Hollywood, County Wicklow

Infobox Irish Place
name = Hollywood
gaeilge = Cillín Chaoimhín
crest

motto =
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pin coords = left: 30px; top: 47px
north coord = 53.09056
west coord = 6.601956
irish grid = N938055
area =
elevation = 186m (610 ft)
province = Leinster
county = County Wicklow
town pop =
rural pop =
census yr =
web =
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Hollywood (irish place name|Cillín Chaoimhín|Kevin's Little Church) is a village located in west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the Wicklow Gap road, near its junction with the N81 national secondary route. A population of less the 100 people registered in the 2002 Census, though the community draws from a larger area which consists of about 500 people.

Etymology

"Cillín Chaoimhín" is the associated Irish name for Hollywood; its literal translation being Kevin's Small Church. Another, older Irish name is "Cnoic Rua", literally meaning "Red Hill". This may be a reference to the red berries of holly trees on the hills above the village or it may in fact be a reference to the presence of Wicklow heather. Another possibility is that the original name for Hollywood may have been Holy Wood, as a reference to Saint Kevin's passage through.Fact|date=February 2007

History

The village has a long association with 6th Century Saint Kevin and many pilgrims passed through, following in Saint Kevin's footsteps, on their way to the monastic settlement at Glendalough, until the practice ceased in the early 1900s. Local landmarks include Saint Kevin's Chair, [ [http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/35 Saint Kevin's Chair] ] and Saint Kevin's Cave. [ [http://www.wicklownationalpark.ie/pages/park_kevinsbed_web.php Saint Kevin's Bed or Cave] ] Saint Kevin's Way is a 30km pilgrim path from Hollywood to Glendalough, and it is the good way to enjoy part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. [ [http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/outlook/contents6/10.html Pilgrim Paths] ] [ [http://www.wordwellbooks.com/book.php?id=289 St Kevin's Way (Medieval Irish Pilgrim Paths Series No. 2) Map Guide] ]

Surroundings

The Church of Ireland in the village church has a vaulted roof from the 17th century. About 3km northeast of the village is the picturesque Poulaphouca, where the Liffey cascades in three stages. The Poulaphouca Reservoir (also known as "Blessington Lakes"), which cover about 5,000 acres or 20 km², were formed 50 years ago by the building of the Poulaphouca Dam and hydroelectric power station, and today serve the purpose of providing the power and water that supply County Dublin.

The Bronze Age Piper's Stones, are 3.5 km to the southwest of Hollywood on the N81. [ [http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/1600 The Piper's Stones] ] The site is signposted.

Hollywood, like its namesake in California, has an illustrious past in the entertainment industry. It has provided the picturesque setting for some of the filming of several movies, including King Arthur, Dancing At Lughnasa, and Michael Collins.Fact|date=March 2008

Sports

Gaelic games play a strong role in the community, the local club being Hollywood GAA club who play in the Wicklow Senior Football Championship.

See also

* List of towns and villages in Ireland

References

External links

* [http://hollywood.wicklow.gaa.ie/ Hollywood GAA website]
* [http://www.visitwicklow.ie/towns/donard_glen-of-imaal_dunlavin_hollywood/index.htm Hollywood at Wicklow County Tourism]
* [http://www.discoverireland.com/ch-de/ireland-places-to-go/placefinder/h/hollywood-wicklow/ Hollywood at Discover Ireland]
* [http://ancestorsatrest.com/cemetery_records/st_kevins_church_cemetery_wicklow.shtml Genealogy death records for headstones in the Saint Kevin's Church cemetery]