Kincasslagh

Name

The Irish and official name for Kincasslagh is Cionn Caslach or Ceann Caslach, which means head of the small inlet. Due to its status as a Gaeltacht village, all roadsigns to and in the village itself are in the Irish language.

Language

Kincasslagh is in the Gaeltacht region which means the official language of the area is Irish. However, the use of the language has been in decline since the 1950s. There are very few Irish-speakers in Kincasslagh today, much like neighbouring villages Mullaghduff and Burtonport.

History

Kincasslagh has a long history of emigration, much like the rest of West Donegal. In the 1950s and 1960s, a large number of locals left the area to work in countries such as the UK (England and especially Scotland), the USA and Australia.

Education

The local primary school is the Irish language Scoil Náisiúnta Béal na Cruite with 39 pupils, and the nearest secondary school is Rosses Community School in Dungloe.

Local amenities

There is only one public house in the village Iggy's, and the one grocery shop, The Cope, is part of a cooperative retail chain indigenous to the area. The Viking House is the nearest hotel to the village, which was once owned by singer Daniel O'Donnell. Kincasslagh is also the nearest village to Cruit Island, which boasts a very popular golf course.

Sport

The local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) team is Naomh Mhuire CLG which covers the greater Lower Rosses area. The local soccer team is Keadue Rovers.

Arts

Kincasslagh is probably best known for being the birthplace of singers Margo and Daniel O'Donnell. The village played host to Daniel's annual tea party which he held at his mother's home as part of the Donegal Shore Festival, which drew thousands of fans each year. The village was used as a location for the film American Women / The Closer You Get.

Transport

Kincasslagh is situated five kilometres from Donegal International Airport. Kincasslagh Road railway station, five kilometres south, was open from 1913 until 1940 when the Derry and Lough Swilly Railway closed the line due to financial difficulties.

References

References

1. "Donegal Cottage Holidays".
2. "An Staidéar Teangeolaíochta ar an nGaeilge sa Ghaeltacht".
3. "Scotland's Irish Diaspora: 12 Jan 2011: Scottish Parliament debates - TheyWorkForYou".
4. "Scoil Náisiúnta Béal na Cruite".
5. "Rosses Community School . Dungloe . County Donegal".
6. "Welcome to Cruit Island Golf Club! - Cruit Island Golf Club".
7. "Naomh Mhuire / Lower Rosses".
8. "Kincasslagh Parish Newsletter, See website or below | MyLocalNews.ie - Keep Informed, Stay Connected !".
9. "Goireland.com".
10. Gray, Michael. (16 February 2011). "Film Review: 'Closer' to absurdity than reality". [[The Irish Echo]].
11. "Gweedore station". Railscot – Irish Railways.