User:Mrchris/Geography of County Kilkenny

Geography of County Kilkenny includes Climate, Mountains and hills, Rivers, Towns and villages and townlands.

The Geography of County Kilkenny describes the county of Kilkenny which is located in the south-west of Leinster, in Ireland. The main geographical features of County Kilkenny include a mostly hilly surface of moderate elevation with uplands in the North-East, the North-West and the South of the county; the middle being comparably lower.

The county is located at 52.58333°N, -7.25°W and has an area of 509431 acre which contains a population of 87,558. 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 highest peak is Brandon Hill which is 515 m above sea level. The north-south length of the county is 36 mi; and its greatest breadth from east to west, is about 19 mi and its narrowest part is about 12 mi 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 the River Barrow. The River Nore bisects the county and the River Barrow and River Suir are natural boundaries to the east and south of the county.

Rivers
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 the border between County Waterford and County Kilkenny. River Barrow forms a boundary to the east of the county.

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 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 of canoeing and kayaking as they contain stretches of peaceful waterways and a number of weirs and rapids. The wide and meandering Rivers Nore and Barrow are used for angling, boating and water sports.

Mountains and hills


County Kilkenny is comparably low compared to other mountain ranges in Ireland with the highest peak being Brandon Hill, at 515 m 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 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 is 313 m, 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 m, 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 the Slieveardagh Hills is Knocknamuck  at 340 m. The Booley Montains 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 m and is near the Barrow and Graiguenamanagh. The area enclosed between the rivers Nore and Barrow towards their point of joining 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.

Geology
The geology of Kilkenny includes the Kiltorcan Formation which is early Carboniferous in age. The Formation is located around Kiltoncan 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 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, surrounde by limstone strata, alternated with shale, argilaceous ironstone, and standstone. This occurs eastward of the Nore around Castlecomer, along the border with Laois. It is generally accompanied by culm, which was used extensively for buring lime.

Climate
Weather data was recorded by Met Éireann at a Kilkenny Weather Station from its establishment in 1957 until 2008, weather for the area is now recorded at Carlow Weather Station. Weatherwise County Kilkenny is the centre of the area known as the 'Sunny South East' nationally. Kilkenny has extremes of temperature due to its continental type climate but also because it is least affected by the sea. It is generally representative of wide river valleys in the region with low temperatures on cloudless nights. Overall, the county has a mild, but changeable, Oceanic climate with few extremes. Kilkenny is significant in that it records some of the highest summer and lowest winter temperatures in Ireland.

The highest air temperature ever recorded in Ireland, 33.3 °C, was at Kilkenny Castle on 26 June 1887. The maximum daily rainfall recorded at Kilkenny station was 66.4 mm on 17 July 1983. The highest wind gust, 77 knots (from a South-west direction, i.e. 200 degrees), was recorded on 12 January 1974. The maximum daily sunshine was 16.3 hours on 18 June 1978. The warmest and sunniest month on record at Kilkenny was August 1995 with a total of 274.9 hours sunshine and very high temperatures throughout. The maximum temperature recorded was 30.8 °C on 2 August 1995. Extremes recorded at the Kilkenny Met Station include the Highest Air Temperature of 31.5 °C on 29 June 1976, the lowest air temperature of -14.1 °C on 2 January 1979 and the lowest ground temperature of -18.1 °C on 12 January 1982. Kilkenny experiences an average of 4 days per year with snow lying, 9 days per year with hail, and 5 days per year with thunderstorms.

Environment
The Environment of County Kilkenny contains a great variety of natural heritage, including rivers and woodlands, hedgerows, mammals, birds, plants, 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 the Nore Valley. Conifer forests are found on the upland areas.

Protected 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 Sanctuarys. At present there are 36 designated natural heritage sites of international and national importance in County Kilkenny, covering approximately 4.5% of the county.

Special Areas of Conservation have been, and are being designated, under the European Union Habitats Directive to conserve habitats and species of European importance. In County Kilkenny this includes Hugginstown Fen south-west of Ballyhale, The Loughans near Urlingford, Cullahill Mountain on the Castlecomer plateau near Johnstown, Spahill and Clomantagh Hill which forms part of an escarpment which links the Slieve Ardagh 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 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 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 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.

Gardens in County Kilkenny include Kilfane Glen in Thomastown, Woodstock Garden in Inistioge, the Discover Park in Castlecomer, Darver House garden in Jenkinstown, Coolcashin Garden near Johnstown, Emoclew Garden in Goresbridge, Shankill Gardens & Castle in Paulstown, Rothe Family Garden in Kilkenny, Dahlia garden in The Rower and the rose garden at Kilkenny Castle.

Flora
Flora in County Kilkenny includes the endangered Autumn Crocus as well as 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

Fauna
Fauna in County Kilkenny includes Hedgehogs, Otters, Badgers, Leisler's bats, foxes, 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 1st March until September 1st. Woodlands, Trees and Hedgerows form a network of habitats,ecological ‘corridors’ essential for wildlife to flourish and move between habitats.

Woodlands, Trees and Hedgerows
Woodlands, trees and hedgerows in County Kilkneny are part of the county’s biodiversity and are an environmental, economic, amenity and landscape resource. 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.

There are around 180 significant trees in the county included in the Tree Register of Ireland, compiled by the Tree Council of Ireland , based on characteristics such as age, height, diameter, historical or folklore connections. At present there under 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 a two Cedar of Lebanon at Kildalton Agricultural College in Piltown, 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, a English/Common Oak at Stoneen Kilfawe, a 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 is also a Turkey Oak at Threecastles House in Kilkenny, a 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, a English/Common Oak at Ballykeefe House in Kilmanagh, a English/Common Oak at Fanningstown House in Owning and a Beech at Castlecomer Golf Club in Castlecomer

Survays of Kilkenny's woodland include A Woodland Survey of Kilkenny, undertaken in 1997 to identify woodlands in the county and A survey of broadleaf woodlands in three SACs: Barrow-Nore, River Unshin and Lough Forbes, Browne et al. (2000), which covers some of County Kilkenny. There are also 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 stop trees being cut down unless a notice of intention is given and prohibit the cutting of hedges within the bird nesting period. Hedgerows also have historical significance as townland and field boundaries.

Demographics
As of the 2006 census, by the Central Statistics Office, County Kilkenny's population was 87,558. There were 35,669 Irish speakers as of 2006. There were 39,809 people currently working in County Kilkenny and 4,133 people on the live register as of August 2008. There were 1,251 births and 546 deaths in 2007. Disposable household income per person as of 2005 was 18,032 euros and the index of disposable household was 89.4.

The main religion is Catholic, however there are Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish and other religious traditions living in Kilkenny.

Villages and Towns
County Kilkenny is bordered by Laois, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford and Tipperary. The county contains the town of Kilkenny, located at the center of the county, and the towns of Ballyragget, Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh to the north of the county and Mooncoin and Thomastown to the south.


 * Ballyhale, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge
 * Callan, Carigeen, Castlecomer, Castlewarren
 * Flagmount, Freshford,
 * Galmoy, Glenmore, Goresbridge, Gowran, Graiguenamanagh
 * Inistioge
 * Jenkinstown, Johnstown, Johnswell
 * Kilkenny, Killinaspick, Kilmacow, Kilmoganny, Knocktopher
 * Mooncoin, Mullinavat
 * Paulstown, Piltown
 * Redhouse
 * Slieverue, Stoneyford
 * Thomastown, Tullaroan
 * Urlingford
 * Windgap

Baronies
The county was also divided into subdivisions called baronies. Baronies are divided into townlands. There were 9 baronies and about 800 townlands in Kilkenny in 1802. Each barony was made up of a number of parishes or parts of parishes. Both civil parishes and baronies are now largely obsolete (except for some purposes such as legal transactions involving land) and are no longer used for local government purposes.

Baronies of County Kilkenny Baronies in County Kilkenny:
 * 1) Callan (Callainn)
 * 2) Crannagh (Crannach)
 * 3) Fassadinin (Fásach an Deighnín)
 * 4) Galmoy (Gabhalmhaigh)
 * 5) Gowran (Gabhrán)
 * 6) Ida (Uí Dheá)
 * 7) Iverk (Uíbh Eirc)
 * 8) Kells (Ceanannas)
 * 9) Kilculliheen (Cill Choilchín)
 * 10) Kilkenny City (Cill Chainnigh)
 * 11) Knocktopher (Cnoc an Tóchair)
 * 12) Shillelogher (Síol Fhaolchair)

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 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 the 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 frequently break both barony and county boundaries.