Grangecon
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.
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. | ” |
| —Grangecon community website. | ||
While the name Grange Con is said to be of Celtic origin the earliest recorded history of it is from the Middle Ages when the Abbot of Baltinglass Abbey had a castle built there. The monks are also said to have had a mill there powered by the local stream. Most of the surrounding land belonged to the Abbey at the time. [1] Following the dissolution of the monasteries, Thomas Eustace was in 1541 made Viscount Baltinglass and granted the lands of the Abbey including the Castle and lands at Grangecon. These were forfeited in 1581 following a rebellion by the third Viscount and subsequently granted to Sir Henry Harrington. It appears that these lands remained in the Harrington family for a number of generations. [2] The house at Grangecon Demesne later became the seat of the O'Mahony clan and remained so until about 1930 when Pierce O'Mahony, the last "the O'Mahony" died. See [3] for more detailed information about the O'Mahony connection with Grangecon. Some ruins of an older castle still exist in the grounds but these are quite minimal. Grangecon Demesne is now home to the well-known Grangecon Stud, breeder of top grade thoroughbred racehorses. [4]
The Hall
| “ | Bumboa Hall, a small village, in the. parish of Ballynure, barony of Upper Talbotstown, county of Wicklow, and province of Leinster, 3 miles (N.) from Baltinglass; containing 81 inhabitants. It is situated on the road from Baltinglass to Ballitore, and contains a good house called the Hall, the residence of Stephen Wilson, Esq. Near it are Ballynure and Grange-Con, the former the seat of H. Carroll, Esq., and the latter, till of late, the residence of H. Harrington, Esq. A peace preservation force is stationed in the village; and there is a neat R. C. chapel belonging to the union or district of Baltinglass, with a school adjoining it.-- (From Lewis' Topographical Dictionary (1837) at the National Library) | ” |
Grangecon village is still known by many as "The Hall".
Geography
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.
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. [5] [6]
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.
Amenities and Sport
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.
There is a local community owned park in the village where the local Soccer Club, Grangecon A.F.C, play their home fixtures and the local School Children play football and hurling while football and hurling at juvenile levels and football up to senior level are played at the Stratford / Grangecon GAA club.
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. [4][7]
See also
References
External links
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Coordinates: 52°59′52″N 6°44′42″W / 52.99778°N 6.74500°W