KILMACOW, a parish, in the barony of IVERK,
county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 3
miles (N. N. W.) from Waterford, on the road to
Thomastown; containing 1923 inhabitants, of which
number, 176 are in the village. It comprises 4389
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued
at £2671 per annum, and has some good limestone
quarries. The village contains 31 houses, and is a constabulary
police station; petty sessions are held in it
every alternate week. The living is a rectory and
vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and in the gift of
the Bishop: the tithes amount to £360. The glebehouse
was erected by aid of a loan of £675 and a gift
of £100 from the late Board of First Fruits; the glebe
comprises 11a. 22p. The church is a neat edifice with
a handsome spire, for rebuilding which the late Board
lent £850, in 1818. In the R. C. divisions this parish
is the head of a union or district, comprising the parishes
of Kilmacow, Dunkit, Gaulskill, Ullid, Kilbeacon,
and part of Killaghy, and containing chapels at Kilmacow,
Mullinavat, and Hill. The parochial school was
built on land given by Mr. Roche; about 80 children are
educated in it, and about 190 in three private schools.
There are some fine ruins of Grandison, or Graney,
castle, consisting of the remains of the keep, the great
hall, and of three circular towers, on the margin of the
river Suir. It is supposed to have been erected by
Pierce Butler, eighth Earl of Ormonde, and lord-deputy
of Ireland in 1521. During the parliamentary war it
was held by Col. Butler for Chas. I., but was finally
surrendered to Col. Axtel, Cromwell's governor of Kilkenny,
and was afterwards allowed to fall into decay.-
See GRANEY.