The Rower can be explored through several layers of its architectural and commemorative heritage. A prominent landmark is the Church of the Assumption on Stripes Hill. Dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it was consecrated in 1817; the dedication stone also records this year. The present building was constructed in the early 19th century to replace an older building that burned down in 1798. The church’s history is thus clearly marked by a sequence: the loss of its predecessor was followed by the new building and the dedication that is still recorded today.
Church Architecture, Windows and Interior
Nine stained-glass windows by Grogan depict the four Evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—as well as St Kieran, St Brigid, St Peter and St Paul. The imagery brings the Evangelists together with other saints. The traditional layout comprises a central nave and two side aisles, traditionally referred to as the men’s and women’s sides. The dedication, stained-glass windows and floor plan thus offer different insights into the religious and architectural heritage of the Church of the Assumption, without limiting the view to a single architectural detail.
Water and Everyday Life in Ballynunry
The Ballynunry water pump tells another side of the area’s history. The free-standing cast-iron pump dates from around 1875 and stands at a junction of three roads. It is no longer in use. As an early surviving cast-iron artefact, it documents local water supply before the expansion of piped networks. Its significance lies in more than its material and form: the object also points to an earlier way of organising the water supply. Together with the churches and memorials, the pump adds a piece of everyday and infrastructure history to the picture.
The Presbytery and Other Architectural History
The presbytery in Farrantemple is a significant part of The Rower’s 19th-century architectural heritage. Its compact plan includes a classical doorway with a radial fanlight. The building retains extensive original or reproduced fabric and has a historical connection to The Rower’s Catholic parish. Kehoe’s also shapes the streetscape in Farrantemple. This striking building belongs to the architectural history of the mid-20th century and is no longer in use. Its presence on the street and historical significance offer a different note from the older history of church architecture.
In Raheenduff, The Rower, the Church of the Assumption is unusual in its size and massing for a Catholic church dating from before Catholic Emancipation in 1829. This historical reference is significant: its distinctive character is explicitly described in comparison with churches dating from before 1829. This additional church building broadens the area’s architectural themes to include questions of scale and building form.
Memorials in the Streetscape
Secular memorials are also part of The Rower’s heritage. A free-standing memorial stone commemorates the events of 1798; a simple inscribed stone marks the memory of the Famine. There is also a circular enamelled motor traffic sign from around 1920, erected by the Automobile Association and the Royal Irish Automobile Club. The three objects represent different forms of remembrance: an event, a famine and the history of road transport. Together with the church and the pump, they show the diversity of themes in the local architectural heritage.
County Kilkenny as a Regional Setting
County Kilkenny offers other cultural sites with their own areas of focus. Rothe House in Kilkenny was built in 1594 as a place of business and family residence for John Rothe Fitzpiers. During opening hours, visitors can take guided tours with expert guides or explore the house, courtyards and garden independently. Jerpoint Cistercian Abbey, also within the wider destination of County Kilkenny, was founded in the 12th century and is one of the finest examples of a medieval Cistercian abbey in Ireland. Its stone carvings date from the 13th to the 16th century; children can take part in a treasure hunt at the nearby visitor centre. The two examples offer different points of interest: Rothe House combines residential and commercial history with different ways to explore, while Jerpoint brings together monastic architecture, sculpture and an activity for children.
Discover more destinations: Kilkenny, Callan, Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Mullinvat, Urlingford, Slieveroe, Gowran
For the wider travel overview: County Kilkenny.
