Bennettsbridge Droichead Binéid | |
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Village | |
 Bennetts Bridge, named for Saint Benet, from which the village takes its name | |
  Bennettsbridge Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates:52°36′N7°11′W / 52.600°N 7.183°W /52.600; -7.183 | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Kilkenny |
| Population | |
• Total | 745 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
Bennettsbridge (Irish:Droichead Binéid, meaning 'Bennet's bridge') is a village inCounty Kilkenny inIreland. It is situated on theRiver Nore 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south ofKilkenny city, in the centre of the county. Bennettsbridge is acensus town, and had population of 745 as of the2016 census.[1]
The village is on theR700 road at a stone bridge crossing of the Nore betweenKilkenny andThomastown. It has become a craft centre in recent years, with severalpottery andcraft producers located at the old mill beside theweir.
The village is part of the parish ofTullaherin which contains an almost intact 9th-centuryround tower.
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[citation needed] 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 aRoyal Irish Constabulary police station in the village.[2]
Bennettsbridge is located along the river Nore at aford of the river about 10 kilometres (6 mi) fromGowran. There are two old mills downstream from the bridge. Ducks and swans and other river life are present in abundance.
Bennettsbridge lies on theR700regional road which carries much tourist traffic in the summertime from theRosslare ferries, through Kilkenny and on into themidlands andGalway.
The village is served daily byBus Éireann route 73 (Waterford –Kilkenny -Athlone). Kilbride Coaches'New Ross to Kilkenny route provides two journeys each way daily but none on Sundays. The first journey arrives into Kilkenny at 08.30 and the last return journey is at 18.00 making commuting possible. On Thursdays Bus Éireann route 374 provides a journey in each direction along the same route. Bus services toRosslare Europort are available from New Ross andWaterford.[3]
In the summer, a scheduled Ring A Link bus allows visitors to access local craft outlets before taking a riverside walk back to Kilkenny.[4]
Bennettsbridge railway station opened on 2 September 1861, but closed permanently on 15 February 1965.[5] Nowadays the nearest rail station isKilkenny railway station around 9 kilometres distant.
There is record of Bennett's Bridge in 1393, when John Midleton, guardian of the chapel of St. Mary receivedlicence to fortify the bridge.[6] The ancient viaduct was destroyed by the great flood of 1793. The flood washed away many of the major bridges crossing theRiver Nore and so a comprehensive rebuilding programme was initiated in the eighteenth century. Kilkenny architectWilliam Robertson worked on it in 1826,[7] with the design of the bridge attributed (according to theNational Inventory of Architectural Heritage) to George Smith.[8] Other bridges, built or rebuilt in the same period, includeGreen's Bridge inKilkenny 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 atMount Juliet.
Nore Valley Park, 3.2 km from Bennettsbridge, includes a camping and caravan park, activity centre, open farm, farm trail,crazy golf course and a picnic and barbecue area.[9] There is lake fishing at Wallslough Village.
Nicholas Mosse Pottery was established byNicholas Mosse in 1976.[10] It is located at an old riverside mill in Bennettsbridge.[11] It is possible to watch potters at work as they produce pottery in the style of Irish Spongeware which was a traditional 18th Century type of pottery.[12][13]
Stoneware Jackson is another local pottery studio.[14] The pieces are hand-thrown, featuring two-color glazing and Celtic motifs.[15]
Moth to a Flame is a local candle maker based on the Bennettsbridge road on the way into the village coming from Kilkenny city.
Bennettsbridge GAA is the localGaelic Athletic Association club.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Places inCounty Kilkenny | ||
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