Kilkenny, Irish Cill Chainnigh, city, municipal borough, and seat of County Kilkenny, Ireland. It lies on both banks of the River Nore about 30 miles (50 km) north of Waterford. The ancient capital of the kingdom of Ossory, Kilkenny in Norman times had two townships: Irishtown, which had its charter from the bishops of Ossory; and Englishtown, which was established by William Marshal, earl of Pembroke, and was raised to the status of a city in 1609. The two were united in 1843. The people of Kilkenny are known as “Cats,” the name likely originating in the medieval period.
Kilkenny Castle, perhaps the city’s most famous landmark, stands on an eminence of 100 feet (30 metres) overlooking the Nore. It was burned in 1175 but was rebuilt in the late 12th and early 13th century by William Marshal. In 1391 the 3rd earl of Ormonde bought the castle. Thereafter it served as a private home for the Ormondes until they abandoned the building in 1935. From 1967 the castle was administered by the National Heritage Council, and it now serves as a museum and art gallery.
Many parliaments were held in Kilkenny from 1293 to 1408. In 1609 Kilkenny was granted a charter by King James I. The Confederation of Kilkenny, representing the native Irish and the Anglo-Norman Catholics, functioned for six years as an independent Irish parliament, the first meeting of which was held in 1642. Oliver Cromwell’s forces attacked the town in 1650, and it surrendered.
St. Canice’s Cathedral, begun about 1192, occupies the site of a 6th-century church founded by St. Canice; the bishop’s residence was built about 1360. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary (1843–57) is a cruciform building with a 200-foot (60-metre) tower. A Dominican friary, founded in 1225, is still used; and the churches of St. Mary and St. John date from the 13th century. The Tholsel (1761) is used for corporation meetings. Shee’s Almshouse dates from 1594, and Grace’s Old Castle, which was used as a jail beginning in 1566, is now a courthouse.
Kilkenny is a market centre for a rich agricultural area. Woolen mills were long important to the city’s economy, and textiles and crafts—particularly those made of Kilkenny limestone—are still significant, as is tourism. Other industries include brewing, printing, engineering, and information technology. Pop. (2006) 8,661; (2011) 8,711.