Grangecon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grangecon (Irish: Gráinseach Choinn, meaning Granary of the Hound) is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It has a population of about 200 people, and is located between Baltinglass and Dunlavin.
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[edit] History
| “ | The area is rich in history and has been populated for many thousands of years, with many iron and stone age sites in evidence throughout the surrounding countryside, as well as early Christian and pre-Christian sites. There was local involvement in the rebellion of 1798 and other events of historical significance. | ” |
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—Grangecon community website. |
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[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
The village is set in a valley, amid the low rolling hills of West Wicklow. The Wicklow Mountains are to the east, while to the west lie the lowlands of Kildare and the midlands.
[edit] Development
Property developers are showing an interest in the area. Local opposition and county council planning decisions have so far controlled building in the area. An Bórd Pleanála have recently overturned a decision by Wicklow County Council to grant planning permission for a development of large houses on an elevated site overlooking the main street of the village. This was as a result of an appeal by many local residents. [1] [2]
[edit] Transport
Grangecon railway station opened on 1 Sept 1885, closed for passenger traffic on 27 January 1947, closed for goods traffic on 10 March 1947, and finally closed altogether on 1 April 1959. The station building and Station Master's house still exist today as private residences. Part of the original railway cutting can still be seen in the village, as can an original railway overbridge. There is little by way of public transport serving the village now apart from school buses and an occasional service by the Wicklow Rural Transport service.
[edit] Amenities
The village is well serviced for its size, and boasts two local pubs, one of which also serves as the local grocery store, though the local post office has been closed down. There is a small national school, and secondary education is available in several schools in all the nearby towns. A recently constructed Catholic church stands in the centre of the village, while there is a Church of Ireland church at Ballynure, a short distance away.
It is located in an area of mixed agriculture, and has a lot of bloodstock activity including the breeding and training of racehorses. The famous trainer of National Hunt horses, Paddy Sleator, had his establishment here as does current trainer Francis Flood. There are also several stud farms in the locality.[citation needed]
 Grangecon. |
 Village centre. |
 Main street. |
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[edit] External links
[edit] References
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