Kilkieran

Cill Chiaráin (anglicized as Kilkieran) is a coastal village in the Connemara area of County Galway in Ireland. The R340 passes through Cill Chiaráin.

Cill Chiaráin lies in a ''Gaeltacht'' region (Irish language, Irish-speaking area), and ''Coláiste Sheoisaimh'' hosts Irish language courses within the village.

Name

The village is named after Ciarán of Saighir, Saint Ciarán, "Cill Chiaráin" translates to "Ciarán's church" from Irish. It shares its name with a second Cill Chiaráin in County Kilkenny.

History

On St Ciarán's feast day, there is a Pattern (devotional), Pattern Day in honour of the saint held in the village. Organised by the local festival committee, Coiste Fhéile Chill Chiaráin, there is a Roman Catholic Mass of Paul VI, Mass performed at the well which St Ciarán blessed back in the 6th century.

Amenities

Cill Chiaráin has a number of facilities and public buildings, including a health centre, a "gastropub" (''Tigh Chadhain''), local supermarket, a national school, community hall, church and fish factory.

The Arramara Teo seaweed factory is also nearby. The company was previously Irish owned, but has since been bought by a Canadian company.

The village also has a children's playground and the Páirc Peile Chill Chiaráin (artificial turf, artificial pitch) which opened in 2015. The pitch is used by the local Gaelic Athletic Association, GAA team, Carna-Cashel, and the athletics club.

See also

* List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland, List of towns and villages in Ireland

References

{{County Galway

Towns and villages in County Galway
Gaeltacht places in County Galway
Gaeltacht towns and villages