Kilmacrennan Explained

Kilmacrennan
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
Unit Pref:Metric
Population As Of:2016
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:753
Population Density Km2:auto
Utc Offset1:+0
Timezone1 Dst:IST (WEST)
Utc Offset1 Dst:-1
Coordinates:55.0297°N -7.7787°W
Blank Name:Irish Grid Reference

Kilmacrennan[2] (Irish: Cill Mhic nÉanáin or Irish: Cill Mhic Réanáin),[3] also Kilmacrenan, is a village, townland and civil parish in County Donegal, Ireland. The village population was 753, as of the 2016 census.[1] The village's population has increased steadily over the last decade with many new housing developments catering, in particular, for an overspill population from Letterkenny. Kilmacrennan was historically the caput of its eponymous Barony of Kilmacrennan, of the eight Baronies of Donegal.

The Battle of Kilmacrennan was fought near the village in 1608 during O'Doherty's Rebellion.

Geography

Kilmacrennan lies on the N56 road, 9 km northwest of Letterkenny which is the largest town in County Donegal. The village's name 'Cill Mhic nÉanáin' means 'the church of the sons of Éanán'.

Two rivers flow through the village, the Lennon and the Lurgy. Traditionally, the river Lennon was renowned for salmon fishing; however, the salmon numbers have dropped dramatically in recent years. Most anglers blame pollution for this. The salmon and trout population is slowly increasing but will take a number of years for it to reach its old level.

Amenities

A 1916 Remembrance Garden was opened to the public in 2016 to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising. There are three churches: a Catholic church and the Church of St Finian and St Mark Church of Ireland in the village itself, as well as a Presbyterian Church in the townland of Leiter about 3 km away. Kilmacrennan national school is also located beside the Catholic church. It has approximately 185 pupils. It opened in 2008. The previous national school, which opened in 1935, is across the road.

Industry

North West Aluminium manufacture and produce a large range of aluminium & pvc roofline trims. They won the Donegal County Enterprise 'Business of the year' award in 2008.

Sport

Kilmacrennan has a soccer club called Kilmacrennan Celtic, founded in 1977 and formerly known as Lurgy Celtic. They have a senior and reserve team in the Donegal League and also have underage teams from u-8 level to u-18 level.

Notable people

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Kilmacrennan . . 6 June 2018.
  2. Official spelling used by, among others, Kilmacrennan School, Raphoe Diocese's Parish of Kilmacrennan, Kilmacrennan Celtic Football Club.
  3. Web site: Cill Mhic Réanáin/Kilmacrenan . Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie) . 3 May 2022.
  4. News: Sadness across Donegal at death of renowned politician Bernard McGlinchey. Donegal Daily. 11 April 2013. 11 April 2013.
  5. News: Councillor John O'Donnell charged with assault. RTÉ News. 25 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170527233328/https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0725/804685-councillor-assault/. 27 May 2017.