Kingscourt
Encyclopedia
Kingscourt, historically known as Dunaree , is a town in County Cavan
, Ireland
. It is located near the Cavan-Meath
border and has a population of over 3,000 making it the fourth largest town in Cavan. The town was founded near the site of the old village of Cabra, by Mervyn Pratt, towards the end of the 18th century, and was completed by his brother, the Rev. Joseph Pratt.
, a Norman-style castle, is located near the town. The castle was originally called Cormey Castle and was a rebuilding of an earlier Cormey Castle which had been destroyed during the Cromwellian War. The castle has, in recent years, been restored and expanded and is now a four star hotel which is popular for weddings.
, who also provided designs for Eton College Chapel.
group, is a major employer in the area, as is building supplies company, Kingspan
, which is headquartered in the town. Other notable employers in the town include Kingscourt Brick, now part of the Lagan Group, Cabra Castle Hotel and Hangar Door Systems. Like many small towns across Ireland, Kingscourt is expanding rapidly.The town of Kingscourt is lovely.
, hare, mink, rabbit
and otter
, as well as red and grey squirrel
along the banks of the River Cabra. The park itself borders the Shercock
and Carrickmacross
roads.
which has been disused following strike action by Iarnrod Eireann train drivers in 2001. The line ceased to have passenger services in 1947, and was then a freight only service. The line which runs from Kingscourt to Navan and then on to Drogheda
was used to carry Gypsum ore daily from Gypsum Industries, but the company withdrew this service when Iarnrod Eireann could not guarantee deliveries of Gypsum ore, and was consequently transferred to road transport in 2001.
Kingscourt is approximately 30 minutes drive from the M1 motorway, via Ardee
, County Louth
, providing easy access to Dublin Airport
(95 km), Dublin city and its environs (90 km), Drogheda
(50 km), Dundalk
(35 km) and Belfast
(130 km). Other nearby towns include Bailieborough
which is within 10 minutes driving time and Carrickmacross
, Navan
and Kells
which are all within 35 minutes by road.
There are daily bus connections to Dublin with both Sillan Tours Limited and Bus Éireann
.
In Gaelic Football, the Kingscourt Stars are the third most successful club in the county having won the Cavan Senior Football Championship ten times, their most recent was the 2010 Championship.
Kingscourt was allegedly affected by a spate of so-called 'Boy-Racers' in 2007. They were, however, removed from the town after many residents' association meetings.
County Cavan
County Cavan 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 Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is located near the Cavan-Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
border and has a population of over 3,000 making it the fourth largest town in Cavan. The town was founded near the site of the old village of Cabra, by Mervyn Pratt, towards the end of the 18th century, and was completed by his brother, the Rev. Joseph Pratt.
History
Cabra CastleCabra Castle
Cabra Castle is the name given to two castles, one now ruined, the other now used as an impressive hotel. They are near the village of Cabra near Kingscourt in County Cavan.- External links :...
, a Norman-style castle, is located near the town. The castle was originally called Cormey Castle and was a rebuilding of an earlier Cormey Castle which had been destroyed during the Cromwellian War. The castle has, in recent years, been restored and expanded and is now a four star hotel which is popular for weddings.
Architecture
The Catholic Church which perches high above the town contains some excellent stained glass windows by the renowned Irish artist Evie HoneEvie Hone
Evie Hone was a Dublin born Irish painter and stained glass artist.She was related to Nathaniel Hone and Nathaniel Hone the Younger. Her most important works are probably the East Window for the Chapel at Eton College, Windsor and My Four Green Fields, now located in Government Buildings...
, who also provided designs for Eton College Chapel.
Economics
Industry is very important to Kingscourt. Gypsum Industries, part of the Saint-GobainSaint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain S.A. is a French multinational corporation, founded in 1665 in Paris and headquartered on the outskirts of Paris at La Défense and in Courbevoie. Originally a mirror manufacturer, it now also produces a variety of construction and high-performance materials.The company has its head...
group, is a major employer in the area, as is building supplies company, Kingspan
Kingspan Group
-History:Founded in the 1960s, the company floated on the Irish Stock Exchange in 1989 with a value of IR£20m. It expanded into insulated panels and timber-framed construction via a series of acquisitions, among them Century Homes in 2005 and the European insulation arm of CRH plc in 2010 and has a...
, which is headquartered in the town. Other notable employers in the town include Kingscourt Brick, now part of the Lagan Group, Cabra Castle Hotel and Hangar Door Systems. Like many small towns across Ireland, Kingscourt is expanding rapidly.The town of Kingscourt is lovely.
Environment
Dún na Rí Forest Park is located a couple of kilometers from Kingscourt. Situated in a valley, Dún na Rí is home to stoatStoat
The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
, hare, mink, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
and otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
, as well as red and grey squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
along the banks of the River Cabra. The park itself borders the Shercock
Shercock
Shercock is a small town situated in the east of County Cavan, Ireland. The current population of the town is 1032 people with almost triple this amount in the surrounding areas....
and Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross or Carrickmacros is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 4,387 according to the 2006 census, making it the second largest town in the county. The town won the prestigious European Entente Florale Silver Medal Award. It is a market town which...
roads.
Transport
Kingscourt has a railway lineKingscourt railway station
Kingscourt Railway station is a former passenger station in Kingscourt, County Cavan, in Ireland. It was created by the Navan and Kingscourt Railway in 1865. This was purchased by the Midland Great Western Railway in 1888. The line ceased passenger services in 1947, and was then a freight only...
which has been disused following strike action by Iarnrod Eireann train drivers in 2001. The line ceased to have passenger services in 1947, and was then a freight only service. The line which runs from Kingscourt to Navan and then on to Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
was used to carry Gypsum ore daily from Gypsum Industries, but the company withdrew this service when Iarnrod Eireann could not guarantee deliveries of Gypsum ore, and was consequently transferred to road transport in 2001.
Kingscourt is approximately 30 minutes drive from the M1 motorway, via Ardee
Ardee
Ardee is a town and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It is located at the intersection of the N2, N52, and N33 roads. Ardee is on the banks of the River Dee and is approximately 20 km from Dundalk, Drogheda, Slane and Carrickmacross...
, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, providing easy access to Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport, , is operated by the Dublin Airport Authority. Located in Collinstown, in the Fingal part of County Dublin, 18.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010, making it the busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland, followed by Cork and Shannon...
(95 km), Dublin city and its environs (90 km), Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
(50 km), Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
(35 km) and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
(130 km). Other nearby towns include Bailieborough
Bailieborough
Bailieborough or Bailieboro is a medium-sized town in the townland of Tanderagee, County Cavan, Ireland.Bailieborough is a thriving town in co cavan and is also experiencing a large population increase, its population now stands at 3,908+ which makes it the second largest town in Cavan.The town is...
which is within 10 minutes driving time and Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross or Carrickmacros is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 4,387 according to the 2006 census, making it the second largest town in the county. The town won the prestigious European Entente Florale Silver Medal Award. It is a market town which...
, Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
and Kells
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
which are all within 35 minutes by road.
There are daily bus connections to Dublin with both Sillan Tours Limited and Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
.
Sport
The Racquetball Association of Ireland is based in Kingscourt and the 14th IRF Racquetball World Championships took place in the town in 2008. Held every two years, previous Championships have been in such diverse locations as the Dominican Republic (2006), South Korea (2004) and Puerto Rico (2002).In Gaelic Football, the Kingscourt Stars are the third most successful club in the county having won the Cavan Senior Football Championship ten times, their most recent was the 2010 Championship.
Kingscourt was allegedly affected by a spate of so-called 'Boy-Racers' in 2007. They were, however, removed from the town after many residents' association meetings.
People
- Shane ConnaughtonShane ConnaughtonShane Connaughton is an Irish writer and actor, probably best known as co-writer of the Academy Award-nominated screenplay for My Left Foot. He also co-wrote the screenplays for the Academy Award-winning 1980 short film The Dollar Bottom and 1992 film The Playboys, as well as other screenplays and...
(born 1941) is an Irish writer and actor - Victor SherlockVictor SherlockVictor Sherlock was a former Gaelic football player for Meath and Cavan. Among other honours, he won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals in 1948 and 1952 with Cavan.-Playing career:Sherlock was a versatile footballer...
former Gaelic football player for Meath and Cavan
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland