Kinnitty
Kinnitty
Irish: Cionn Eitigh | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Kinnitty Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°06′00″N 7°43′00″W / 53.1°N 7.716667°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Offaly |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Urban | 359 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | N184053 |
Kinnitty (Irish: Cionn Eitigh)[1] is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is located 13 km east of Birr on the R440 and R421 regional roads.
Name and location
The village derives its name from the myth that the head of an ancient princess is buried beneath the village, Ceann being Irish for head and Eitigh being the name of the princess. The village is situated at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the ancient kingdom of Éile.
Amenities
Kinnitty is served by a primary school, two churches, a post office, a community centre, children's playground, two pubs, some shops,a number of bed and breakfasts and a hotel(the modern day use of Kinnitty Castle). Kinnitty Forest or Glenregan Forest [2] is ran by coillte and is located near the village.
Buildings
Uniquely there is a pyramid shaped tomb in the grounds of the St Finian's Church. The Pyramid was built by the Bernard family who resided in Kinnitty Castle, on the site of St. Finnian's monastery. The 9th century the high cross is located at the front of Kinnitty Castle which is now a leading Irish Castle Hotel.
Notable people
- Rex Ingram, the Hollywood director, and his brother, Colonel Francis Clere Hitchcock MC, spent most of their early life here where their father was the parish rector. (The "Old Rectory" now a private home, can be seen from the Roscrea Road opposite the Church of Ireland.)
