Rathangan, County Kildare

Infobox Irish Place
name = Rathangan
gaeilge = Ráth Iomgháin
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 33px; top: 49px
north coord = 53.221
west coord = 6.9935
irish grid = N668196
area =
elevation =
province = Leinster
county = County Kildare
town pop = 1,718
rural pop =
census yr = 2006
web = www.rathangan.ie|

Rathangan ( _ga. Ráth Iomgháin) is a town in the west of County Kildare, Ireland, with a population of 1,718 [ [http://beyond2020.cso.ie/Census/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=12480 CSO 2006 census population by town] ] . It is located km to mi | 65 | abbr=yes | precision=0 from the centre of Dublin, and km to mi | 14 | abbr=yes | precision=0 from Kildare, at the intersection of the R401, R414, and R419 regional roads [ [http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.220321,-6.996231&spn=0.042551,0.10643&z=13 Google Map showing Rathangan] ] . The Slate River and the Grand Canal run through the town.

Rathangan is situated beside the Bog of Allen, and is in close proximity to the lowlands of the Curragh. In recent years, the town has grown significantly to become a big commuter base for people working in Dublin.

History

The rath or fort of "Iomghain", from which the town gets its name, has been dated to between 600 and 700 AD, and is situated to the northwest of the modern town on the Clonbulloge road [ [http://www.rathangan.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57&Itemid=60] A Ramble In Rathangan, Seamus Kelly, 2005] . The extension of the Grand Canal to Monasterevin and Athy in the late 18th century led to the current layout of the town, due to the building of houses for the canal engineers which were complemented by grander houses for the local gentry [ [http://www.kildare.ie/tourism/towns/rathangan.asp Kildare.ie histoy of Rathangan] ] .

Bord na Móna's increased activity in the 1940s boosted the population and the number of transient workers, but the closure of the canal systems and the decline of bog based interests of the company led to a decline in the town's fortunes. This in turn led to an increase in emigration by the town's young people.

The upturn of Ireland's economy in the 1990s again led to increased prosperity, and the extension of the M7 through the nearby towns of Kildare and Monasterevin has made Dublin more accessible, leading to a housing boom in the town.

Sports

The primary sporting activities in Rathangan are Gaelic football (Rathangan GAA), tennis, soccer, and hurling (cricket, rugby, polo, and chess are also played). "Meggers", or horseshoe pitching, also takes place during the summer. Rathangan is famed for coarse angling for roach, bream, perch, and hybrids. Trout have been caught in the Slate River on occasion.

Culture

The Rathangan Lughnasa festival is held during the August Bank Holiday weekend [ [http://www.rathanganlughnasafestival.com/ Rathangan Lughnasa Summer Festival 2006] ] , to celebrate the arts and crafts, music, literature, history, and sports of the town. Damien Dempsey, Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, The Blizzards, The Walls, Jack L, and John Spillane have all performed in the town as part of the Lughnasa since 2004.

People

*Brian Dowling; winner of Big Brother in 2002, ex-presenter of SMTV, and presenter of The Mint [ [http://www.briandowling.biz/?page=body_bio Brian Dowling Biography] ] .

See also

* List of towns in Ireland.
* Rathangan GAA.
* Bog of Allen.

References

External links

* [http://www.rathangan.info/ Rathangan community website]
* [http://www.rathanganlughnasafestival.com/index.htm Rathangan Lughnasa Festival website]
* [http://www.rathangan.ie/ Kildare County Council website for Rathangan]