Coolkenno

Coolkenno (Irish: Cuil Chaonaigh) is a small rural linear settlement situated at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains midway between Tullow in County Carlow and Shillelagh in County Wicklow.

The village is served by Ballyconnell National School (2.5 km) and Tullow Community School (8 km). Local monuments include the ruined Clonmore Castle, Rath Gall hilltop ring fort, and Saint Finian's monastery at Aghowle. Mount Wolsley Hilton golf course is 8 km away at Tullow and Rathwood Home and Garden Centre is 3 km away. The local pub is Byrnes; a second pub, The Fleece (formerly Fannings Bar), is now closed.

Coolkenno GAA History

The hurling club Killinure Emmets, were the earlier starters of hurling around the Shillelagh district. Coolkenno are also believed to have represented the area as well as Ballyraheen and Derry Rovers. From the beginning of the century, however, “Shillelagh” dominated as the name of the district team.

The history of local football goes back much further than 1980. In 1890 Crecrin Harps played Graiguecullen in the County Carlow final. The Harps men were beaten by a one point scored between two posts which were beside the goal. Crecrin's top defender, Jim Carthy, moved up in attack, Graiguecullen managed to get the ball and sent it over his head and Jim was left stranded. A Graiguecullen player got the ball and with his chance he scored the only point of the match. John Lennon of Knockballystine was captain that day and his team mates were Joe Lennon King’s Cross, William Doyle Coolmanagh ,John and Edward O’Brien Crecrin, Michael and Pat Treacy, Michael Donaghue, Martin Keogh, Pat Murphy, John Sheppard, Jim Kennedy, Charlie Breen , Pat Mulhall The Rock . Patrick O’Neill, Knockeen. Pat and John Bolger , John Condron, Kilquiggan Pat Timmons and Jim ‘Red’ Tyrrell, Killinure , and of course Jim Carthy, Knockballystine. As can be seen football teams had 21 players in those days.

In 1897 Killinure arrived and beat Shillelagh in their first match. The team was also present in 1913 as well but the club disappeared again in late 1914. After the 1921 War of Independence treaty the team restarted and in 1924 it was beaten by Rathdangan in the County Junior Football Final. The club eventually fizzled out due to age increasing, decrease of youth and high emigration from Killinure and Coolkenno.

The present club in Coolkenno was founded in 1980 by local Gaelic enthusiasts and it took a seventeen years for major success when the club won its first county title, the Junior B Football Championship, in Baltinglass in December 1997. the original lineup consisted of Jack Bowes, Bob Doyle, John Byrne, Seamus Doyle, Finn Doyle, Mylie Keogh, Pat Whelan, John Keogh and others.

Football however has always enjoyed more popularity locally than hurling or any other sport To date, the club has progressed at an astounding rate, 1999 saw promotion to intermediate ranks. Coolkenno won the county intermediate title in 2002, beating St. Pats of Wicklow Town in the county final at Aughrim.The New Football pitch was completed in 2003-2004 and holds a modern clubhouse and gym.

Coolkenno also has produced players for the Wicklow Senior Team such as Donald Jackman, Paddy Dalton and Steven Cushe.

Coolkenno is also the locality where Christabel Bielenburg and her husband, Peter, resided from 1948 until their deaths in the early 2000s. Christabel was the author of two novels, The Past is Myself and The Road Ahead about her journeys of fleeing Nazi Germany.

Coordinates: 52°47′N 6°36′W / 52.783°N 6.6°W / 52.783; -6.6