Bennettsbridge

File:Bennetsbridge.jpg

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|date=October 2008}} 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 a Royal Irish Constabulary police station in the village.{{Citation | last = Lewis | first = Samuel | title = A Topgrahical Dictionary of Ireland | publisher=S. LEWIS & Co. 87, Aldergate Street | year = 1837 | location = London | url = http://www.libraryireland.com/topog/index.php }}

Bennettsbridge is located along the river Nore at a ford of the river about {{convert|10|km|mi|0}} from Gowran. There are two old mills downstream from the bridge. Ducks and swans and other river life are present in abundance.

File:GardaStnBennetsbridge059-1.jpg

Bennettsbridge lies on the R700 regional road which carries much tourist traffic in the summertime from the Rosslare ferries, through Kilkenny and on into the midlands and Galway.

The village is served daily by Bus 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 to Rosslare Europort are available from New Ross and Waterford.{{cite web |url=http://buseireann.ie/pdf/1360753128-073.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-02-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221132436/http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1360753128-073.pdf |archive-date=21 February 2015 }}

In the summer, a scheduled Ring A Link bus allows visitors to access local craft outlets before taking a riverside walk back to Kilkenny.{{cite web|url=http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/your-community/bus-to-bennettsbridge-lets-walkers-enjoy-stroll-along-the-nore-1-3979051|title = Bus to Bennettsbridge lets walkers enjoy stroll along the Nore}}

Bennettsbridge railway station opened on 2 September 1861, but closed permanently on 15 February 1965.{{cite web | title=Bennettsbridge station | work=Railscot – Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=12 September 2007}} Nowadays the nearest rail station is Kilkenny railway station around 9 kilometres distant.

File:Bennett's Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 513261.jpg ]]

There is record of Bennett's Bridge in 1393, when John Midleton, guardian of the chapel of St. Mary received licence to fortify the bridge.{{citation

|author=Kilkenny and South-east of Ireland Archaeological Society

|author-link=Kilkenny Archaeological Society

|title=The journal of the Kilkenny and South-east of Ireland Archaeological Society

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCYNAAAAYAAJ

|access-date=7 August 2009

|year=1867

|publisher=Kilkenny Archaeological Society

|location=Dublin

|page=275

}} The ancient viaduct was destroyed by the great flood of 1793. The flood washed away many of the major bridges crossing the River Nore and so a comprehensive rebuilding programme was initiated in the eighteenth century. Kilkenny architect William Robertson worked on it in 1826,{{cite journal |last1=Lucey |first1=John |title=William Robertson (1770-1850), Kilkenny's First Architect |journal=Old Kilkenny Review |date=2018 |page=162 |publisher=Kilkenny Archaeological Society |issn=0332-0774}} with the design of the bridge attributed (according to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) to George Smith.{{cite web|url = http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=KK®no=12312010 | title = Bennett's Bridge, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | access-date = 14 January 2020 }} Other bridges, built or rebuilt in the same period, include Green's Bridge in Kilkenny 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 at Mount 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.[http://www.norevalleypark.com/ Nore Valley Park] There is lake fishing at Wallslough Village.

Nicholas Mosse Pottery was established by Nicholas Mosse in 1976.[http://www.nicholasmosse.com/ Nicholas Mosse Website] It is located at an old riverside mill in Bennettsbridge.{{citation|last=Campbell|first=Georgina|title=Georgina Campbell's Ireland 2007-The Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZ6L61o8Ud4C|year=2007|page=552|edition=Revised|publisher=Georgina Campbell's Guides Ltd|isbn=978-1-903164-23-5}} 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.{{cite news|last=Harrison|first=Bernice|title=Design Moment: Nicholas Mosse jug, 1980|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/fine-art-antiques/design-moment-nicholas-mosse-jug-1980-1.3673114|access-date=2022-01-20|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}{{cite web|title=VISIT US {{!}} VISIT US IN BENNETTSBRIDGE, COUNTY KILKENNY|url=https://nicholasmosse.com/pages/visit-us-visit-us-in-bennettsbridge-county-kilkenny|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Nicholas Mosse|language=en}}

Stoneware Jackson is another local pottery studio.[http://www.stonewarejackson.com/ Stoneware Jackson Website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814073449/http://www.stonewarejackson.com/|date=14 August 2009}} The pieces are hand-thrown, featuring two-color glazing and Celtic motifs.{{citation|last=Daugherty|first=Christi|title=Frommer's Ireland 2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N78JkCdahAMC|year=2006|page=608|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-7645-9771-8}}

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 local Gaelic Athletic Association club.

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

• Noel Skehan, former Kilkenny hurling goalkeeper.
• Hubert Butler, the essayist.
• James McGarry, former Kilkenny hurling goalkeeper.
• John McGovern, former Kilkenny hurling player.

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.pbase.com/kilkenny_photo_society/image/58959570 Kilkenny Photographic Society Pictures]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080719185437/http://bennettsbridge.kilkenny.gaa.ie/ Bennettsbridge GAA]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080522124839/http://www.interment.net/data/ireland/kilkenny/ben_bridge/index.htm Cemetery records]
• [http://homepage.tinet.ie/~duchas/index.html Tullaherin Heritage Society]

{{County Kilkenny}}

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Category:Towns and villages in County Kilkenny

Category:Census towns in County Kilkenny