Kilbeacon is a civil parish in the ancient barony of Knocktopher. It is located in the south of County Kilkenny, Ireland and is around 22 miles (35 km) south of the city of Kilkenny on the road to Waterford. The parish contains 3,151 statute acres. According to Lewis's survey of 1837, "At Earlsrath was a large fort, encompassed by a fosse and a bank about 20 feet high.". In 1833, there were 383 inhabited houses in the parish; of these, 270 families were primarily engaged in agriculture, 61 in manufactures or crafts, 52 in other. The total population was 2284 people.