Early 19th Century and the Famine

St Canice's Roman Catholic Church

St Canice's Roman Catholic Church, Dean Street, Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library photographic collection

St Canice's Roman Catholic Church
Kilkenny County Library photographic collection

St Canice's Roman Catholic Church

St Canice's Roman Catholic Church, Dean Street, Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library photographic collection

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St. Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library Photographic Collection

St. Mary's Cathedral
Kilkenny County Library Photographic Collection

St. Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Library Photographic Collection

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1829 Richard Sullivan and Redmond Reid became councilmen of Kilkenny Corporation, having taken 'the oath required for the relief of his majesty's Roman Catholic Subjects.'

1830 Twenty-eight catholic freemen were admitted, having taken the same oath.

1831 St. Canice's Catholic Church consecrated.

1832 Richard Sullivan elected a Member of Parliament

1836 Redmond Reid elected mayor, the first Catholic in almost a century and a half.

1843 - 1857 St. Mary's Cathedral is built.

1842 Daniel O'Connell holds one of his Monster Meetings at Robert's Hill, near Kenny's Well to demand Repeal of the Act of Union

1842 Kilkenny Workhouse built to house 1,200 paupers

1843 First election to reformed Kilkenny Corporation. Twenty-four repealers elected to fill the twenty-four places. Edmund Smithwick mayor.

1845 Failure of the potato crop leads to famine.

1846 Famine fever killed at least 1,300 people in the year beginning September 1846

1847 In March Kilkenny Workhouse held 2,228 people at the height of the famine.

Kilkenny City and Corporation Crest

Crest of Kilkenny City and Corporation

Kilkenny County Library Stock

Kilkenny City and Corporation Crest
Kilkenny County Library Stock

Kilkenny City and Corporation Crest

Crest of Kilkenny City and Corporation

Kilkenny County Library Stock

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1848 First railway engine arrives in Kilkenny in April. In July first excursion by rail to Thomastown continues by coach and steamer.

1848 William Smith O'Brien in Kilkenny fails to get support for the Young Ireland Rising.

1848 James Stephens of Kilkenny, later founder of the Fenians, travels to Ballingarry to join Smith O'Briens rising at Ballingarry.

1848 Dr. Robert Cane, former mayor is imprisoned after the rising.

1849 On his release, Dr. Cane is elected Mayor for the second time