Kinlough

Kinlough (/kɪnˈlɒx/ kin-LOKH; Irish: Cionn Locha, meaning "head of the lake") is a village in north County Leitrim. It lies between the Dartry Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, and between the River Duff and the River Drowes, at the head of Lough Melvin. It borders counties Donegal and Fermanagh and is near Yeats Country. It lies 2.5 miles from Bundoran, County Donegal, and across Lough Melvin from Garrison, County Fermanagh.

Kinlough Cionn Locha
Village
Kinlough village.
Kinlough Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 54°27′00″N 8°17′00″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	County Leitrim
Elevation	44 m (144 ft)
Population  (2016)[1]	1,032
Irish Grid Reference	G816557

Amenities

The village has a library, pre-school, montessori school, after school care, primary school, community pitch, community hall and folk museum, a Church of Ireland and a Catholic church, pubs, restaurants and take-aways.

Demographics

The village population stood at approximately 350 since the Great Hunger. Back in 1925, Kinlough village comprised 44 houses with 5 being licensed to sell alcohol.[2] The 2006 census showed an increase for the first time in one hundred and fifty years. The 2011 census figures showed the population at 1,018, an increase of 47% on 2006.[3]

Tourist attractions

The Glennans, Kinlough

Lough Melvin (Irish: Lough Meilbhe) is internationally renowned for its unique range of plants and animals. As well as its early run of Atlantic Salmon, the lake boasts three trout species including the legendary Giolla Rua. The first salmon of the year is caught regularly on the River Drowes which runs from the lake. Within the catchment area, the endangered globeflower, molinia meadows and sessile oak woodlands can be found. Lough Melvin straddles the border with part of it in Garrison, Co. Fermanagh. The view from the village looks up to The Dartry Mountain often mistakenly referred to as 'Aroo Mountain' probably because Aroo Lough is situated on the south side of the mountain. Ahanlish, Glenade and Truskmore Mountains are also visible.

Nearby at Glenade (about 7.5 miles south east) is Poll na mBear (Cave of the Bears) where some of the best preserved examples of Irish brown bear bones were recovered by cavers in May 1997.[4]

Education

The Four Masters School, is the village primary school.[5] It is named after the Annals of the Four Masters, historical writings produced by Irish historians of the early 17th century.

Transport

Kinlough is served by two Bus Éireann routes on Fridays for Route 483 to Sligo[6] and route 495 to Manorhamilton.[7] Both routes also provide a link between Kinlough, Bundoran and Ballyshannon.

Notable people

• James Kilfedder (16 July 1928 – 20 March 1995) was a Northern Ireland unionist politician.[8]

References

Primary references

1. "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Kinlough". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 2018-03-30.
2. Irish Free State 1925, pp. 31.
3. "Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Apr 2012. p. 47. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
4. McKenzie, Steven (2011-07-07). "BBC News - Polar bears have maternal Irish brown bear ancestors". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
5. Archived November 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
6. "Bus Éireann : Sligo - Ballintrillick - Ballyshannon : Timetable" (PDF). buseireann.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
7. "Bus Éireann : Ballshannon - Kinlough - Manorhamilton : Timetable" (PDF). buseireann.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
8. Tam Dalyell (1995-03-22). "OBITUARY:Sir James Kilfedder - People - News". The Independent. Retrieved 2015-02-27.

Secondary references

• Irish Free State (1925). Intoxicating Liquor Commission Report (Report). Reports of Committees. The Stationery Office. Retrieved 21 May 2017.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)