Kincasslagh
Kincasslagh
Gaeltacht village in County Donegal, Ireland
Cionn Caslach (anglicised as Kincasslagh) is a small Gaeltacht seaside village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland. Despite only having a population of just over 40 people, the village has attracted much international attention due to the success of local singer Daniel O'Donnell.[1]
Cionn Caslach
Kincasslagh | |
|---|---|
Village | |
A view of Cionn Caslach village | |
| Coordinates: 55°02′13″N 8°20′26″W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Government | |
| • Dáil Éireann | Donegal |
| Population | |
| • Rural | 41 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Area code(s) | 074 95, +00 353 74 95 |
| Irish Grid Reference | B738189 |
| Website | www |
| Cionn Caslach is the only official name. The anglicised spelling Kincasslagh has no official status. | |
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.
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.[2] There are very few Irish-speakers in Kincasslagh today, much like neighbouring villages Mullaghduff and Burtonport.
Kincasslagh has a long history of emigration, much like the rest of West Donegal.[3] 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.
The local primary school is the Irish language Scoil Náisiúnta Béal na Cruite with 112 pupils,[4] and the nearest secondary school is Rosses Community School in Dungloe.[5]
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.[6]
The local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) team is Naomh Mhuire CLG which covers the greater Lower Rosses area.[7] The local soccer team is Keadue Rovers.[8]
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.[9] The village was used as a location for the film American Women / The Closer You Get in 2000[10]
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.[11]
- "Rosses Community School . Dungloe . County Donegal". Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- "Naomh Mhuire / Lower Rosses". Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- "Kincasslagh Parish Newsletter, See website or below | MyLocalNews.ie - Keep Informed, Stay Connected !". Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- "Gweedore station" (PDF). Railscot – Irish Railways. Retrieved 15 October 2007.