The Gentry & Aristocracy Of Kilkenny (Irish Family Names),Used

The Story Of Kilkenny Is Inextricably Linked To The History Of The Butlers, A Family That Stamped Its Mark Not Alone On Kilkenny But On The Entire South East Of Ireland. Today Kilkenny Castle Stands As A Monument To This Remarkable Family And Kilkenny City Owes Its Existence To Them. What Was Probably One Of The Most Extraordinary Facets Of The Butlers Was The Fact That They Were Most Prolific And Their Many Sub Branches Included The Butlers Of Mountgarret, The Butlers Of Dunboyne, The Butlers Of Carrick And Numerous Less Well Known Branches Such As The Butlers Of Maidenhall. The Fact That They Managed To Survive The Cromwellian Carve Up Of Catholic Lands Is A Tribute To Their Tenacity And Intelligence. The Various Cromwellian Families That Settled In Kilkenny Did So At The Expense Of Families That Were Less Powerful Such As The Shees, The Rothes And The Shortalls And The Remnants Of The Gaelic Families Such As The Fitzpatricks. Many Of These New Families Such As The Agars Of Gowran, The Ponsonbys Of Pilltown And The Wandesfordes Of Castlecomer Left Indelible Marks In Their Areas And Many Fine Golf Courses And Parks Exist Today Because Of Their Industry. The Legacy Of Beautiful Houses And Well Maintained Demesnes Has All But Been Lost. Fortunately Enough Remain To Ensure The Continuity Of Settlement So Vital To Our Understanding Of History. Other Families To Emerge Such As The Smithwicks, The Bryans, The Powers, The Floods And The St. Georges Gave Kilkenny Many Distinguished And Talented Men And Women Who Contributed To The Advancement Of Mankind Not Alone In Ireland But In Other Far Flung Lands.