Kilcurl facts for kids

Kilcurl is a place in Ireland made up of two areas: Kilcurl Anglesey and Kilcurl Feronsby. Its name comes from the Irish "Cill Choirill," meaning "Church of St. Cairill."

It's about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) from the village of Knocktopher and close to the Carrickshock monument. It's also about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) from Ballyhale. Kilcurl is in County Kilkenny, in the south of Ireland.

Kilcurl has lots of rich farmland. It's also very historic! You can find a castle, a memorial from the Tithe War, old church ruins, and an Ogham stone here. We know a lot about Kilcurl's past from old records, stories, and research.

Kilcurl's History

Kilcurl Castle

Many historic castles are found in County Kilkenny, including Kilcurl Castle. These castles date back to the late 1100s, when the Normans came to Ireland. People believe the Purcell family built Kilcurl Castle. However, in the 1640s, Oliver Cromwell took the castle and most of the land in the area from the Purcells.

The Tithe War and Carrickshock

Near Kilcurl is the Carrickshock monument. This marks the spot of the Battle of Carrickshock in 1831. Kilcurl has strong links to this event. Local stories about it were even recorded by RTÉ, Ireland's national radio station.

The stories tell of a time when people had to pay "tithe" taxes. These were payments, often a share of their crops, to the church. Farmers struggled with bad harvests but still had to pay. This led to a revolt by peasants against what they saw as unfair landlords and church leaders.

The Battle of Carrickshock was a very important part of the Tithe War (1831–1838). After the battle, a major trial took place in 1832. A famous Irish leader named Daniel O'Connell successfully defended the local people. About 200,000 people gathered in Ballyhale to support them. This huge gathering might have inspired O'Connell's later "monster rallies."

Kilcurl Church and St. Cairill

The ruins of Kilcurl Church of St. Cairill and its graveyard are still there. Some gravestones date back to the 1831 Battle of Carrickshock and even earlier. This church gives Kilcurl its name.

In the early 1200s, Kilcurl Church was given to the Priory of Kells. It was known as Kyle-Churrl, or the Church of St. Cairill. St. Cairill was an Irish missionary who traveled to Western Scotland in the 500s. There are other churches named Cille Choirill in Scotland and Australia. Researchers are still trying to connect them all back to Kilcurl in Ireland.

The Ogham Stone

An Ogham stone is also found near Kilcurl. It's one of only 14 in County Kilkenny. This stone was found in 1841. It's made of slate and dates back to 700-900 AD.

The stone is about 2.31 meters (7.6 feet) long. Local stories say the writing on it means "Here lies Corbmac ó Cuinn." This might refer to Cormac mac Airt, a famous High King of Ireland. He is believed to have ruled around 250 AD.

Cricket in Kilcurl

Kilcurl was once well-known in County Kilkenny's cricket world. In 1884, the county had over 40 cricket teams! By 1931, this number had dropped to 20. Records show Kilcurl teams that beat Knocktopher in 1984. Some of the players included J. Carbery, J. Treacy, and J. Quinn.