County Kilkenny
Area:	2,061 km²
Capital:	Kilkenny
Code:	KK
Population:	80,339 (2002)
Province:	Leinster

County Kilkenny (Cill Chainnigh in Irish) is located in the south east of Ireland in the province of Leinster. It is named after Kilkenny, the main city in the region.

Inhabitants of Kilkenny are often referred to as "Kilkenny Cats"; the phrase is also used to describe the Kilkenny Hurling team, one of the strongest in the country.

Some smaller towns in County Kilkenny include:

• Ballyhale , Ballyragget , Bennetsbridge
• Castlecomer , Callan
• Freshford
• Gowran , Graiguenamanagh
• Inistioge
• Knocktopher
• Mullinavat
• Paulstown
• Redhouse
• Thomastown
• Slieverue
• Urlingford
• Windgap

Sport

Kilkenny has a successful hurling team, known as "The Cats", this name is derived from the saying "to fight like Kilkenny cats". The Kilkenny team has won the All-Ireland championships in hurling numerous times, their most recent win being the 2003 championship, where they defeated rivals Cork.