St. John's Parish, Kilkenny City

John Street, Kilkenny

Hand-coloured postcard of John Street, Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library Postcard Collection

John Street, Kilkenny
Kilkenny County Library Postcard Collection

John Street, Kilkenny

Hand-coloured postcard of John Street, Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library Postcard Collection

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John Street Flood 1947

John Street, Kilkenny flooded in 1947 bt River Nore

Photographic Collection of Kilkenny County Library

John Street Flood 1947
Photographic Collection of Kilkenny County Library

John Street Flood 1947

John Street, Kilkenny flooded in 1947 bt River Nore

Photographic Collection of Kilkenny County Library

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The present parish of St. John's, consists of an amalgamation of several older civil parishes, namely St. John's itself (most of), Dunmore, Rathcoole (most of), Kilderry and Kilkieran.

The origin of the parish lies with the original civil parish of the same name. A parish of similar size seems to have existed prior to the Norman occupation of Kilkenny City. Its parish church seems to have been in the vicinity of Maudlin Street. The original name of this parish has not survived.

After the Norman occupation, there was an association with St. Stephen. Up to 1211, three separate parishes existed in this area, Fennell, Kilmologga and St. John's proper that corresponded to the present city area of the parish. These three parishes along with a fourth, Loughmerans, were granted to the Augustinian order in St. John's Priory by William Marshall in 1211.

Visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra

Royal visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to Kilkenny in 1904, pictured in John Street.

Donated By St. John's Parish Committee, used with permission

Visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
Donated By St. John's Parish Committee, used with permission

Visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra

Royal visit of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to Kilkenny in 1904, pictured in John Street.

Donated By St. John's Parish Committee, used with permission

Enlarge image

After the Norman occupation, there was an association with St. Stephen. Up to 1211, three separate parishes existed in this area, Fennell, Kilmologga and St. John's proper that corresponded to the present city area of the parish. These three parishes along with a fourth, Loughmerans, were granted to the Augustinian order in St. John's Priory by William Marshall in 1211.

The Reformation saw the amalgamation of these four small medieval parishes into the civil parish of St. John's. All the Roman Catholic churches except St. John's closed after the Reformation.