monuments, including the tombs of Bishop O'Dulany of Ossory (d. 1202), Katerine Poher and Robert Walsh (d. 1501; by Rory O'Tunney) and two 13th C. knights. Note the rows of figures, known as the "weepers" on the tombs. In the cloister are a fine series of carved figures, which have been called "a Late Gothic picture book," between the twin columns in the arcading. They were the work of Rory O'Tunney, of whom nothing is known except that he came from a great family of sculptors and is believed to have been active between 1501 and 1552.

6mi/10km west of Thomastown, at Kells (not to be confused with the better known Kells in the north of the Republic), are the extensive remains of a fortified Augustinian priory (National Monument) founded in 1193. The surviving buildings date from the 14th and 15th C. The church, with nave, transepts, chancel and Lady Chapel, has a tower over the crossing and two other towers, one of which was probably the prior's lodging. On the south side of the church are remains of the conventual buildings, laid out around an inner court surrounded by a wall with two towers, to the south of which is a spacious outer court enclosed by a wall with five towers.

2mi/3km south of Kells on a narrow byroad lies Kilree, with the remains of a monastery (National Monument): a roofless round tower 95ft/29m high, a ruined church (good 17th C. monument in choir) and a badly weathered high cross (ninth century?) with representations of Biblical scenes and geometric ornament.

6mi/10km southwest of Kilkenny on the N76 is Callan, a busy little market town which was strongly fortified in medieval times and has preserved a number of old buildings. Of the 15th C. Augustinian priory (National Monument) only the church, a long rectangular building with a central tower, survives; fine carved choir stalls.In the town center are the ruins of St Mary's Church (16th C.: National Monument), with good details. The choir (restored), which is still used for worship, contains an old font. In the nave are a number of good monuments (16th and 17th C.), including that of John Tobyn, by Rory O'Tunney.Outside the town is a large motte (13th C., National Monument), 40ft/12m high and 150ft/46m long.

5mi/8km south of Callan, on the borders of Tipperary county, we come to Killamery, with a ninth century high cross (National Monument). The decoration, badly weathered, includes a chariot procession, a hunting scene, David with his harp and other Biblical themes, together with much geometric and animal ornament.

Northwest of Kilkenny on the R693 is Freshford, with a church of 1730 (National Monument) which has a beautiful Romanesque doorway from an earlier church incorporated in its west front.

From Urlingford the R689 runs south to the ruins of Kilcooly Abbey (National Monument), in Tipperary county, a daughter house of Jerpoint founded in 1182. The entrance is on the west side of the property. The church, built in 1445-70 on the site of an earlier church, contains a wealth of sculpture. The screen between the south transept and the sacristy has a whole series of reliefs - the Crucifixion, St Christopher, a bishop, a mermaid with a mirror followed by two fish, coasts of arms of the Butler family. Notable among the monuments in the choir is the tomb of Piers Fitzjames Og Butler, with his reclining effigy as a knight and panels of saints and Fathers of the Church as weepers. Rory O'Tunney, who carved this tomb about 1526, was also responsible for the monument of William Cantwell and Margaret Butler and that of John Cantwell and Elicia Stouk. In front of that altar is the gravestone of Abbot Philip (d. 1463). An unusual feature is the pair of stone seats against the piers at the end of the nave.Among the remains of the conventual buildings is a corbel-vaulted circular dovecot.

The visitor center is located outside Mountnugent. The center includes craft workshops and Basketry museum with audio visual presentation.