Kilcrohane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kilcrohane
Cill Chrócháin
Village
Village and Church
Kilcrohane
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 51°34′52″N 09°42′12″W / 51.58111°N 9.70333°W / 51.58111; -9.70333Coordinates: 51°34′52″N 09°42′12″W / 51.58111°N 9.70333°W / 51.58111; -9.70333
Country Ireland
Province Munster
County County Cork
Time zone WET (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) IST (WEST) (UTC-1)

Kilcrohane (Irish: Cill Chrócháin)[1] is a village in County Cork, Ireland. The last coastal village on the Sheep's Head Peninsula after Durrus and Ahakista, it lies under the 'Shadow of Seefin' - the area's highest hill and overlooking Dunmanus Bay and not far from Caher Mountain. Kilcrohane is renowned for its beautiful coastline, idyllic views and world famous hill walking routes.

Cill Crochain

Cill Crochain is Gaeilge (Irish) for Church of Crochan. Little is known about Crochan except that he is believed to have lived about the time of St. Patrick (mid 5th century). Some believe he was from Kerry near Caherdaniel where there are two ruined churches named after him and a village called Kilcrohane. Near Helston, Cornwall there are small church ruins believed to be founded by a St. Crochan but there is nothing to confirm that it is the same person.

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

Kilcrohane today

Unspoiled Irish Holiday Destination

Kilcrohane is a lively and vibrant seaside village whose population swells in the busy summer months. It has two pubs, a wine bar, three Bed and Breakfasts (two with restaurants), a hostel, several self-catering holiday accommodations, a shop, a post office, a garage and a summer cafe and restaurant.

The Kilcrohane pier is popular swimming place and there are numerous private coves dotted along the coast. The water is clear and a beautiful place for swimming. There is an abundance of pollock and mackerel in Dunmanus Bay. There is boat access to Carbery Island where seals are plentiful.

The Sheep's Head Cycle Route loops through the village from Bantry. Kilcrohane's seaside garden has been featured on BBC's Flying Gardener programme and in several gardening magazines.

Kilcrohane has a primary school and a church. There is daily transportation to secondary schools in Bantry and public transportation to Bantry twice a week. There is also a community field and hall and a children's playground with tennis court.

The Sheep's Head Cafe is situated at the very end of the Peninsula.

The Sheeps Head Way

Kilcrohane is base for the world famous 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 breathtaking views of Bantry and Dunmanus Bays. Kilcrohane is a perfect base for walking tours as it offers a wide range of accommodation to meet any budget to set out for a days walking.

Sheep's Head Cycling Route

The area also has marked road cycling route for leisurely cycles over hilly roads with amaxing views of the surrounding countryside, the bays and the Atlantic Ocean

Alice West Museum

The Alice West Centre, a museum focusing on the life and art of the late Alice West, is scheduled to open shortly under the auspices of Muintir Bhaire Community Council. Alice West bequeathed her estate to the community. The museum will display local artifacts, crafts, and artwork

The WhiteHouse Gallery

The WhiteHouse Gallery and coffee shop, the newest addition to an impressive array of fine art Galleries in west Cork, with resident artist, Corina Thornton (aka Thorn) www.ThornArt.com Thorn's work is evolving as her relationship with the light and colours of the Sheep's Head peninsula landscape grows.

Sheep's Head Producers Market

The Sheep's Head Producers' Market has been a Summer fixture in the village since 2011. Inspired after attending a community course which brought into focus the need to become more resilient as a rural community by creating local sustainable employment, a small group of Sheep’s Head residents began to meet regularly during the winter of 2010/11. In the early weeks of the second season in 2012 the possibility of opening up a shop during the week became a reality. We now have a community run Market Shop in the Old Creamery building. The Sunday market (11am-1pm) takes place from April - September in the village with the shop open all year round For more information they can be contacted via Facebook/Twitter or visit http://sheepsheadmarket.wordpress.com/

Festivals in Kilcrohane

Kilcrohane has a number of festivals throughout the year that attract many visitors to the area.

Craic on the Coast - Traditional Music Festival

Kilcrohane is renowned for its traditional music festival known as the Craic on the Coast which takes place annually on Easter weekend. The festival draws music enthusiasts from all over the country and abroad.

The Kilcrohane Carnival

The Kilcrohane carnival is held every year on the third week of July (depending on the weather!). The carnival attracts tourists from all over Ireland, Europe and further afield to enjoy lively and fun events such as the duck races, wheel-barrow races, lovely girls competition, chair of doom, spider baby, and fancy dress tractor parade. There is also a track and field event day and a fishing competition for the more competitive visitors.

Notable people

  • Kilcrohane (townland Cora) is the birthplace of Bardic poet Aongus O'Daly (1570-1617).
  • The U.S. Senator for Wyoming Patrick Joseph Sullivan (1885-1935) was born in Kilcrohane.
  • The writer J.G. Farrell (1935-1979) lived here.
  • Denis O'Donovan, a member of the Seanad was born here.
  • The Oscar winning actor Ralph Fiennes briefly lived here in the 1970s and attended the Kilcrohane National School.
  • Actor and Comedian Tommy O'Donovan resides near the village [2]
  • TV Presenter Graham Norton has a summer residence here.
  • Folk singer Christy Moore purchased a property here.
  • Senator Ivor Callely has a holiday residence here [3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland. Cill Chrócháin Verified 2011-06-05.
  2. ↑ Template:Www.facebook.com/people/Tom-ODonovan/1432155035
  3. ↑ "Fianna Fáil suspends Ivor Callely". Irish Times. 04/08/2010. Retrieved 04/08/2010. 
  • Ann McCarthy, Under the Shadow of Seefin 2001
  • Frank O'Mahony, The Story of Kilcrohane 2000
  • Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Vol 1 West Cork, Office of Public Works, 1992 ISBN 0-7076-0175-4
  • BHAS Journal vol 2 p.106-119, Townlands Donal Fitzgerald ISSN 0791-6612
  • Donald Grant (lived in Dooneen), White Goats and Black Bees. (Editions: New York: Doubleday, 1974 ISBN 0-385-06522-1; London: Joseph, 1975 ISBN 0-7181-1294-6; Schull: Mizen Books,
  • O'Mahony, T., 2006, History of Kilcrohane Village, P.P.R. Publishing

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.