Thomastown

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Thomastown
Baile Mhic Andáin
Location
Location of Thomastown
centerMap highlighting Thomastown
Statistics
Province: Leinster
County: County Kilkenny
Population (2002) 1,600 
Website: www.kilkennycoco.ie
For the suburb of Melbourne, Australia, see Thomastown, Victoria.
Thomastown viewed from the north
Thomastown viewed from the north
Thomastown from the bridge over the Nore
Thomastown from the bridge over the Nore
The River Nore from the bridge in Thomastown
The River Nore from the bridge in Thomastown

Thomastown (Baile Mhic Andáin in Irish) is a town situated at a bridging point on the River Nore in County Kilkenny, 17 km south of Kilkenny city in the southeast of Ireland. With a population of 1,600 (2002 Census), the town is the biggest in the county outside of Kilkenny city. It has a stretch of the River Nore running through it which, depending on the time of year is abundant with salmon and trout.

Contents

[edit] History

Thomastown was called Grennan until the 11th century, at which time a Norman lord named Thomas took ownership of the town. His full name was Thomas FitzAnthony Walsh, seneschal of Leinster and this surname appears the town's name in Irish. He built a castle and the town walls. Only the towers near each end of the bridge and the ruins of a large 13th Century church, the Church of St Mary, remain.[1] The 12th-century Jerpoint Abbey is located near the town.

Local tradition holds that the remains of St. Nicholas, the 3rd century Anatolian bishop, (aka Santa Claus) lie in the vicinity of Thomastown, having being abducted by a crusading Norman family who eventually settled in the locality.[2]

[edit] Industry

Pilsworth's Mills, powered by the waters of the River Nore was the principal industry in the town until the early 1960s. At one stage there were 12 water-powered mills, for grain and cloth, working in the parish. The last working mill in Thomastown closed in 1963. This mill is now the site of Grennan Craft School [1]. Several mill buildings in good condition can be seen upstream from the bridge.[3]

Hops, the controlled ingredient of beer, is grown locally. Craft pottery is a current activity in the town.

[edit] Transport

The N9 Dublin–Waterford road passes through Thomastown where it crosses the R700 regional road. The town is connected to the Irish railway network on the Dublin–Kilkenny–Waterford line. Thomastown railway station opened on 12 May 1848.[4]

[edit] People

Dysart Castle close to Thomastown is reputed to have been the birthplace of the influential Irish philosopher Bishop George Berkeley.

[edit] Sport

Kayaking (canoeing) is very popular in the area, thanks to the proximity of the River Nore. The local club is called Thomastown Paddlers [2]. A bronze statue of Ollie Walsh, a famous Thomastown hurler, stands in Mill Street.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Blue Guide, Ireland. (9th edition) Brian Lalor. (p265) ISBN 0-7136-6130-5
  2. ^ Lonely Planet, Ireland. (7th edition) Various. (p325) ISBN 0-74059-968-3
  3. ^ Thomastown - A Brief History. Thomastown - A Brief History. Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  4. ^ Thomastown station. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-09-05.