Gowran

Infobox Irish Place
name = Gowran
gaeilge = Gabhrán
crest

motto =
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pin coords = left: 56px; top: 66px
north coord = 52.633333 | west coord = 7.066667 | irish grid =
area = | elevation =
province = Leinster
county = County Kilkenny
population =
census yr =
web = www.kilkennycoco.ie|

Gowran ("Gabhrán" in Irish) is a village and former town in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Gowran Park race course is located nearby.

History

Gowran was a place of importance prior to the Norman invasion and a royal residence of the Kings of Ossory, sometimes recorded as the Kings of Gowran. King Robert the Bruce with his army of Scots and Ulstermen took the town in 1316. James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde built Gowran Castle in 1385 close to the site of the present castle and town walls were erected circa 1415. King James I made Gowran a parliamentary borough in 1608. The town surrendered to Oliver Cromwell on 21 March 1650 following a siege, Colonel Hammond, his officers and garrison were executed on their surrender. In 1688 James II granted A Charter of Incorporation to the town and of 18 Burgesses listed, six were Kealy's. A Magdelan hospital was built outside the walls circa 1578 "For the relief of poor leprous people".

Churches

In the centre of the village is the historic St Marys Collegiate Church which contains monuments from the 14th to 17th centuries. [http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/East/StMarysChurchGowranKilkenny/image,144,en.jpeg] This collegiate church, was built in the late 13th century on the site of an earlier monastery. It was served by a "college"—clerics who lived in a community but who did not submit to the rule of a monastery. They lived in a house, now destroyed, beside the church. The church was a large and elaborate structure, with an aisled nave—the main part of the church where the congregation—and a long chancel—the section of the church where the altar was placed—and has high quality architectural sculpture used throughout. In the late middle ages a massive tower was inserted between the nave and chancel, and in the 19th century this tower was incorporated into the parish church which was built in place of the chancel and which now takes up about half of the building. There were also several other changes made to the church at various periods. St Mary's is now a National Monument.

The Catholic church is the Church of the Assumption.

Transport

Gowran railway station opened on 14 November 1850 and finally closed on 1 January 1963. [cite web | title=Gowran station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-10-15]

People

* Gowran is home to D.J. Carey who was born there. He is a renowned sportsman and played hurling for Kilkenny until his retirement in 2006. He is regarded as an icon of the sport and has won most of the major honours in the game. D.J now runs a successful business just outside the village called D.J Carey Enterprises. his wife and children live in Rockfield.
* Other noted residents and former residents are Capt Padraig Quinn (Spanish Civil War veteran).
* Kilkenny hurlers Kevin Fennelly and Lester Ryan
* The ancestors of Walt Disney are from Gowran.
* Colonel Dan Bryan, head of the Irish Army's intelligence unit G2 during "The Emergency" (World War II), was born in Dunbell near Gowran.

Economy

Business within the village include:
* Gowran Park Horse Racing & Golf Course [http://www.gowranpark.ie/]
* Harding Fireplaces, [http://www.hardingfireplaces.com/]
* Automotive Calibration [http://www.calibration.biz/ie]
* Loughlins Public House and Undertakers.

port

*Gowran is internationally known for its picturesque racecourse, Gowran Park, which hosts the Thyestes Chase (The Grand National of the South), one of the prestigious steeplechases in Ireland which has been won by three time Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner, Arkle in 1964 and Aintree Grand National winners Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde. It has 16 National Hunt and Flat meetings all year round. Gowran Park is also home to one of the most challenging golf courses in Kilkenny and is a venue for meetings, conferences, weddings and parties.
*Young Irelands Gaelic Athletic Association Club are based just outside the village on the Goresbridge Road. Senior County Hurling Champions in 1996 and 2002, they were also runners up in 1997, 2003 and 2004.
*There is a popular Pitch and Putt course in the village.

References

*O'Kelly, Owen (1985), The Place Names of County Kilkenny. Published by Kilkenny Archaeological Society
*Prim, John G A. (2002), Nooks and Corners of the County Kilkenny. Published by Grangesilvia Publications, Kilkenny
*O'Neill, Gerry. (2005), Kilkenny GAA Bible. Produced by Kilkenny GAA Yearbook Committee

ee also

*List of towns and villages in Ireland