Cionn Caslach (anglicized as Kincasslagh) is a small

Gaeltacht ( , , ) are the districts of Ireland, individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home. The ''Gaeltacht'' districts were first officially recog ...

seaside village in the Rosses area of

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

, 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.

Name

Kincasslagh Peninsula - Pier and tower at NW end - geograph

Kincasslagh Peninsula - Julia O'Donnell's home - geograph

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. Belcruit - St Mary's Catholic Church - geograph

Belcruit - St Mary's Catholic Church - geograph

Language

Kincasslagh is in the

region which means the official language of the area is Irish. However, the use of the language has been in decline since the 1950s. There are very few Irish-speakers in Kincasslagh today, much like neighbouring villages Mullaghduff and

Burtonport or (English name: Burtonport) is a fishing village about northwest of Dungloe in The Rosses district of County Donegal, Ireland. The main employers in the village were the Burtonport Fishermen's Co-op and the ''Bord Iascaigh Mhara Bord ...

History

Kincasslagh has a long history of emigration, much like the rest of West Donegal. 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 Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

), the USA and Australia.

Education

The local primary school is the Irish language ''Scoil Náisiúnta Béal na Cruite'' with 112 pupils, and the nearest secondary school is ''Rosses Community School'' in Dungloe.

Local amenities

There is only one public house in the village Iggy's, and the one grocery shop,

The Cope The Cope, or the Templecrone Agricultural Co-operative Society ( ga, Comharchumann Talmhaíochta agus Sóisialta Theampall Cróine), is a co-operative retail chain indigenous to The Rosses area of County Donegal in Ireland. Founded in 1906, it ...

, 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 Cruit Island ( or ''Oileán na Cruite'') is a small inhabited island in the Rosses region of County Donegal, Ireland. It is linked to the mainland by bridge. Culture Cruit Island has a strong musical heritage. Local musician Seán McBride wrote ...

, which boasts a very popular golf course.

Sport

The local

Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ga, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include the traditional ...

(GAA) team is ''Naomh Mhuire CLG'' which covers the greater Lower Rosses area. The local soccer team is Keadue Rovers.

Arts

Kincasslagh is probably best known for being the birthplace of singers

Margo *** People * Margo (actress) (1917–1985), Mexican-American actress and dancer * Margo (magician), American magic performer and actress * Margo (singer), Irish singer * Margo (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name P ...

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. The village was used as a location for the film American Women / The Closer You Get in 2000

Transport

Kincasslagh is situated five kilometres from Donegal International Airport.

Kincasslagh Road railway station Kincasslagh Road railway station was a halt which served the townland of Meenbanad in County Donegal, Ireland. The halt was located on the northern shore of Lough Atercan, at the level crossing on the road to Kincasslagh, 3 miles away. The sta ...

, five kilometres south, was open from 1913 until 1940 when the Derry and Lough Swilly Railway closed the line due to financial difficulties.

References

{{Authority control Gaeltacht places in County Donegal Gaeltacht towns and villages The Rosses Towns and villages in County Donegal