The Kilkenny cats are a fabled pair of cats from County Kilkenny (or Kilkenny city in particular) in Ireland, who fought each other so ferociously that only their tails remained at the end of the battle. Often the absurd implication is that they have eaten each other.[2] In the nineteenth century the Kilkenny cats were a common simile for any conflict likely to ruin both combatants. Kilkenny cat is also used more generally for a fierce fighter or quarrelsome person. These senses are now rather dated.[3] In the later twentieth century the motif was reclaimed by Kilkenny people as a positive symbol of tenacity and fighting spirit, and "the Cats" is the county nickname for the Kilkenny hurling team.[4] The original story is attested from 1807 as a simple joke or Irish bull; some early versions are set elsewhere than Kilkenny. Nevertheless, theories have been offered seeking a historical basis for the story's setting.
- ^ Simons, Gary; Leary, Patrick (2016). "The Curran Index: Additions, Corrections, And Expansions Of The Wellesley Index To Victorian Periodicals". victorianresearch.org. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^
[n 1]
"P. M'Teague" (1840). Dickens, Charles; Ainsworth, William Harrison; Smith, Albert (eds.). "Watty Flaherty; Chapter I". Bentley's Miscellany. VII. London: Richard Bentley: 391–404: 395. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
A Kilkenny cat!" exclaimed Mr. O'Dowd. "Why they eat one another up!
- ^ Longman English-Chinese dictionary of English idioms. Hong Kong: Pearson. 1995. p. 164. ISBN 978-962-359-985-6.; Pierini, Patrizia (April 2008). "Proper Names in English Phraseology". Linguistik Online (36): sec 4.6, table 23(d). ISSN 1615-3014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Illustrated Guide to Ireland's Eastern Legends". Ireland's Ancient East. Fáilte Ireland. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
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