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The name Blanchfield (as found in Ireland) comes from the Norman name of the town of Whittington Wales (of tom whittingtons cat fame). The original name of this town was Blanchville and was ruled by the Freneys (another spelling then). When the Welsh retook the area the normans went to Pembroke from where many shipped to Ireland. The Freneys got vast holdings in Kilkenny and gave some land to the "de Blanchvilles". The Blanchfields eventually ended up in 1690 as the 2d biggest landholders in Kilkenny. After that it was all down hill.