Kilmacanogue

Location

The village lies between the Little Sugar Loaf to the east and the Great Sugar Loaf to the west in the northeastern foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, near the Glen of the Downs.

Two small streams join in Kilmacanogue, behind the old Post Office (Donnelly's), to form the Kilmacanogue River, which flows into the River Dargle near the old "Silver Bridge" at Kilbride, approximately two miles to the north, just downstream of the confluence with the Cookstown River.

History

The village is named after Saint Mocheanog, a companion of Saint Patrick. According to legend, he baptised the Children of Lir just before their death.

On the morning of 1 January 1942, the German Luftwaffe dropped two magnetic mines near Kilmacanogue but they did not explode.

Amenities

The village has two petrol stations, a primary school, a church, and an old coaching house dating back to the 19th century. The Plucks family, residents in the 19th and early 20th centuries, operated the coaching house where horses were changed on the route south to Wicklow. Charles Stewart Parnell was a frequent passenger on his way to his family house in Avondale – hence his moniker "The Blackbird of Avondale" – a ballad sung in his memory. It was not until 1861 that the railway was opened as far as Rathdrum, hence the need to travel by coach up to that time.

Business

Avoca Handweavers have one of their earliest outlets at the northern end of the village. This is situated on the site of Glencormac House, which was completed in 1860 by the Jameson Whiskey family, who were originally from Scotland. The house became a hotel (Grade A, a precursor to five-star rated hotels) in the 1950s, but was razed to the ground in a fire that occurred in 1967.

Transport

Road

The village lies on the junction of the R755 road to Roundwood and the N11 road, 5 km southeast of Bray town centre..

Bus

Kilmacanogue is served by the 45A/B bus to Dún Laoghaire via Bray, Shankill, and Ballybrack.

Until 2014, it was served by Dublin Bus route 145 to Heuston Station; however, this was cut short to terminate in Ballywaltrim and the 45A route was extended to serve Kilmacanogue. Only a small number of route 145 journeys still continue to Kilmacanogue on weekdays.

The village is also served by Bus Éireann routes 131 (to Wicklow and Bray), and 133 (to Wicklow and Dublin Busáras), as well as St. Kevin's Bus route 181 to Dublin and Glendalough (via Roundwood & Laragh), and Wexford Bus routes 740 to Wexford (via Arklow, Gorey, and Enniscorthy), 740A to Gorey via Arklow and Wicklow, 740X to Wexford, and the once a day UM11 to Maynooth University (via Leixlip).

Clubs and organisations

Kilmacanogue is home to the Kilmacanogue GAA Club, a Scouting Ireland group, Kilmac Drama, karate, Kilmacanogue History Society, and Glencormac United football club.

Notable people

• Mary Coughlan, an Irish blues singer, was living in Kilmacanogue as at January 2021. According to reports, her home was burgled, and the culprit was sentenced to six years in prison.

References

References

1. "Census of Population 2022 - Population Snapshot - Towns: Kilmacanogue". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland).
2. [https://www.logainm.ie/en/1411603/ Kilmacanoge]. [[Placenames Database of Ireland]].
3. "Kilmacanogue Settlement Plan, 2010-2016".
4. O'Reilly, Michael. (December 2001). "Luftwaffe magnetic mines land near Kilmacanogue". Ireland's Eye.
5. McCárthaigh, Seán. "Man receives six-year sentence for burglary at home of blues singer Mary Coughlan".