| Official Name: | Cill Charthaigh |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Ireland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Ireland |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Ireland |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ulster |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Subdivision Name3: | County Donegal |
| Leader Title1: | Dáil Éireann |
| Leader Name1: | Donegal |
| Leader Title2: | EU Parliament |
| Leader Title3: | The Stoink Council |
| Leader Name2: | Midlands–North-West |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Urban: | 258 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Coordinates: | 54.6325°N -8.5928°W |
| Blank Name: | Irish Grid Reference |
| Footnotes: | 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]
Main Street has 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 three pubs, John Joe's Pub, Kilcar House and O'Gara's. 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. [4]
The primary school is about 750 metres from 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.
Áislann Chill Chartha is a community facility which includes a library, café, sports hall (basketball and indoor football), a fitness suite, computer centre, and small theatre.[5] 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. . Students visit the area yearly to learn Irish through Coláiste Chara, an Irish language summer school for teenagers. Oideas Gael, an Irish Language school for adults, is found in the nearby parish of Glencolmcille providing learning opportunities for those from all over the world to study about the Irish Language, Culture and more.
Fleadh Cheoil Chill Chartha or Kilcar Fleadh is a yearly festival of music, song and dance celebrating the living tradition of south west Donegal. This five day festival includes; concerts, The Rambling Session, céilí, daily music and dance workshops, and a heritage day displaying heritage, crafts & culture of Kilcar and the surrounding area. Other festival highlights include 'Echos in the Glen' - a music recital featuring fiddles and pipes in the Gleann a'Bhaile Dubh; and workshops in fiddle, tin whistle, guitar, accordion and dancing.
Regular traditional music sessions take place within the area, in particular in John Joe's pub or Teach John Joe's who host traditional music sessions weekly on Tuesdays. The area is well known for experienced musicians, and a wide range of music genre's can be heard within Kilcar.
A restoration has been in progress to restore An Mhuileann Coirce Leitir (Corn Mill), "The mill and millers house is at present undergoing renovation under the auspice of The Kilcar Heritage Committee. This ambitious restoration project consists of the restoration of the mill and drying kiln, mill dam, mill wheel and mill race. The renovation of the miller’s house will include refreshment facilities. A new visitor’s car and bus park will also be added. The landscaping of the mill lands will include a new river-side scenic walk."[6]
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, CLG Chill Chartha, have been 6 times Donegal Champions. CLG Chill Chartha actively promotes Gaeilge usage and regularly organises Irish Language events within the community.
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 3km (02miles) 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.
A local group Kilcar Kayaking are actively running within the area.
There are various walking routes within Kilcar and its townlands.