Mullinavat#Notable features

File:Pollanassa waterfall Mullinavat.jpg

The village and townland of Mullinavat lie in the electoral division of Killahy, in the civil parish of Kilbeacon in the historical Barony of Knocktopher in County Kilkenny.{{cite web|url = https://www.townlands.ie/kilkenny/knocktopher/kilbeacon/killahy/mullinavat/ | website = townlands.ie | title = Mullinavat Townland, Co. Kilkenny | accessdate = 12 August 2024 }} The civil parishes of Kilahy and Rossinan are nearby. Mullinavat is approximately {{cvt|12|km|0}} north of Waterford city.

Two streams, Abhainn na Bhata and the Poulanassa River, join the Blackwater River to the south of Mullinavat. Other local geographic features include Tory Hill ({{lang|ga|Sliabh gCruinn}} meaning 'round mountain') which rises to 290 metres above sea level. This hill is said to have derived its name from an outlaw named Edmund Den, who was active in the area around the year 1700. There is a pattern held each year on Tory Hill on the second Sunday of July. This is locally called 'Tory Hill Sunday' and 'Frocchans Sunday'. It was not previously a religious celebration, but consisted of local people gathering to pick the wild berries called 'Frocchans'. In the "holy year" of 1950, a large cross was erected on the summit of the hill, and since then, the rosary has been said by the people who gather beneath the cross.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

Named after 'Fort of the Wren', nearby Listrolin is in the Walsh Mountains, overlooking Mullinavat, Mooncoin, Kilmacow and Tempelorum. Listrolin and the Walsh Mountains were acquired by the Walsh family when they landed in Ireland with Strongbow in the 12th century. This area was controlled by the family until the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the 17th century. It was once home to several castles owned by the family's descendants. In 1946, the townlands of Clonassy, Listrolin and Rochestown were annexed from Mooncoin, becoming part of Mullinavat district parish. The ancient church of this district stood in Listrrolin, in the laneway leading over the Assy River to Ballinacoaley.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of fulacht fiadh, enclosure and ringfort sites in the surrounding townlands of Deerpark, Garrandarragh and Glendonnell.{{cite book | title = Record of Monuments and Places - County Kilkenny | publisher = National Monuments and Historic Properties Service | date = 1996 | place = Dublin }}

Mullinavat ({{Irish place name|Muileann an Bhata|mill of the stick}}) was historically associated with milling, and 19th century saw mill and corn mill buildings still stand in Mullinavat and Glendonnell townlands.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12326018/glendonnell-mullinavat-kilkenny | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Glendonnell, Mullinavat, Kilkenny | accessdate = 12 August 2024 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12326006/mullinavat-mullinavat-kilkenny | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Mullinavat, Mullinavat, Kilkenny | accessdate = 12 August 2024 }} The local church, Saint Beacon's Catholic Church in Garrandarragh, dates to {{circa|1890}}.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12326012/saint-beacons-catholic-church-garrandarragh-mullinavat-kilkenny | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Saint Beacon's Catholic Church, Garrandarragh, Mullinavat, Kilkenny | accessdate = 12 August 2024 }} A 19th century Church of Ireland church, outside the village, was demolished in the 20th century - though its graveyard remains.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12404003/kilbeacon-church-garrandarragh-kilkenny | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Kilbeacon Church, Garrandarragh, Kilkenny | accessdate = 12 August 2024 }} These churches, and Kilbeacon parish, are historically associated with Saint Beacon (Bécán).

Clonassey Castle is located in the area, and the remains of the foundations are to be seen in what is still known as the 'Castle Field'. Its last occupant was Robert Walsh, Member of Parliament for the County Kilkenny constituency in the Parliament of Ireland of 1689. He was killed at the siege of Limerick in 1691.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

Inchicarron (or Inchacarran) Castle, to the east of Mullinavat, was occupied by poet John Mac Walter Walsh (also known as 'Tatter Jack Walsh'). While only one of his poems survives, a dance tune (jib) is still known as 'Tatter Jack Walsh'. His property was confiscated in his old age. He died in 1660 and was reputedly buried in Kilbeacon cemetery.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

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The area is served by Bus Éireann route 4, which travels each way from Dublin to Carlow, Waterford and New Ross.{{cite web |url=http://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/1425310182-004.pdf |title=Timetable - Route 4 |access-date=2016-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328215317/http://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/1425310182-004.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-28 |url-status=dead}}

Mullinavat is located on the R448 Naas–Waterford road. The village was bypassed in July 2010 when the Kilkenny–Waterford section of the M9 motorway opened. It is at junction 11 of the motorway. The R704 road goes to New Ross.

Although the Dublin–Waterford railway line runs through the area, there is no longer a station. Mullinavat railway station opened in May 1853 and closed in early 1963.{{cite web |title=Mullinavat station |work=Railscot – Irish Railways |url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf |access-date=2007-11-19}} Now disused and in a state of disrepair,{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/12326010/mullinavat-railway-station-mullinavat-kilkenny | website = buildingsofireland.ie | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | title = Mullinavat Railway Station, Mullinavat, Mullinavat, Kilkenny | accessdate = 12 August 2024 }} Mullinavat station is included on the Record of Protected Structures maintained by Kilkenny County Council.

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The local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, Mullinavat GAA club, was formed in 1887.{{cite web|url = http://mullinavat.kilkenny.gaa.ie/pages/parishdistricthistory.aspx | website = mullinavat.kilkenny.gaa.ie | title = Mullinavat G.A.A. Club - Parish/District History | accessdate = 6 July 2025 }} Gaelic football was the dominant sport in the parish until around 1913 when a hurling team from Mullinavat entered the Junior championship for the first time. The club won the Leinster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/fennelly-goal-decisive-as-kiltale-held-at-arms-length-30768132.html |title=Fennelly goal decisive as Kiltale held at arm's length Mullinavat 1-13 Kiltale 0-13 Leinster IHC final |access-date=6 July 2025 |work=Irish Independent |date=24 November 2014}}

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There are two national (primary) schools serving the area: St. Beacon's National School and St. Colmcille's National School. The nearest secondary school is in Ballyhale.

Public services include a health centre, credit union, post office, restaurant and a number of public houses. There is also a Teagasc office in the area.{{cite web|url = https://teagasc.ie/office/mullinavat-local-advisory-office/ | website = teagasc.ie | title = Teagasc - Offices - Mullinavat Local Advisory Office | accessdate = 6 July 2025 }}

Mulinavat is in an area of productive land, which is used for both agriculture and forestry.{{fact|date=August 2024}} The main tillage crops include barley, oats, wheat, miscanthus and maize. Production of sugar beet stopped with the closure of the Carlow sugar plant. Dairy farming is also important with most milk being supplied to Tirlán. There is also beef or livestock farming.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

Afforestation in the area has been undertaken by Coillte. Forestry has been important in Mullinavat since the 1960s, mainly conifer plantations. Government policy has also promoted the development of some deciduous woodlands.{{fact|date=July 2025}}

{{Historical populations

|title =

|source = {{cite web|url = https://citypopulation.de/en/ireland/towns/kilkenny/07652__mullinavat/ | website = citypopulation.de | title = Mullinavat (Ireland) Census Town | accessdate = 6 July 2025 }}

|1986 |306

|1991 |283

|1996 |275

|2002 |309

|2006 |255

|2011 |259

|2016 |233

|2022 |210

}}

Between the 2002 census and 2016 census, the population of Mullinavat decreased from 309 to 233.{{cite web | url = https://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=ST2016&Geog_Code=A029A0D9-2C29-423B-B5DB-485DB2F87291 | title = Sapmap Area: Settlements Mullinavat | work = Census 2016 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 7 October 2021}} As of the 2022 census, it had a population of 210. Of these, over 95% (200 people) were Irish citizens, 2% (5 people) were from the United Kingdom, with a small number (3 people) holding citizenship of other European countries. As of the 2022 census, nearly 91% of respondents indicated that they were Catholic, with 1% other religions and 8% either of no religion or no stated religion.

{{See also|Category:People from Mullinavat}}

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

{{reflist}}

{{County Kilkenny}}

Category:Towns and villages in County Kilkenny

Category:Census towns in County Kilkenny