11 Land Use and Agriculture

11.4 Summary of Land use from Kilcullen Town to Kilkenny City

Monasterevin to Athy

From Monasterevin to Kildare and south to Kildangan the land quality is very high. The land quality is lower in the area surrounding the large parcel of bog. From here to Athy the land quality again is very good. There is a significant level of tillage farming and a number of large stud farms in the area. Large land parcels in these tillage areas reflect the intensive nature of the farming currently in practice. Other grassland based farming is evident although the field sizes are generally smaller.

Kilcullen to Ballitore to Athy

The land quality is very high throughout this area. Initially, the land use in the Kilcullen region is grassland-based, although the level of tillage-based farming increases in the Ballitore region. From Ballitore to Athy the farming is predominantly tillage based. Field and land parcels are smaller in the grassland area south of Kilcullen and become larger as the level of tillage increases.

Athy to Castlecomer

The land quality in the Athy region and the area south of it is very high. Land to the north-west of the excluded area is of average to good quality. There are several areas of poor quality land to be found. Land use is primarily tillage based in the Athy and south Athy region. Where the land quality decreases, there is a higher level of grassland-based farming. Of the grassland-based farming, there is a high level of dairy activity. There are several large parcels of commercial forestry.

Athy to Castledermot to Carlow

The land quality in the Athy region and south to Castledermot and Carlow town is very high. The land quality is lower around the excluded hilly area to the west of Carlow town. The southern and south-eastern region of Athy is almost entirely tillage-based. Below this area the level of grassland and dairy based farming activity increases although tillage remains significant especially north of Carlow town. Field and land parcel sizes are generally larger in the tillage parcels.

Castlecomer to Kilkenny City

The land quality within the study area is average to good initially and very high in the area north of Kilkenny City. There are several areas of poor to average quality land in the Castlecomer region. The area is mostly grassland-based with a level of dairy activity in the Castlecomer - Muckalee region. There is a low level of tillage farming in general, except for a high concentrated area north of Kilkenny City. To the north-west and north-east of Kilkenny City the land use is grassland based. Of the grassland-based farming, there is a high level of dairy activity and it extends east to Paulstown in Co. Carlow.

Carlow to Muinebheag - The high quality of land in the Carlow region extends to Muinebheag although the level of average quality parcels in the area increases moving southwards. There are similar levels of grassland and tillage based farming in the area south of Carlow town. Grassland based farming increases with tillage remaining significant in the area. Of the grassland farming both dairying and stud farming are prominent, especially in the Muinebheag region.