Bennettsbridge
| Bennettsbridge Irish: Droichead Binéid | |
| County Kilkenny | |
|---|---|
 Bennetts Bridge, Bennettsbridge | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | S554492 |
| Location: | 52°35’30"N, 7°11’1"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 745 |
| Local Government | |
Bennettsbridge is a village in County Kilkenny, beside the River Nore, four miles south of Kilkenny city, in the centre of the county. Bennettsbridge is a census town, and had population of 745 as of the 2016 census.
The village is at a ford on the Nore about six miles from Gowran. There are two old mills downstream from the bridge. Ducks and swans and other river life are present in abundance.
The village is on the R700 road at a stone bridge crossing of the Nore between Kilkenny and Thomastown. It has become a craft centre in recent years, with several pottery and craft producers located at the old mill beside the weir.
The village is part of the parish of Tullaherin which contains an almost intact 9th-century round tower.
History
Bennettsbridge owes its name to Saint Benet and its strategic importance to its position at a major crossing of the river Nore. The first bridge was built on the site in 1285 and was dedicated to the saint, and was important for transport until the establishment of the railway. The current bridge dates from the 18th century after the original bridge was swept away in a flood in 1763. There were flour-mills at the weir and there was a Royal Irish Constabulary police station in the village.[1]
Bennettsbridge railway station opened on 2 September 1861, but closed permanently on 15 February 1965.[2] Nowadays the nearest rail station is Kilkenny railway station around 9 kilometres distant.
About the village
There is record of Bennett's Bridge in 1393, when John Midleton, guardian of the chapel of St. Mary received licence to fortify the bridge.[3] The ancient viaduct was destroyed by the great flood of 1793. The flood washed away many of the major bridges crossing the River Nore and so a comprehensive rebuilding programme was initiated in the eighteenth century. Kilkenny architect William Robertson worked on it in 1826,[4] with the design of the bridge attributed (according to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) to George Smith.[5] Other bridges, built or rebuilt in the same period, include Green's Bridge in Kilkenny City, Thomastown Bridge on the River Nore, Graiguenamanagh Bridge on the River Barrow, Inistioge Bridge on the Nore, Goresbridge on the Barrow, and the bridge at Mount Juliet.
Nore Valley Park, two miles from Bennettsbridge, includes a camping and caravan park, activity centre, open farm, farm trail, crazy golf]] course and a picnic and barbecue area.[6] There is lake fishing at Wallslough Village.
Sport
- Gaelic sports: Bennettsbridge GAA
Outside links
References
- ↑ Lewis, Samuel (1837), A Topgrahical Dictionary of Ireland, London: S. LEWIS & Co. 87, Aldergate Street, http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/index.php
- ↑ "Bennettsbridge station". Railscot – Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf.
- ↑ Kilkenny Archaeological Society (1867), The journal of the Kilkenny and South-east of Ireland Archaeological Society, Dublin: Kilkenny Archaeological Society, p. 275, https://books.google.com/books?id=DCYNAAAAYAAJ, retrieved 7 August 2009
- ↑ Lucey, John (2018). "William Robertson (1770-1850), Kilkenny's First Architect". Old Kilkenny Review (Kilkenny Archaeological Society): 162. SSN 0332-0774.
- ↑ "Bennett's Bridge, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=KK®no=12312010.
- ↑ Nore Valley Park