Bennettsbridge owes its name to Saint Benet and its strategic importance to its position at a major crossing of the river Nore.

The first bridge was built on the site in 1285[citation needed] and was dedicated to the saint, and was important for transport until the establishment of the railway.

Bennettsbridge lies on the R700 regional road which carries much tourist traffic in the summertime from the Rosslare ferries, through Kilkenny and on into the midlands and Galway.

In the summer, a scheduled Ring A Link bus allows visitors to access local craft outlets before taking a riverside walk back to Kilkenny.

The flood washed away many of the major bridges crossing the River Nore and so a comprehensive rebuilding programme was initiated in the eighteenth century.

Kilkenny architect William Robertson worked on it in 1826,[7] with the design of the bridge attributed (according to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) to George Smith.

[15] Moth to a Flame is a local candle maker based on the Bennettsbridge road on the way into the village coming from Kilkenny city.