Introduction

Kilkenny Local Studies' Department is a reference and research service dedicated to preserving and enhancing the collective memory of Kilkenny City and County. In order to fulfil this role we firstly, offer access to the history and heritage of County Kilkenny and secondly, continously collect, catalogue and preserve all types of Kilkenny-related material. The Library holds a wide range of material on the history, geography, antiquities, archaeology, folklore and culture of Kilkenny City and County

The collection consists of books, journals, newspapers, photographs, audio visual material, manuscripts, maps and microform. Kilkenny Local Studies aims to make this material freely accessible in its modern and dedicated research facilities.

The department is visited by those seeking local history information and those seeking guidance for genealogical research.

Download Local Studies and Genealogical Services Brochure (365 KB pdf Document)

Location

The main Local Studies collection is situated in Library Headquarters,
John's Green House, Kilkenny.

Local Studies opening hours are:
Monday-Friday: 9.00am - 1.00pm; 2.00 -5.00pm.

Telephone: 056 7794160
E-mail: localstudies@kilkennylibrary.ie

Web: http://www.kilkennylibrary.ie

The collection can be searched on the online catalogue at www.kilkennylibrary.ie

Booking the Microfilm Readers :

The Library possesses three microfilm reader printers. However, as usage of these machines is quite heavy, it is advisable to book the machines in advance of any consultation to avoid any disappointment. This can be done by ringing the library at 056-7794160 or calling in person.
All readers can copy from microfilms, the cost for an A4 copy is 25c, the larger reader can also copy A3 size, the cost is 30c.

Online Sources

Internet access is available to all Library users in both the Local Studies department and our branches. Some useful sites are:

Local

• Kilkenny Archaeological Society: http://www.kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/
• Kilkenny Portal site: http://www.kilkenny.ie/eng/
• Diocese of Ossory site: http://www.ossory.ie

National

• Valuation Office: http://www.valoffice.ie/
• Irish ancestors on the Irish Times Web Site: http://www.ireland.com/ancestor/
• National Archives: http://www.nationalarchives.ie/
• National Library of Ireland: http://www.heanet.ie/natlib/index.htm
• Irish Genealogy: http://www.irishgenealogy.ie
• Public Records Office of Northern Ireland: http://www.proni.nics.gov.uk
• Church of Ireland records: http://www.ireland.anglican.org/library.libroots.html
• Methodist records: http://www.wesleyhistoricalsociety.co.uk
• Presbyterian records: http://wwww.presbyterianireland.org
• Garda Siochana: http://www.garda.ie

International

• Family Search: http://www.familysearch.org
• Roots: http://www.rootsweb.com
• National Archives(UK): http://www.nationalarchives.co.uk
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission: http://www.cwgc.org

Collections

The Local History Collection (LH)

This is our main collection of books covering the political, spatial and some cultural history of Kilkenny City and County.

Kilkenny Collection (KC)

This collection covers Kilkenny born authors, author who lived in Kilkenny or wrote about Kilkenny, personages and subjects with Kilkenny connections

Genealogical/Irish Interest (GEN)

This collection provides researchers with background information for research. Among the contents are Irish and British genealogical guides, Ireland-wide directories, titles of Irish interest and Irish history and family histories

Kilkenny Library Society Stock

This is the remaining book stock from the Kilkenny Library Society of the 19th Century- mentioned earlier. The subjects covered are mainly travel, geography, literature and history. This material inot yet accessible on our library management system - HORIZON. It is hopped it will be accessible soon

Journals of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland

Complete run available in the Local Studies Department.

Statutes of the United Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland

A run of these Statutues is available from 1801, a run of the Statutes of the Old Irish Parliament ia available up to 1800.

Other Sources

Local History Files

We have an active policy of collecting material from newspapers and periodicals of Kilkenny Interest. A complete list of files is available for reference in the Local Studies Department

Archives

The County collection of archives - although held off-site- can be accessed through the Local Studies Department. Collections include:

• Board of Guardian Minute Books
• Local Authority Records and Registers of Electors
• County and City Presentments
• Archives of Local Business
• Indentures Pertaining to Kilkenny

Genealogical/Historical Sources for Kilkenny

Full details are available under 'Genealogical sources for Kilkenny'

Local Newspapers

We have an extensive collection of local newspaper including:

• Finn's Leinster Journal from 1776,
• 19th Century Kilkenny Journal and Kilkenny Moderator
• Kilkenny People 1895- present day
• Munster Express 1908 -present day

Photographic Collections

These include:

• Lawrence Collection c.1900
• Crawford Collection c. 1940
• Valentine Collection c. 1950
• Bolton Street Students' Survey c. 1970
• Industrial Archaeologica Survey c. 1989
• Carrigan Collection
• St. John's Parish Collection
• Historical Postcards

Digitisation of Local Sources Online -Cultural Heritage Project - and Ask about Ireland Website

Ask About Ireland is an initiative of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna , funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government through the Information Society Fund and The Heritage Council
Kilkenny County Library's contribution and entries for the website are in the following areas:

• George Berkeley of Dysart Court
• Tighe Family and Woodstock Estate
• Woodstock Arboretum
• Woodstock Estate
• Woodstock House
• The Castlecomer Plateau
• Canon William Carrigan: Historian of Ossory
• St. John's Parish, Kilkenny City
• The Kilkenny 400 - a timeline of the history of Kilkenny City

"Ask About Ireland is your place to find answers about Ireland. Our countryside, our heritage, the way we work and play. Here you'll have unique access to new information, rare images and documents from Irish public libraries, museums and archives. It brings the Ireland of the past alive and makes you more aware of the Ireland of today. Go on to find out more from your local library, museum & archive. Enjoy, discover, learn."(From the www.askaboutireland.ie Homepage.)

This is an important website for Tourists and in the promotion of County Kilkenny.

Irish Life and Lore Series: Kilkenny Collection

This collection of oral history recordings compiled by Maurice O'Keeffe and funded by Kilkenny County Library and Kilkenny Heritage Officer, was an opportunity to collect and preserve for posterity, stories of the people of Kilkenny.

Much of the material was collected from older people, whose memories and stories were in danger of being lost forever.
This collection is now a permanent archive and also a resource for future study for all, and is available in our Local Studies Dept., John's Green House, for reference.

Borrowing copies are available through our branch network and can be accessed on our online catalogue

To find out more information about this project, view the catalogue & hear snippets of the recordings, Click on the link below.

http://www.kilkennylibrary.ie/eng/Life_and_Lore/

Reference material

All branches carry small ready reference collections covering their areas and some general Kilkenny-wide titles as well as small genealogical collections. Each branch also provides online access to OSI (Ordnance Survey of Ireland) Historic Maps from the period of 1837-1913.

There are comprehensive reference sections in all library branches which include: encyclopaedias, dictionaries, directories, atlases etc. These can be referred to in the library but cannot be borrowed.