Thomastown
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Thomastown Baile Mhic Andáin
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| Town | |
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 Thomastown
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| Coordinates: 52°31′36″N 7°08′14″W / 52.526667°N 7.137222°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Kilkenny |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Urban | 2,273 |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Irish Grid Reference | S585420 |
Thomastown (Irish: Baile Mhic Andáin), historically known as Grennan, is a town in County Kilkenny in the province of Leinster in the south-east of Ireland. It is a lively market town along a stretch of the River Nore which is known for its salmon and trout, with a number of historical landmarks in the vicinity. Visitor attractions include Jerpoint Abbey, Kilfane Glen gardens, and Mount Juliet Golf Course.
Thomastown is a Local Electoral Area of County Kilkenny and includes the electoral divisions of Ballyhale, Ballyvool, Bennettsbridge, Bramblestown, Castlebanny, Clara, Coolhill, Dunbell, Famma, Freaghana, Goresbridge, Gowran, Graiguenamanagh, Inistioge, Jerpoint Church, Kilfane, Kiltorcan, Paulstown, Pleberstown, Powerstown, Shankill, Thomastown, Tullaherin, Ullard and Woolengrange.
The town is situated at a bridging point on the River Nore 17 kilometres (11 mi) from the city of Kilkenny. It has a population of 2,273 (2011 Census) making the town the biggest in the county outside of Kilkenny. The R448 Naas–Waterford road passes through Thomastown, the town is serviced by buses and has a railway station.
The town was founded in the 13th century on an important crossing point by an Anglo-Norman mercenary from Wales, Thomas FitzAnthony, replacing the earlier Irish settlement of Grennan (Irish: Grianán, Sunny Place). FitzAnthony was granted a large area of land in the region by William Earl Marshall, son-in-law of Strongbow, and became the Seneschal (Governor) of Leinster in the 13th century. He built fortifications at Thomastown, fragments of which can still be seen today, together with nearby Grennan Castle, now in ruins. FitzAnthony died in 1229. Of this castle and the town's walls, the only remains are the towers near each end of the bridge and the remains of a 13th-century church, dedicated to St Mary. The town became a small medieval walled town.
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