Goresbridge
Village in County Kilkenny, Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Goresbridge (Irish: An Droichead Nua, meaning 'The New Bridge'[3][4]) is a small village located in the east of County Kilkenny, in the province of Leinster, Ireland. Goresbridge is named after a 1756 bridge, built by Colonel Ralph Gore, which provides a crossing of the River Barrow between County Kilkenny and County Carlow in the South-East region.
Goresbridge
An Droichead Nua | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Goresbridge over the River Barrow | |
| Etymology: Named after Gores' Bridge | |
  Goresbridge Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 52°37′47″N 6°59′39″W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Kilkenny |
| Barony | Gowran |
| Government | |
| • Type | County Council |
| • Body | Kilkenny County Council[1] |
| • Dáil constituency | Carlow–Kilkenny |
| • European Parliament | Ireland South |
| Population | |
• Total | 361 |
| Time zone | UTC±00:00 (GMT (WET)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | S 69 54 |
| Website | www |
Located 2.75 miles (4.43 km) from Gowran on the R702 (Kilkenny−Enniscorthy) regional road, and approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of Kilkenny.[5]
Part of the civil parish is Grangesilvia[6] which is in the barony of Gowran.[4] Charles II granted Arthur Gore the townland of Barrowmount. The Battle of Goresbridge occurred there in June 1798.[7]
The population according to the 2011 census was 361.[2] The local authority is Kilkenny County Council. Goresbridge gives its name to an electoral division.[8]
History
Goresbridge was located in historic Gaelic kingdom of Ossory (Osraige). Following the Williamite–Jacobite War, Charles II gave grants of land which had been forfeited by the Roman Catholic owners.[5][9][clarification needed]
Arthur Gore obtained a grant of land, the townland of Barrowmount in parish of Grangesilvia, from Charles II,[5][9] and by the end of the 17th century the Gore family were well established.[9]
Goresbridge[10] was named for the family and the New Bridge built in 1756 by Colonel Ralph Gore.[5][9] On the 1846 OSI map of Ireland the village is referred to it as Newbridge.
Gore's Bridge
Gore's Bridge has nine-arch granite bridge crossing of the River Barrow between County Kilkenny and County Carlow. Built in 1756 by Colonel Ralph Gore the Earl of Ross.[7]
This mid-eighteenth-century elegantly-composed landmark was built using unrefined Carlow granite.[7] It represents an important element of civil engineering and transport heritage[7] and formed a vital link between the two counties.[5]
Battle of Goresbridge
The Battle of Goresbridge occurred during the Irish Rebellion on 23 June 1798 at Gore's Bridge.[5][7] During the Wexford Rebellion, and just days after the Battle of Vinegar Hill, Wexford insurgents attempted to use the Gore's Bridge.
The locally stationed Wexford Militia[5] were defeated, they lost their cavalry,[5] twenty eight soldiers were captured, and the rest fled to Kilkenny.[5] There is a carved granite memorial adjacent to the bridge.[5]
Transport
Goresbridge railway station opened on 26 October 1870, closed for passenger traffic on 26 January 1931 and for goods traffic on 27 January 1947, finally closing altogether on 1 April 1963.[11] Kilbride Coaches services Goresbridge from Graiguenamanagh or Kilkenny twice a day, except Sundays[12]
Notable people
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Mount Loftus, the nearby manor house
- Jeanville townland