Gowran (/ˈɡoʊrən/; Irish: Gabhrán[2]) is a town on the eastern side of County Kilkenny, Ireland.

The town, under the command of Colonel Robert Hammond, surrendered to Oliver Cromwell on 21 March 1650 following a siege.

The soldiers of the garrison accepted Cromwell's offer of quarter for their lives and handed their officers over to the Parliamentarians.

Cromwell ordered the execution by firing squad of all but one of the officers; a priest captured in the castle was hanged.

[6] In 1688 James II granted A Charter of Incorporation to the town and, of 18 burgesses listed, six were Kealys.

A Magdelan hospital was built outside the walls circa 1578 "For the relief of poor leprous people".

Scoil Mhuire Gabhrán, or St. Mary's National School Gowran,[8] is located on the Kilkenny side of the town opposite the Catholic Church of the Assumption.

[citation needed] The Green Schools[9] programme is run by An Taisce together with the Kilkenny County Council.

As part of their project work to achieve Green Flag status for water conservation, the school converted all their single flush siphonic toilets (school toilets use on average 85% of school water) from single flush to variable flush using the Mecon Green Button Water Saver.

[citation needed] Secondary Schools in the Gowran area include those in Kilkenny City, Borris, County Carlow, Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh.

Gowran is also served by the Graiguenamanagh – Goresbridge – Kilkenny Kilbride Coaches route with two journeys each way daily except Sundays.

At that time the Gowran Castle estate was owned by Lady Annaly who was a keen follower of sport.

Lady Annaly's father, Henry Agar-Ellis 3rd Viscount Clifden owned a number of horses the most successful of which were Crucifix and Surplice who won many classics.

The Annaly estate in Gowran was a walled estate of 774 acres set amidst a historic landscape of Norman castles and the historic St. Mary's Church, with woodlands, lakes, deer park, a home farm, out farms, stables, coach house orchards, walled gardens and walking trails.

The "Gowran Wall" which was built around the estate in the 18th and 19th centuries was 4.5 miles long and is still in existence today.

Gowran is known for its racecourse, Gowran Park, which hosts the Thyestes Chase (The Grand National of the South), a steeplechase in Ireland which has been won by three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner, Arkle in 1964 and Aintree Grand National winners Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde.

Gowran Park is also home to a golf course and is used as a venue for meetings, conferences, weddings and parties.

Young Irelands Gaelic Athletic Association Club are based just outside the village on the Goresbridge Road.