Kilcar
| Kilcar Irish: Cill Charthaigh | |
| County Donegal | |
|---|---|
 Kilcar from the hill | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | G614763 |
| Location: | 54°37’57"N, 8°35’34"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 258 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
| Dáil constituency: |
Donegal |
Kilcar is a Gaeltacht village on the R263 regional road in the south-west of County Donegal. It is also a townland of 233 acres and a civil parish in the Barony of Banagh.[1]
The village itself consists of a main street with a Roman Catholic church (known locally as 'the Chapel') at one end and two textile factories at the other end. In between there are several shops and four pubs. The village has the principal tweed hand weaving facility in Donegal, with a shop Studio Donegal selling tweed products. Kilcar is also known for its tradition in knitting. There is also a producer of seaweed based cosmetic products.
The primary school is about 800 yards from the Main Street, and the parish of Kilcar stretches to the burn which separates it from the next village, Carrick, which is about three miles away.
Located close to the Slieve League cliffs, the town is known for the scenic coastal landscapes and the musical and cultural traditions.
Culture
Áislann Chill Chartha is a community facility which includes a library, sports hall (basketball and indoor football), a fitness suite, computer centre, and small theatre.[2] It also has exhibits based on the history of South West Donegal and exhibitions of historic local photographs. It is located beside Studio Donegal.
St. Cartha's Pipe Band was formed in Kilcar in 1934. The band competed in their first All Ireland Pipe Band Championships in 2009. At the Malahide piping and drumming festival of the same year, the band finished second in their grade. The bands uniform consists of a saffron kilt and green tunic.
About 22% of residents are native Irish speakers.
Sport and outdoor activities
- Gaelic games: CLG Chill Chartha. Gaelic football is among the more popular sports in Kilcar: the GAA pitch at Towney is located a mile outside the village on the coast road.
In the townland of Muckross which is a location for tourists due to its scenery, visitors enjoy rock climbing, a surfing beach and a family bathing beach, two miles east of the village on the coast road.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Kilcar) |