Johnstown, County Kilkenny facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnstown
Irish: Baile Sheáin
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Town
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Johnstown Village Green
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 Johnstown
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Kilkenny |
| Elevation | 137 m (449 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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450 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | S300664 |
Johnstown (which is Baile Sheáin in Irish) is a small town in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Long ago, it was known as Coorthafooka. The town is located where several important local roads meet. In 2008, a big road called the M8 motorway was built around Johnstown, making travel easier.
Johnstown is famous for being the home of the Fenians GAA hurling club. Hurling is a very old and exciting Irish sport played with sticks and a ball. The town is about 121 kilometers from Dublin and 131 kilometers from Cork. It sits in a rich farming area in the southeast of Ireland.
The Hely family from Foulkscourt Castle first planned and built the village of Johnstown in the early 1700s. They were an important family, with one of their ancestors, Sir John Hely, being a top judge in Ireland.
Contents
Getting Around Johnstown
Local bus services help people travel to and from Johnstown. A company called JJ Kavanagh and Sons runs a daily bus service. This bus connects Johnstown to towns like Portlaoise, Cashel, and Thurles. Before 2012, bigger bus companies like Bus Éireann also stopped in Johnstown, linking it to Dublin and Cork.
Cool Places to Visit
There are some interesting historical spots near Johnstown that you can explore.
Ballyspellan Spa Well
Ballyspellan Spa Well is a special natural spring nearby. Its water contains minerals and was once thought to have healing powers. Famous writer Jonathan Swift visited this spa in 1728. An old poem was even written about the well's amazing qualities! In 1806, a very old Viking Age brooch (a type of decorative pin) was found here. You can see this brooch today at the National Museum of Ireland.
Grangefertagh Round Tower
About 3.5 kilometers northeast of Johnstown, you'll find Grangefertagh. This site has an ancient Round tower that dates back to the 6th century. These tall, narrow towers were built by monks in early Christian Ireland. Grangefertagh is connected to Saint Ciarán of Saigir. Sadly, Viking raiders attacked this tower in the year 865.
Foulkscourt Castle
Northwest of the village stands Foulkscourt Castle. This castle is a Norman-era tower house. Tower houses were strong, tall buildings used as homes and for defense, especially during the Norman period in Ireland.
Famous People from Johnstown
Many talented people, especially hurlers, come from Johnstown. Here are a few:
- J.J Delaney: A famous hurler.
- Pat Delaney: Another well-known hurler.
- P.J. Delaney: Also a hurler.
- Billy Fitzpatrick: A hurler.
- Sir John Hely: An important judge and landowner from the past.
- Ger Henderson: A hurler.
- John Henderson: A hurler and a manager for county teams.
- Pat Henderson: Another hurler and county team manager.
- Ethel Colburn Mayne: A writer.
- Nicky Orr: A hurler.
- P.J. Ryan: A hurler.
- Ronan Tynan: A famous singer (tenor) and a Paralympic athlete who competed in 1984 and 1988.
See also
In Spanish: Johnstown, County Kilkenny para niños
