Urlingford

Access

The town lies on the R639. The M8 motorway runs just west of the town, from which both Urlingford and nearby Johnstown are accessed via Junction Four. Urlingford is a bus hub, with major operator JJ Kavanagh and Sons based there. Situated 125 km from Dublin and 129 km from Cork, Urlingford has long been a resting point for travellers halfway between the Republic of Ireland's two largest cities. As a result, until May 2012 the Bus Éireann Dublin to Cork bus service called here. It is now replaced by route 828 from Portlaoise which connects with express bus at Cashel and the 858 Portlaoise to Thurles service also serves the town.

Toponymy

The Irish name Áth na nUrlainn means "ford of the slaughter" and has been anglicised as Aghnenurlin, Aghnenoorlin, Awnanoorlin and similar.

History

|1831|1366 |1841|1742 |1851|1168 |1936|492 |1946|586 |2011|973 |2016|1038

In 1526, Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond, gave possession of the lands of Urlingford to John Tobin and Nicolas Mothing (chaplins). The earlier settlement was focused around the castle, church and graveyard.

The town had an organised planned growth with traditional plot patterns. It was built over a cut-over bog, an extension to the Templetuohy Bog, much of which has been reclaimed. Urlingford is a linear town around the focused primary axis, the Main Street. In 1837 it was the centre of manufacture of coarse stuffs, flannels, and worsteds, and carries on an extensive retail trade with the surrounding districts.

The town was recorded on Griffith's Valuation in 1864.

Rivers

A minor tributary of the River Nore, the River Goul, enters the town from the southeast. It sources 6 kilometers away from the town in the Slieveardagh hills. The river passes under the Main Street and towards the bridge at Urlingford Castle (and mill).

Buildings

There is a library in Urlingford which is based in the old courthouse. Urlingford Castle and mill are located in Urlingford.

Sport

Emeralds GAA is a junior Gaelic Athletic Association club, founded in 1972.

Notable people

References

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Sources

References

1. "JJ Kavanagh Bus Company".
2. (12 September 2013). "Bus Éireann to Provide Daily Services from Portlaoise to Urlingford and Cashel". Bus Éireann and Expressway.
3. "Adjudication Report". Tidy Towns Competition 2015.
4. "Map of Urlingford Parish in the barony of Galmoy". The Down Survey Project.
5. "Home". Kilkenny County Council.
6. "Urlingford Public Library (Urlingford Courthouse), Urlingford, County Kilkenny".
7. "Urban Design Study for Urlingford". [[Kilkenny County Council]].