Kilcullen

This article is about the town. For the Australian Army officer, see David Kilcullen.

Kilcullen (Cill Chuilinn in Irish) is a small town in County Kildare, Ireland. Its population of 2,985 (2006 Census) makes it the 12th largest settlement in County Kildare and the fastest growing in the county, having doubled in population from 1,483 in the census of 2002. It is situated in the Barony of Kilcullen.

Location

Kilcullen is situated near the main Dublin to Waterford road, the N9 between Naas and Kilkenny and is centered on the crossroads of the R413 and R448 regional roads. (The R448 was part of the main road from Dublin to Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford until the M9 motorway was opened in 1995, bypassing the town).

Kilcullen straddles the River Liffey and is about Template:Km to mi from Dublin. The six-arch bridge over the Liffey was last reconstructed c. 1850, and renovated and widened in the early 1970's. At the western edge of the town is the Pinkeen Stream, a minor tributary of the Liffey.

The town comprises one main street, with a few connecting roads. The main street slopes from the Newbridge Road down to the Liffey, and back up again, more steeply, in the direction of Old Kilcullen. Schools and churches are concentrated at the western edge, businesses spread along the main street and near the old market square, and the town hall and theatre and a bank lie just to the east of the bridge.

History

The town, officially known, and mapped, as Kilcullen Bridge, developed after 1319 when a bridge was constructed here across the River Liffey, taking over from a previous hilltop settlement, itself related to the former home of the Kings of Leinster, Dun Aillaine. It was influenced for much of its history by the Eustace family, one of whose seats was at Castlemartin.

In 1837, the town had a population of 699, one principal street of 112 buildings, chiefly on the western bank of the Liffey, a market on Saturdays and fairs on February 2nd, March 25th, June 22nd, September 8th and 29th, October 2nd and December 8th. There was a police station and a dispensary, and petty sessions were held.

Historic houses and churches

On a hill around three kilometres east from Kilcullen (Bridge) is the site of the original settlement, now known as Old Kilcullen, featuring an historic church and graveyard[1], with an extant round tower.

Old Kilcullen relates closely to the old site of the palace of the Kings of Leinster at Dun Aillaine. Local groups have constructed an interpretative site for Dun Aillaine at Nicholastown, adjacent to the modern town centre, and it will be informally launched at the Spring Equinox, and formally on June 22 2008.

To the west of the town is Castlemartin Estate, where, to the north west, is Castlemartin House. This 18th century mansion, said to have around thirty rooms, was the principal home of Tony O'Reilly for many years, and now that he is tax-resident in the Bahamas, is the second home for himself and his wife, Lady Chryss Goulandris, and the place where the whole O'Reilly family gathers for Christmas. The house is successor to a series of older dwellings, perhaps dating back to the 13th century. The estate also includes St. Mary's Church ("Castlemartin Chapel"), a dependent chapel of Kilcullen Church, founded c. 1200, now in ruins, and a number of other houses. Two of these, and outlying buildings, opening off Main Street, are to be redeveloped as apartments, restaurants and shops, with permission granted on February 15th 2008. While the estate itself is largely closed to the public, the new development is required to be without gates.

Kilcullen has an early church of its own, perhaps 1km outside the town, the New Abbey, surrounded by a church- and grave-yard and featuring some notable tombstones.

Community and amenities

On a number of occasions from the mid-20th century, community groups have been formed, most notably Kilcullen Community Council and the current formation, Killcullen Community Action (KCA). These groups have achieved much for the town, including the establishment, and preservation under charitable trustees, of the Valley Community Park, which runs along the River Liffey and nearby roads.

Kilcullen is a parish in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland.

Sport

• Kilcullen is about Template:Km to mi from the Curragh, the center of Ireland's horse racing industry and is home to the Aga Khan's horse breeding operation, the Gilltown Stud, and to stud and cattle breeding operations belonging to Tony O'Reilly and his wife.
• Kilcullen GAA is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club.

Trivia

The seats in Kilcullen's local cinema are all seats from Volvo S80 cars. Nobody leaves before the end of a play.

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Kildare)
• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

External links

• A Kilcullen Diary edited by journalist Brian Byrne

53°08′N 6°45′W