Kilcar

Cill Charthaigh
Village
View from the monastic site at the old church down to the village, looking east. The R263 is to be seen as it leaves Kilcar in direction to Killybegs
Cill Charthaigh
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 54°37′57″N 8°35′34″W / 54.632481°N 8.592789°W / 54.632481; -8.592789Coordinates: 54°37′57″N 8°35′34″W / 54.632481°N 8.592789°W / 54.632481; -8.592789
Country Ireland
Province Ulster
County County Donegal
Government
 • Dáil Éireann Donegal
 • EU Parliament Midlands–North-West
Population (2016)[1]
 • Urban 258
Irish Grid Reference G614763
Cill Charthaigh is the only official name. The anglicised spelling Kilcar has no official status.

Cill Charthaigh (anglicised as Kilcar)[2] is a Gaeltacht village on the R263 regional road in the south west of County Donegal in Ireland. It is also a townland of 233 acres and a civil parish in the historic barony of Banagh.[3]

The village itself consists of a main street with a Catholic church (known locally as 'the Chapel') at one end and two textile factories at the other end. In between there are several shops and four pubs. The village has the principal tweed hand weaving facility in Donegal, with a shop Studio Donegal selling tweed products. Kilcar is also known for its tradition in knitting. There is also a producer of seaweed based cosmetic products.

The primary school is about 750 metres from the Main Street, and the parish of Kilcar stretches to the 'burn' which separates it from the next village, Carrick, which is about 5 kilometres away.

Located close to the Slieve League cliffs, the town is known for the scenic coastal landscapes and the musical and cultural traditions.

Culture

Áislann Chill Chartha is a community facility which includes a library, sports hall (basketball and indoor football), a fitness suite, computer centre, and small theatre.[4] It also has exhibits based on the history of South West Donegal and exhibitions of historic local photographs. It is located beside Studio Donegal.

St. Cartha's Pipe Band was formed in Kilcar in 1934. The band competed in their first All Ireland Pipe Band Championships in 2009. At the Malahide piping and drumming festival of the same year, the band finished second in their grade. The bands uniform consists of a saffron kilt and green tunic.

About 22% of residents are native Irish speakers.

Sport and outdoor activities

Muckros Peninsula, Kilcar

Gaelic football is among the more popular sports in Kilcar, and the GAA pitch at Towney is located 2 kilometres outside the village on the coast road. The local club, C.L.G. Chíll Chartha, have been 6 times Donegal Champions.

In the townland of Muckross (Mucros in Irish), which is a location for tourists due to its scenery, rock climbing, surfing beach and family bathing beach. It is 3 km (2 mi) east of the village on the coast road (See Muckross Head).

Curris also has views of Sliabh a Liag, and has a beach and pier in close proximity.

Notable people

  • Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker own a holiday home in the area, and have been regular visitors.[5]
  • Bishop Séamus Hegarty is from Kilcar.
  • Dr. Diarmuid Hegarty, former County Coroner is from Kilcar.
  • Michael Hegarty, Donegal Senior Player 1998 - 2011, Ulster Final 2011 and All Ireland National League winner is from Crowkeeragh, Kilcar.
  • Dermot Hegarty, Showband singer, is from County Longford, and his father Andrew Hegarty was from Crowkeeragh, Kilcar, cousin of Michael Hegarty Donegal Senior player. In 1969 he formed with the Plainsmen topping the bill at venues throughout Ireland, England, America and Canada. 1970 saw the release of 21 years which dominated the Irish charts for 47 weeks.
  • James and Martin, 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Champions, are from Kilcar. Martin is the father of Mark, 2012 All-Ireland champion and All Star and his brother Ryan, 2014 All-Ireland Finalist and All Star Award winner. Also Donegal superstar Patrick McBrearty is from Kilcar.
  • The Revs, an indie rock band, come from Kilcar and sometimes play at the annual Kilcar Festival in August.

Civil parish of Kilcar

The civil parish contains the village of Kilcar.[3]

Townlands

The civil parish contains the following townlands:[3]

  • Ballymacphadin
  • Ballymoon
  • Bavan
  • Bogagh Glebe
  • Cashelcarn
  • Coguish
  • Croaghbeg
  • Crowanrudda
  • Crowanrudda Beg
  • Crowbane
  • Crowdoo
  • Croweighter
  • Crowkeeragh
  • Crowlar
  • Cruckarra
  • Cuskry Glebe
  • Derrylahan
  • Drumnafinnagle
  • Drumreagh
  • Dundawoona Point
  • Gortalia
  • Inishduff
  • Keenaghan
  • Kilbeg
  • Kilcar
  • Kilcasey
  • Kille
  • Largymore
  • Lergadaghtan
  • Letter
  • Meenboy
  • Meentakeeraghan
  • Meenychanon
  • Muckros
  • Newchurch Glebe
  • Old Church Glebe
  • Roelough
  • Roxborough Glebe
  • Shalwy
  • Shannagh
  • Strabinna Lower
  • Strabinna Upper
  • Straleel
  • Straleel Glebe
  • Stranakirk
  • Tawny
  • Umuskan

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Cill Charthaigh". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Placenames (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) Order 2004.
  3. 1 2 3 "Kilcar". IreAtlas Townlands Database. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.aislann.ie
  5. ↑ Coleman, Maureen (7 August 2008). "Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick off to Donegal to save marriage". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7 August 2008. The glamorous couple – considered one of the strongest pairings in showbiz – regularly visit Kilcar in Donegal, where they own a holiday home.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.