Knockbridge (Irish: Droichead an Chnoic)[2] is a village in County Louth, Ireland. It is located in the townland of Ballinlough (Baile an Locha) in the historical barony of Dundalk Upper.[2] As of the 2016 census, the village had a population of 667 people.[3] Knockbridge won a "best kept village" award in the 2008 Tidy Towns competition.[4]
Knockbridge
Irish: Droichead an Chnoic | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Knockbridge crossroads | |
  Knockbridge Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°58′N 6°29′W / 53.97°N 6.49°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Louth |
| Elevation | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Population | 667 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | H994037 |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 309 | — |
| 1991 | 292 | −5.5% |
| 1996 | 274 | −6.2% |
| 2002 | 335 | +22.3% |
| 2006 | 427 | +27.5% |
| 2011 | 583 | +36.5% |
| 2016 | 667 | +14.4% |
| [1][5][3] | ||
Facilities edit
The village is centred on a crossroads, where there is a pub and a shop. There are four housing estates, a Roman Catholic church and a large primary school in the village.
Stephenstown House, a large ruined Georgian house, once owned by a branch of the Fortescue family, stands beside the River Fane about a mile outside the village. Stephenstown Pond, about a hundred metres from the house, was redeveloped in the mid-1990s and is a public amenity. Stephenstown Pond has a conference centre and an 8,000 sq ft (740 m2) community enterprise space.[citation needed]
Knockbridge Church (St Mary's) has a number of Harry Clarke designed stained-glass windows.
History edit
The village takes its name from "Cnoic Bhríde" - Bridget's Hill - reputed to be a site connected with local Saint Bridget. Nearby is Clochafarmore, where the legendary hero Cú Chulainn is reputed to have died.[citation needed]
Sport edit
The village's Gaelic football team, St Bride's GFC, was founded by Séamus Quinn, the parish priest in 1927. The club plays in Páirc an Chuinnigh, which was bought as a memorial to Quinn who died in 1952. The grounds were opened on 1 May 1955. The club competes in the Louth Senior Division.
The local hurling club, Knockbridge GAA, has won the Louth Senior Hurling Championship twelve times.[6]
Location and transport edit
The village is situated 6.5 km (4.0 mi) south-west of Dundalk, the county town. The village is 75 km north of Dublin Airport. Bus Éireann provides bus routes to and from Knockbridge.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "SAPMAP Area - Settlement - Knockbridge". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office. April 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Droichead an Chnoic / Knockbridge". logainm.ie. Irish Placenames Commission. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Knockbridge (Ireland) Census Town". City Population. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "Knockbridge Tidy Towns - Best Kept Village Award 2008". knockbridgetidytown.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013.
- ^ "Knockbridge Village Design Statement, for Louth County Council" (PDF). Louth County Council. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Louth SHC: Title number 12 for impressive Knockbridge". Irish Examiner. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.