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CITY OF KILKENNY. -Who has not sung or, at least, heart the old familiar ditty which has made the above old town a household name throughout the world?-
And, then, there are famous "Cats of Kilkenny-Kilkenny's wild cats," immortalized so to speak, by another Irish poet. Yet, apart from these homely claims to be unforgotten Kilkenny possesses vast historic interest. It became, almost from the first, an Anglo-Norman stronghold within the English pale, and within its walls was held the famous Parliament of 1367-reign of Edward III-which passed the infamous "Statutes of Kilkenny" for the subjugation and plunder of the "mere Irish." From 1542 to 1649 it was the meeting-place of the Irish Confederation, the sessions of whose conventions were held in St. Canice's (St. Kenny's) cathedral, from which the city derives its name. St. Canice's is still well preserved, and from its towers, the accompanying sketch was taken. The large church, shown in the picture, is the new Catholic cathedral.
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