Kilmacrenan
Encyclopedia
Kilmacrenan is a small village located in County Donegal
on the north west coast of Ireland
. The village had a population of 430 in the 2002 census, however the village's population has increased rapidily over the last decade as a result of people leaving Letterkenny and living in the countryside and commute to work daily.
Kilmacrenan is also the name of the parish and Barony in which Kilmacrenan village is situated.
. The village's name 'Cill Mhic nEanain' means 'the church of the many sons of Eanan'.
one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland
received his early education in a school thought to be located in around the area were the now ruined Fransican Abbey stands. Not forgetting his time in Kilmacrenan, Cholmcille granted a monastery
to the town, also thought have been located in the vicinity of the Abbey. The crowning of the great O'Donnell
Chieftains took place in the parish. The religious part of the ceremony taking place in the Abbey and then walking to Doon Rock, then in the parish, now in the parish of Termon, were the incoming chief stood in the footprints of the first chieftain and received an Slát Bán meaning in English 'the White Stick' for which all his judgements must be as white and pure and the 'slát' he had just received. Traditionally the person to 'crown' the chief was the abbot of the abbey who was usually a member of the Friell clan who are famous as the lifters of the Gartan Clay. In more recent centuries the town gave its name to the surrounding barony. Famous descendants of the village included Cardinal Michael Logue.
roofline trims. They recently won the Donegal County Enterprise, 'Business of the year 2008' award at a black tie ceremony.
however the salmon numbers have dropped dramatically in recent years, most anglers blame pollution for this. The salmon and trout population is slowly increasing but will take a number of years for it to reach its old level
supermarket and filling station, Millbridge Meats butchers, Cut n Styles hairdressers, and at the thatched cottage, a fruit and veg stall and chip van. There is also the Hilltop Cafe and Take-Away located in the centre of the village, a Thai restaurant adjacent to the Village Court, along with food menus available in the other local bars. At the centre of the village there is also a Bed and Breakfast, which is called Fern House Bed and Breakfast. There are three churches in the Village: a Catholic church and a Church of Ireland. There is also a Presbyterian Church in the town land of Leiter about three miles from the village. Work has recently finished on the long awaited new National School which is located across from the old school and Catholic Church. There are 187 pupils attending. It opened for the first time on 31 March 2008. It was officially opened by Rev. Fr. Michael Conaghan PP on 22 January 2009.
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
on the north west coast of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The village had a population of 430 in the 2002 census, however the village's population has increased rapidily over the last decade as a result of people leaving Letterkenny and living in the countryside and commute to work daily.
Kilmacrenan is also the name of the parish and Barony in which Kilmacrenan village is situated.
Location
Kilmacrenan is 8 km (approximately 6 minutes) from Letterkenny on the N56 which is the largest town in County DonegalCounty Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The village's name 'Cill Mhic nEanain' means 'the church of the many sons of Eanan'.
History
Kilmacrenan has been centre of activity in the region for centuries. It is thought that St. Cholmcille, ColumbaColumba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland
Twelve Apostles of Ireland
The Twelve Apostles of Ireland were twelve early Irish monastic saints of the sixth century who studied under St Finian at his famous monastic school Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird , now Clonard in County Meath.-Dá apstol décc na hÉrenn:The twelve saints are grouped together as such in the text Dá...
received his early education in a school thought to be located in around the area were the now ruined Fransican Abbey stands. Not forgetting his time in Kilmacrenan, Cholmcille granted a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
to the town, also thought have been located in the vicinity of the Abbey. The crowning of the great O'Donnell
O'Donnell
O'Donnell , which is derived from the forename Domhnaill were an ancient and powerful Irish family, kings, princes, and lords of Tír Chonaill in early times, and the chief allies and sometimes...
Chieftains took place in the parish. The religious part of the ceremony taking place in the Abbey and then walking to Doon Rock, then in the parish, now in the parish of Termon, were the incoming chief stood in the footprints of the first chieftain and received an Slát Bán meaning in English 'the White Stick' for which all his judgements must be as white and pure and the 'slát' he had just received. Traditionally the person to 'crown' the chief was the abbot of the abbey who was usually a member of the Friell clan who are famous as the lifters of the Gartan Clay. In more recent centuries the town gave its name to the surrounding barony. Famous descendants of the village included Cardinal Michael Logue.
Industry
North West Aluminium manufacture and produce a large range of aluminium & PVCPVC
Polyvinyl chloride is a plastic.PVC may also refer to:*Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor*Peripheral venous catheter, a small, flexible tube placed into a peripheral vein in order to administer medication or fluids...
roofline trims. They recently won the Donegal County Enterprise, 'Business of the year 2008' award at a black tie ceremony.
Rivers
Two rivers flow through the village, the Lennon and the Lurgy. Traditionally the river Lennon was renowned as an excellent river for fishing salmonSalmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
however the salmon numbers have dropped dramatically in recent years, most anglers blame pollution for this. The salmon and trout population is slowly increasing but will take a number of years for it to reach its old level
Amenities
There are three pubs in the village: The Village Court, The Anglers Haven and The Millbridge, a post office, a SPARSPAR
Spar , trades from approximately 12400 stores in 34 countries worldwide and is the world's largest independent voluntary retail trading chain. Spar was founded in the Netherlands in 1932 by retailer Adriaan Van Well and now, through its affiliate organisations, operates through most European...
supermarket and filling station, Millbridge Meats butchers, Cut n Styles hairdressers, and at the thatched cottage, a fruit and veg stall and chip van. There is also the Hilltop Cafe and Take-Away located in the centre of the village, a Thai restaurant adjacent to the Village Court, along with food menus available in the other local bars. At the centre of the village there is also a Bed and Breakfast, which is called Fern House Bed and Breakfast. There are three churches in the Village: a Catholic church and a Church of Ireland. There is also a Presbyterian Church in the town land of Leiter about three miles from the village. Work has recently finished on the long awaited new National School which is located across from the old school and Catholic Church. There are 187 pupils attending. It opened for the first time on 31 March 2008. It was officially opened by Rev. Fr. Michael Conaghan PP on 22 January 2009.
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Donegal)