Valleymount

Infobox Irish Place
name = Valleymount
gaeilge = Moin an Bhealaigh
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 43px; top: 37px
north coord = 53.105763
west coord = 6.525068
irish grid = N984072
area =
elevation = 218 m
province = Leinster
county = County Wicklow
town pop =
census yr =
web =

Valleymount (Irish: "Moin an Bhealaigh" or also "An Chrois") is a small village in west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is near the neighbouring villages of Hollywood, Ballymore Eustace, Blessington, Ballyknockan and Lacken.

Buildings

The most notable building is the church which of a Mexican style. The design was created when immigrants adapted their own style to that of the local area. Another building of note is Valleymount House, a stone building that was the town's one and only shop until it closed down in 2006. Another building of importance in Valleymount is the the pub "The Star Inn"."

The Star Inn

The pub was established around 1836 and switched owners in 1947 to Edward O'Connor and his wife Julia. The current proprietor is Leo O'Connor the son of Edward who took over the business in 1985 and refurbished the premises in 1996.

The Inn is apparently named after the Morning Star that could be seen from the entrance. [http://oconnorsvalleymount.com]

GAA

Honours won include: [http://wicklow.gaa.ie/Clubs/Valleymount04.htm]
*Intermediate Football Championship 1952-1964-1978-1989
*Junior Football Championship "A" 1963-1998
*Minor Football Championship 1951
*Junior Hurling Championship 1988
*Intermediate Hurling Championship 1989Rugby player Brian Carney played Gaelic football for the Valleymount GAA club and won a junior championship medal in 1998 with the club. Seán Carney won the Trench Cup with the University of Ulster Coleraine in 1997 as well the British Universities Railway Cup in 1999 as player/ manager. A Senior B championship in New York with Derry GFC followed in 2005.Fact|date=April 2008.

Location

Valleymount is at an average of 218 feet above sea level and is situated on the R758 regional road. It is serviced by the Dublin Bus 65 route which connects to Dublin twice daily (Mon - Fri). The village is on a land spit created by the flooding of the River Liffey and the Kings river in the late-1930s and early-1940s for the Poulaphouca Dam project. The Poulaphouca project now supplies water to the Greater Dublin Area and electricity to the ESB national grid. The Valleymount Spur of St Kevin's Way, the pilgrim route to the ancient monastery site at Glendalough runs through Valleymount village. Another spur runs from the nearby village of Hollywood to Glendalough.

Townlands

There are numerous townlands in the area of Valleymount, some of which are: Ballyknockan, (The) Togher, Monamuck, Valleymount (or Cross), Humphrystown, Lockstown Upper, Lockstown Lower, Baltyboys Upper, Baltyboys Lower, Rathballylong, Annacarney, Blackditches Upper, Blackditches Lower, Carrigacurra, Lugnagroagh, Tulfarris, Granabeg Upper, Granabeg Lower, etc. Nearby (to the NE) is the 'lost' townland of Ballinahown which was completely flooded by the Poulaphouca project in the late-1930s and early-1940s

Businesses

The village houses the following businesses or associations: The Star Inn, Table.ie [http://table.ie/] , St.Joseph's Primary School, The Catholic Church, Valleymount Cars. [http://www.valleymountcars.ie/contentv3/] Valleymount GAA [http://wicklow.gaa.ie/Clubs/Valleymount04.htm]

Films

Braveheart was filmed on location near Valleymount. The film starred the Oscar winning actor Mel Gibson. A consequence of the project was the creation of a road around the lake called Braveheart Drive. Some scenes of P.S. I Love You were filmed in the Valleymount area.

References

* http://oconnorsvalleymount.com
* http://wicklow.gaa.ie/Clubs/Valleymount04.htm
* http://table.ie/
* http://www.valleymountcars.ie