Knocktopher (historically Knocktofer and Knocktover; from Irish Cnoc an Tóchair, Hill of the Causeway)[2] is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

The village has two pubs, two shops, a petrol station, a three star hotel, a restaurant and a glass gallery.

[4] Knocktopher was home to a monastery, built in 1356 by James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond for the Carmelite friars.

In the early fourteenth century Knocktopher was owned by a certain Amicia and (successively) her two husbands, Nigel le Brun and Walter de Cusack; Nigel and Amicia had bought it from Sir Walter de la Haye, Justiciar of Ireland, in about 1310.

[8] The lands are believed to have included the castles at Ballyhale, Ballynacooly, Ballynoony, Castlebanny, Castlegannon, Castlemorris, Clonassy, Cloone, Derrynahinch, Earlsrath, Inchacarran, Knockmoylan, Lismateige, and Manselscourt as well as civil parishes of Killahy, Kilbeacon, Listerlin, Rossinan, Muckalee, Aghaviller and Kilkeasy.

Knocktopher Abbey was established by the Normans in the 13th Century and was subsequently acquired with its lands by the Langrishe family.

The Langrishes of Knocktopher were probably its most famous residents, their influence and impact lasting through the generations to the present day.

After Alice died, John became owner of those lands and married for a third time in 1695, to Mary Grace, with whom he had a child.

It is claimed that he achieved that remarkable feat of that time by buying up Knocktopher property and leasing it to Catholic residents.

He is, arguably, best remembered for his pro-Catholic Relief stance and his exchanges with his friend Edmund Burke on the issue.

He was by all accounts a dashing young aristocrat, who developed powerful connections to King Edward VII.

Famously in 1904, Hercules invited King Edward VII, whom he knew well, and Queen Alexandra to visit Knocktopher Abbey.

He married Joan Grigg with whom he had three sons and the eldest, Sir Hercules Ralph Hume Langrishe (Heck, 1927–1998), succeeded him as the 7th Baronet in 1973.

He had attended Eton before joining the Army and marrying Lady Grania Wingfield, daughter of The 9th Viscount Powerscourt.

[13] Since 1981 to date they have since won a national record number of 8 All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championships.

The Treacy Clan record that Knocktopher had a well-known Cricket Team in 1884, among the best-known players being batsman, W. Power, and bowler, D. Treacy; that local competitors included teams from Ballyhale, Kilcurl, Knockmoylan, Hugginstown and Kilmoganny; and that the matches often took place on a cricket ground provided by Langrishes at Knocktopher Abbey.

[16] Kilcurl born Sean O' (John) Farrell was managing director of its Irish National Ploughing Association from 1958 to 1972.

[17] However Ballyhale only 2 kilometres distant has numerous daily Bus Éireann and JJ Kavanagh and Sons services linking it to Dublin, Waterford, Kilkenny, Thomastown and Athlone.