Callan, County Kilkenny

"The Moat" situated in Callan

Callan was founded by William the Marshal in 1207 and reputedly gets its name from the High King of Ireland, Niall Caille. It is reported that while at war with the Norsemen the High King arrived in Callan to find that its river was in flood. The King witnessed his servant trying to cross the river and being swept away by the fast-flowing current. The King, recorded in history as a man of action, seeing the impending disaster, impetuously urged his horse into the fast flowing river in a vain bid to save his servant, only to be also overcome and drowned by the torrent. The river in question is now named the "Kings River". The town received its first charter in 1217 and was entitled to choose two elected members of Parliament.[3]

In 1650, Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army laid siege to Callan.[4] Although Sir Richard Talbot, the commander of the main defence had secretly organised to surrender, some of the other defenders refused to do so, leading to a battle for the town. All of the defenders and many of the townspeople who sought safety in the stone castle and parish church were killed. In the late 19th century, a large number of human bones and cannon balls were discovered during excavations of the ruins of the old parish church.[5]

In order to commemorate those who died in the Callan area during World War One, a statue was erected outside the Church of the Assumption on Green Street.

In 2007, Callan celebrated its 800th year. President Mary McAleese launched the 800th celebrations of the town being granted a charter.

Callan Motte (also known locally as simply "The Moat") is located at the top of Moat Lane just off Bridge Street. It is one of Ireland's best-preserved Motte-and-bailey's.

Callan Augustinian Friary, known locally as the "Abbey Meadow", is at the North-East end of Callan and can also be accessed via Bridge Street.

St. Mary's Church is a medieval church located on Green Street. A historic workhouse is located in Prologue.

Callan Augustinian Friary

Callan had two primary schools, Scoil Mhuire and Scoil Iognáid Rís. The two schools amalgamated in 2007 to form Bunscoil McAuley Rice. Callan also has two secondary schools; the boys' school, Coláiste Éamann Rís, and the girls', St. Brigid's College.

The Callan–Thomastown local electoral area of County Kilkenny includes the electoral divisions of Aghaviller, Ballyhale, Ballyvool, Bennettsbridge, Boolyglass, Bramblestown, Brownsford, Burnchurch, Callan Rural, Callan Urban, Castlebanny, Coolaghmore, Coolhill, Danesfort, Dunbell, Dunnamaggan, Dysartmoon, Earlstown, Ennisnag, Famma, Freaghana, Graiguenamanagh, Grange, Inistioge, Jerpoint Church, Kells, Kilfane, Killamery, Kilmaganny, Kiltorcan, Knocktopher, Mallardstown, Outrath, Pleberstown, Powerstown, Rosbercon Rural, Scotsborough, Stonyford, The Rower, Thomastown, Tullaghanbrogue, Tullaherin, Tullahought, Ullard and Woolengrange.[11]

Neil Jordan's film Breakfast on Pluto with Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson was filmed in Callan during August–September 2005. During the two weeks of filming in Callan, the main streets of the town were transformed for use in the film.

Callan was the set and stage for The Big Chapel X, a large-scale theatre production and community engagement project that drew on the history of the Callan schism, in August 2019, created by Asylum Productions in partnership with the Kilkenny Arts Festival supported by the Abbey Theatre and the Arts Council. Callan boasts many arts organisations including KCAT Arts Centre, Workhouse Union, Monkeyshine, Trasna Productions and Fennelly's Cafe.

Edmund Rice's childhood home at Callan

Callan is the birthplace of a number of famous people, including:

• Edmund or Edward Butler (died 1584), a member of the Butler dynasty, Attorney General for Ireland and a justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland), lived in Callan for most of his life.
• Gerald Comerford (died 1604), the principal landowner in Callan in the late sixteenth century and also an influential politician and judge; his tomb can still be seen at St Mary's Church
• Patrick Cudahy (1849–1919), American industrialist and philanthropist
• James Hoban who designed The White House and Leinster House among others was born in Desart, near Callan.
• Linda Hogan (born 1964), Professor of Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin, and its former vice-provost
• Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Irish Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers
• Thomas Kilroy Irish playwright and novelist. Author of the historical novel The Big Chapel.
• John Locke, Ireland's Poet in Exile, was born here in 1847.[12]
• Seamus Moore (singer), Irish singer/songwriter
• Thomas Nash (Newfoundland) Irish fisherman, settled in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Founder of Branch, Newfoundland and Labrador[13]
• Tony O'Malley, Irish painter
• Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin (1780–1838), was a schoolmaster and linen-draper in the town, and kept a diary in the Irish language between 1827 and 1835. This recorded in great detail the life of the town. Amhlaoibh's diary is considered one of the most detailed contemporary accounts of life in Ireland at the time.

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Kilkenny)
• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Market Houses in Ireland

• Walsh, F. R. (1952). "Callan". Old Kilkenny Review: 16–22.
• Walsh, F. R. (1963). "Callan Olde Parish Church". Old Kilkenny Review: 14–18.
• O'Brien, Seamus (1979). "Callan Electricity Board". Old Kilkenny Review: 48–49.
• Phelan, Margaret (1980). "Fr Thomas O'Shea and the Callan Tenant Protection Society". Old Kilkenny Review: 49–58.
• Phelan, Margaret (1982). "Callan Doctors". Old Kilkenny Review: 364–368.
• O'Doherty, Sean (1981). "Repeal in Callan Workhouse". Old Kilkenny Review: 226–230.
• Kennedy, Joe (1984). "Cromwell in Callan". Old Kilkenny Review: 47–51.
• Kennedy, Joseph (1988). "Thomas Shelly of Callan (1823-1905) His Life and Times". Old Kilkenny Review: 492–502.
• Kennedy, Joseph (1991). "Coca-Cola (The Callan Connection)". Old Kilkenny Review: 885–894.
• Kealy, Carmel (1986). "Callan in the early 20th century". Old Kilkenny Review: 299–301.
• Kealy, Carmel (1987). "Callan Memories". Old Kilkenny Review: 379–383.
• Hogan, Patrick (1987). "The Callan Schism 1869-1879". Old Kilkenny Review: 339–357.
• Clutterbuck, Richard, Ian Elliot & Brian Shanahan (2006). "The Motte and Manor of Callan, County Kilkenny". Old Kilkenny Review: 7–28.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Grace, Pierce A. (2011). "'Much Like Yesterday' - Callan Folklore in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries". Old Kilkenny Review: 58–63.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Callan, County Kilkenny.