Kingdom of Osraige

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The Kingdom of Ossory (historically Osraige; Modern Irish Osraí) was an ancient kingdom of Ireland. It was largely a buffer state between Leinster and Munster, yet one that retained its independence, at least nominally, well into the historic era. Its southern border was formed by the rivers River Suir and Barrow, though Ossory originally extended to the sea and its rulers had some influence over the Norse kings of Waterford. In the north it may at one time have stretched over Slieve Bloom and reached the River Shannon, but in the historic era it generally stayed to the south of these mountains, with its boundary at the River Nore.

It was bordered, clockwise from the north, by the kingdoms or lordships of Ele, Ui Duach, Loigis, Ui Drona, Uí Cheinnselaig, Desi Mumhain, and Eóganachta Caisel. The main town and dynastic capital of the kingdom was Kilkenny. Modern-day County Kilkenny and part of west County Laois comprise the core area of what was this kingdom.

The tribal name Osraige may be derived from that of the Usdaie, a tribe that Ptolemy's map of Ireland places in roughly the same area that the Osraige would later occupy. Other tribes in the vicinity were the Brigantes and the Cauci. The Osraige themselves claimed to be descended from the Érainn people. The name has been preserved in the titles of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory and the Anglican Diocese of Ossory and Cashel.