Kilmacthomas

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Kilmacthomas (Coill Mhic Thomáisín in Irish), often referred to locally as "Kilmac", is a town on the River Mahon in County Waterford, Ireland. It lies on the R677 immediately north of the N25 national primary road from Dungarvan to Waterford.

The town has a population of some twelve hundred people. The chief tourist attraction of the locality are the Mahon Falls.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Education
5 Bars
6 Sports clubs
7 People
8 See also

[edit] History

During the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, in December, 1649, Oliver Cromwell, marched from Waterford to Kilmacthomas during the Siege of Waterford. The weather was wet and stormy and the river was in flood, so the army couldn't cross. Two nights were spent in the field that is now the public park.

Daniel O'Connell passed through Kilmac' on a campaign trail and he wrote:^[1]

We breakfasted at Kilmacthomas, a town belonging to the Beresfords but the people belong to us. They came out to meet us with green boughs and such shouting you can have no idea of. I harangued them from the window of the inn, and we had a good deal of laughing at the bloody Beresfords. Judge what the popular feeling must be when in this, a Beresford town, every man their tenant, we had such a reception.

In the early 1870s the influence of the industrial revolution reached Kilmacthomas when the Waterford to Mallow railroad came to town. There is an example of a stone viaduct in the town spanning the Mahon River. The central span of this viaduct was destroyed in the early 1920s during the "Troubles", but a local man saw that the bridge was timbered up to support the other arches.^{[citation needed]} This prevented this bridge from totally collapsing like the viaduct crossing the Dalligan River on the way to Dungarvan.^{[citation needed]} Although the last passenger services ceased in the late 1960s the railway continued to operate with the haulage of oil and magnesite for another couple of decades. This railway is now disused. The viaduct at Kilmacthomas has been preserved.

[edit] Geography

The village is situated on the River Mahon, the eastbank is known as Irishtown and the westbank as BaileSheáinín. The postal area of Kilmacthomas can include Newtown, Ballylaneen, Lemybrien, Kill, Mahon Bridge, The Nire, and Kilrossanty.

The Mahon River has a stock of wild brown trout. The salmon run mostly in the autumn and winter, but start running from the end of June. Salmon trout (know locally as "Pale") are also found in the river. Sea trout run in late July and August. There has been a collapse in fish stocks in the 1980s and 1990's^{[citation needed]} but stocks are on the rise once more since a moratorium on netting has been emplaced.^{[citation needed]}

Geologically Kilmacthomas gives it's name to the "Kilmacthmas Formation", which is composed of Lower Phanerozoic deep marine metasediments and metavolcanics. Evidence of manganese nodules have been noted in the new bypass cutting recently constructed near the village.^{[citation needed]}

Kilmac' is located halfway between Waterford City and the county capital; Dungarvan. West of the village are the foothills of the Comeragh mountains, while five miles to the south is the 'Copper Coast' with the beach of Bonmahon / Bunmahon(Bún Machan).

[edit] Economy

The town is noted for its Flahavan's Porridge Factory. Flahavan's have been milling Irish oats for 200 years, supplying breakfast porridge for generations.
Alaska Fireplaces make fireplaces at a cold spot in Kilmacthomas (hence the name due to being exposed to the Cuteen wind) which are sold nationwide. Now located in the former Work House, which has been converted into Kilmacthomas Business Centre.
Kilmacthomas acts as a dormitory town for Waterford and Dungarvan.

[edit] Education

There are 3 schools in Kilmacthomas. St Declan's Community College is the largest second level school in the county area, with in excess of 500 pupils. The (Kilmac') Convent Primary school caters for the younger children, while the pre-school boys and girls attend the Naíonra on the High Road.

[edit] Bars

Pubs in the town include: Powers, Dannys (Kirwans), Kielys, Keatings/Lynns (Main Street), Philomena Flynns (Newtown), Morrisseys (the Square), Lenihans (Newtown), Harleys Bar (River Street), Hackensack, New Jersey and Kierseys Bar & Restaurant (Main Street).

[edit] Sports clubs

Gaelic Athletic Association Clubs:

John Mitchels GAA Club, Kilnagrange, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford
Kilmacthomas GAA Club, Union Road, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford
Kilmacthomas Juvenile GAA Club, Union Road, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford
Saint Mary's Juvenile GAA Club, Dunphy's Pub, Newtown, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford

[edit] People

Birthplace of Tyrone Power (1795-1841), actor, comedian, author and theatrical manager.
Lord of the Dance and Feet Of Flames original lead Gillian Norris currently lives and works in Kilmacthomas, where she runs her own beauty salon and spa.^{[citation needed]}