KILKENNY, a county of Ireland, in the province of Leinster, bounded on the south by the county of Waterford, on the north by the Queen's county, on the west by the county of Tipperary, on the east by the counties of Wexford and Carlow, and on the north-west by Upper Offory. The greatest length of this county from north to south is 38 miles, the breadth from east to west 18; and it contains 10 baronies. It is one of the most healthful, pleasant, and populous counties of Ireland. It contains 287,650 Irish plantation acres, 96 parishes, and 95,000 inhabitants. Gilbert Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hereford, marrying Isabella, one of the daughters and co-heiresses of William earl Marshal, received as her dower the county of Kilkenny.