Kilcrohane Explained

Kilcrohane
Native Name Lang:ga
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Ireland
Pushpin Label Position:top
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Ireland
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Ireland
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Munster
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:County Cork
Population As Of:2016
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population:127
Utc Offset1:+0
Timezone1 Dst:IST (WEST)
Utc Offset1 Dst:-1
Coordinates:51.5811°N -9.7033°W

Kilcrohane [2] is a village in County Cork, Ireland. It is the last coastal village on the Sheep's Head Peninsula after Durrus and Ahakista.[3] Kilcrohane lies under the 'Shadow of Seefin' (the area's highest hill) and is also close to Caher Mountain. The village overlooks Dunmanus Bay.

Cill Crochain

'Cill Crochain' is Irish for the 'Church of Crochan'.[2] Little is known about Crochan except that he is reputed to have lived around the time of Saint Patrick (mid 5th century).[4] Some believe Crochan was from County Kerry, near Caherdaniel where there are two ruined churches named after him and a village also called Kilcrohane.[4]

There is a ruined church in the grounds of the cemetery in Kilcrohane, thought to be where Crohan built his cell.

Tourism

The seaside village of Kilcrohane increases in population in the summer months. It has two pubs, a café gallery,[5] three restaurants and a coffee shop (open in July and August). The local shop is a post office and filling station. There is also a local co-operative shop selling local produce, arts and crafts. There are a number of Bed and Breakfasts, several self-catering holiday accommodations, and a garage/repair shop that also rents bicycles.[6]

The Kilcrohane pier is used for swimming, and there are a number of private coves along the coast. There is pollock and mackerel in Dunmanus Bay.

Kilcrohane has a primary school and a church. There is daily transportation to secondary schools in Bantry and public transportation to Allihies via Bantry four times daily.[7] There is also a community field and hall and a children's playground with tennis court.

Sheep's Head Way

Kilcrohane is base for the hill walking route, the Sheep's Head Way. The Sheep's Head Way features over 60 miles of marked maintained hill and road walking routes with views of Bantry and Dunmanus Bays. The area also has marked road cycling route.

Museum and gallery

The Alice West Centre, a museum focusing on the life and art of the late English-born artist Alice West, is open during the summer months and is run by the Muintir Bhaire Community Council.[8] Alice West bequeathed her estate to the community, and the museum displays local artifacts, crafts, and artwork.[8]

The White House Gallery and coffee shop is a gallery space that retains a few fixtures of the White House Bar. Situated one mile west of Kilcrohane, it lays at a crossroads at which, according to its website, people would "travel across the water from Beara and the Mizen to meet, play music, sing and dance".[9]

Festivals

Kilcrohane has a number of festivals throughout the year, including the 'Craic on the Coast' traditional music festival which takes place annually on Easter weekend.[10] A 'Kilcrohane Carnival' is also held every year on the third week of July (depending on the weather). This carnival features a number of events, races, a track and field event, and fishing competition.

Notable people

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census 2016 Sapmap Area – Settlements – Kilcrohane . CSO . 2016 . 18 August 2018 .
  2. Web site: Placenames Database of Ireland. logainm.ie . Cill Chrócháin . 5 June 2011.
  3. Web site: Sheeps Head Peninsula West Cork Tourism Information . Travel Ireland Network . cork-guide.ie . 3 November 2018.
  4. Web site: The People of Bháire . Sheeps Head Way Committee . thesheepsheadway.ie . 3 November 2018 .
  5. Web site: Gallery and Coffee Shop – Summer Opening Hours . thewhitehouse-gallery.com . The White House . 3 November 2018 .
  6. Web site: Peninsula locals love one-stop café shop . Irish Examiner . irishexaminer.com . 11 June 2015 . 3 November 2018 .
  7. Web site: TFI Local Link Cork launches new bus service connecting Allihies and Kilcrohane . Transport for Ireland . transportforireland.ie . 2 June 2023 . 10 June 2023 .
  8. Web site: Black Gate: Alice West Centre & Café . Sheep's Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative . livingthesheepsheadway.com . 4 January 2014 . 3 November 2018 .
  9. Web site: White House Wine bar & Gallery . thewhitehouse-gallery.com . The White House . 3 November 2018 .
  10. Web site: Craic on the Coast . Sheep's Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative . livingthesheepsheadway.com . 6 July 2015 . 3 November 2018 .
  11. Book: The Capuchin Annual . Capuchin Annual . 132 . 1972 . University of Minnesota.
  12. Web site: JG Farrell: 149 Days in the Life Of . RTÉ . 18 December 2010 . 2 November 2018.
  13. Web site: Seanad Éireann debate – Thursday, 29 Nov 2012 – Europol Bill 2012: Second Stage . Houses of the Oireachtas . oireachtas.ie . 29 November 2012 . 3 November 2018.
  14. Web site: Kilcrohane . Dooneen Pier . dooneenpier.com . 3 November 2018 .
  15. Web site: Tweet little house for sale . Irish Examiner . irishexaminer.com . 19 July 2014 . 3 November 2018 .
  16. Web site: Why West Cork still holds a special place in celebrity hearts and minds . Southern Star . southernstar.ie . 9 September 2017 . 3 November 2018 .
  17. Web site: Fianna Fáil suspends Ivor Callely. Irish Times . irishtimes.com . 4 August 2010. 4 August 2010.