Editing Kilkenny (section)

===St. Canice's Cathedral and tower===
{{Main|St Canice's Cathedral}}
[[File:Kilkenny St Canice Cathedral SW 2007 08 28.jpg|thumb|right|[[St. Canice's Cathedral]]]]

[[St Canice's Cathedral]], also known as Kilkenny Cathedral, present building dates from the 13th century and is the second longest cathedral in Ireland. The cathedral is named after Saint Canice, who also gave his name to the town.<ref name="Cathedra">[http://www.genuki.org.uk:8080/big/irl/KIK/StCanice/cathedra.html Cathedral of St. Canice] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140416020742/http://www.genuki.org.uk:8080/big/irl/KIK/StCanice/cathedra.html |date=2014-04-16 }}, extract from ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland'' (1837)</ref>

[[Cruciform]], the cathedral was built in the [[English Gothic architecture|Early English]], or English Gothic, style of [[architecture]], of [[limestone]], with a low central tower supported on black marble columns. The exterior walls, apart from the gables, are [[Battlement|embattled]], and there are two small [[spire]]s at the west end. The cathedral is seventy-five yards long, and its width along the transepts is forty-one yards.

Beside the cathedral stands a 100&nbsp;ft 9th century round tower. St. Canice's tower is an excellent example of a well-preserved early Christian (9th century) [[Irish round tower|Round Tower]]. Accessible only by a steep set of internal ladders, it may once have been both a watchtower and a refuge, and the summit gives a good view of Kilkenny and the countryside around. The hill on which the cathedral stands is believed to be the centre of the first major settlement at Kilkenny, and the round tower suggests an early ecclesiastical foundation.<ref name="Graves 1857 25"/>

[[Dominican Order|Dominican]] [[Black Abbey]] was founded in 1225, and lying just off Parliament Street.