| The Rower | |
| Native Name: | Irish: An Robhar |
| Native Name Lang: | ga |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Ireland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Ireland |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Ireland |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Leinster |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Subdivision Name3: | County Kilkenny |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Utc Offset1: | +0 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | IST (WEST) |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -1 |
| Coordinates: | 52.4544°N -6.9587°W |
| Blank Name: | Irish Grid Reference |
Rower or The Rower [1] is a small village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The Rower is on the R705 regional road, roughly 30 km from both Waterford and Kilkenny. It is within the parish of the same name, which is about five miles (8 km) in length from north to south, by about three miles in breadth. It lies on the slopes of Brandon Hill and Cullintra Hill.
Also historically as Roar, Rowar or Tamplerowar, Rower was a parish in the historical Barony of Ida. Within its limits was Ringwood, the seat of Lord Clifden, and an ancient residence of the Bolger family. The parish comprised 10,508 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, of which about 1000acres consist of mountain, and a small portion of bog.[2]
Nearby sites listed in the Record of Monuments and Places include a large circular enclosure or rath, recorded as a "possible ecclesiastical enclosure".[3] Immediately to the southwest of this site is the ruined 19th century church and graveyard of the Rower Church.[4]
The Rower has a primary school, two churches, a GAA field and community hall. The ruined castle of Coolhill, said to have belonged to the Butler family, is nearby; and there are several broken dolmens in the vicinity of Ballinabarna.
The community is represented by a hurling team which competes in the senior grade of Kilkenny GAA.