Knocktopher (barony)

Barony of Knocktopher[1]
Cnoc an Tóchair (Irish)[1][2]
Barony
Ballyboodan Ogham Stone inscribed "Here lies Corbmac ó Cuinn".
Ballyboodan Ogham Stone inscribed "Here lies Corbmac ó Cuinn".
Etymology: Hill of the Causeway[3]
Barony of Knocktopher
Barony of Knocktopher[1] is located in Ireland
Barony of Knocktopher[1]
Barony of Knocktopher[1]
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°26′2.66″N 7°11′39.25″W / 52.4340722°N 7.1942361°W / 52.4340722; -7.1942361[4]
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Kilkenny
Civil parishes
List
  • Aghaviller
  • Killahy
  • Kilbeacon
  • Kilkeasy
  • Knocktopher
  • Derrynahinch
  • Dunnamaggan
  • Fiddown
  • Ennisnag
  • Listerlin
  • Lismateige
  • Muckalee
  • Rossinan
  • Jerpointwest
  • Stonecarthy
  • Jerpointchurch
Government
[5]
 • TypeCounty Council
 • BodyKilkenny County Council
Area
[6]
 • Total22.9 km2 (8.8 sq mi)

The barony of Knocktopher (Irish: Cnoc an Tóchair, meaning ''Hill of the Causeway'') is a barony in the west of County Kilkenny, Ireland.[1][3][8] The barony is 46,765 acres (189.25 km2) in size. There are 16 civil parishes made up of 125 townlands.[1] It is one of 12 baronies in the county.[9] The chief town is Mullinavat and it contains the settlements of Stonyford, Ballyhale, Hugginstown, Knocktopher, and Dunnamaggan.[10] The M9 motorway bisects the barony.

Knocktopher lies at the west of the county, the barony is bordered by Kells to the west (whose chief town is Kells), by the baronies of Shillelogher and Gowran to the north (whose chief towns are Bennettsbridge and Gowran), and the baronies of Iverk and Ida and to the south (whose chief towns are Slieverue and Piltown).

The rivers Black Water, King's River, Little Arrigle, and Arrigle River flow through the barony.[11] The Walsh Mountains make up a large part of the barony.[3][12] Other historic sites include Norelands House, Saint Molings Well, and Goat's Bridge.[13][14][15]

Knocktopher was an early medieval cantred within the shire of Kilkenny,[16] and part of the historic kingdom of Osraige (Ossory).[17] Today it is part of the Roman Catholic Church diocese of Ossory and the Church of Ireland diocese of Cashel and Ossory. Knocktopher is currently administered by Kilkenny County Council.[5]

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