Grangecon

Grangecon (irish place name|Gráinseach Choinn|Granary of the Hound) is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It has a population of about 200 people, and is located between Baltinglass and Dunlavin.

History

While the name Grange Con is said to be of celtic origin the earliest recorded history of it is from the middle ages when the Abbot of Baltinglass Abbey had a castle built there.The monks are also said to have has a mill there powered by the local stream. Most of the surrounding land belonged to the Abbey at the time. [ [http://homepage.eircom.net/~grangecon/page23.html Monastic history] ] Following the dissolution of the Monasteries, Thomas Eustace was in 1541 made Viscount Baltinglass and granted the lands of the Abbey including the Castle and lands at Grangecon. These were forfeited in 1581 following a rebellion by the third Viscount and subsequently granted to Sir henry Harrington. It appears that these lands remained in the Harrington family for a number of generations. [ [http://homepage.eircom.net/~grangecon/page23.html Dissolution of the Monasteries] ] The house at Grangecon Demesne later became the seat of the O'Mahony clan and remained so until about 1930 when Pierce O'Mahony, the last "the O'Mahony died. See [ [http://homepage.eircom.net/~grangecon/page24.html Grangecon Demesne] ] for more detailed information about the O'Mahony connection with Grangecon.Some ruins of an older castle still exist in the grounds but these are quite minimal.Grangecon Demesne is now home to the well known Grangecon Stud, breeder of top grade thoroughbred racehorses. [ [http://www.grangecon-stud.com/home/ Grangecon Stud] ]

The Hall

Grangecon village is still known by many as "The Hall".

Geography

Location

The village is set in a valley, amid the low rolling hills of West Wicklow. The Wicklow Mountains are to the east, while to the west lie the lowlands of Kildare and the midlands.

Development

Property developers are showing an interest in the area. Local opposition and county council planning decisions have so far controlled building in the area. An Bórd Pleanála have recently overturned a decision by Wicklow County Council to grant planning permission for a development of large houses on an elevated site overlooking the main street of the village. This was as a result of an appeal by many local residents. [ [http://www.wicklow.ie/ePlan/InternetEnquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=066357 Wicklow Co. Council Planning Ref. 066357] ] [ [http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/224254.htm Appeal to An Bórd Pleanala] ]

Transport

Grangecon railway station opened on 1 Sept 1885, closed for passenger traffic on 27 January 1947, closed for goods traffic on 10 March 1947, and finally closed altogether on 1 April 1959. The station building and Station Master's house still exist today as private residences. Part of the original railway cutting can still be seen in the village, as can an original railway overbridge. There is little by way of public transport serving the village now apart from school buses and an occasional service by the Wicklow Rural Transport service.

Amenities

The village is well serviced for its size, and boasts two local pubs, one of which also serves as the local grocery store, though the local post office has been closed down. There is a small national school, and secondary education is available in several schools in all the nearby towns. A recently constructed Catholic church stands in the centre of the village, while there is a Church of Ireland church at Ballynure, a short distance away.

It is located in an area of mixed agriculture, and has a lot of bloodstock activity including the breeding and training of racehorses. The famous trainer of National Hunt horses, Paddy Sleator, had his establishment here as does current trainer Francis Flood. There are also several stud farms in the locality. [ [http://www.grangecon-stud.com/home/ Grangecon Stud] ] [ [http://www.barronstown.com/index.php Barronstown Stud] ]

See also

*List of towns and villages in Ireland

External links

* [http://homepage.eircom.net/~grangecon/Grangecon.htm Grangecon community website]

References