Kilmeaden
Encyclopedia
Kilmeaden is a town in County Waterford
, Ireland
. It is on the N25 road
between Dungarvan, County Waterford and Waterford City. The town is 23 miles from Dungarvan and 5 miles from Waterford.
Kilmeaden shares its name with a world famous cheese brand that was, until 2005, produced in a factory in the heart of the village.
Kilmeaden is also the site of St. Mary's Church, a Church of Ireland
Chapel, located in the north-western part of the village, Old Kilmeaden, near the railway station, at the R680 road towards Carrick-On-Suir.
The school serving the Kilmeaden area is found in Ballyduff, a neighbouring village, which is also home to the Catholic Church of the area, St. Nicholas' Church. Both the GAA
and soccer teams of the area are also named Ballyduff Lower GAA
and Ballyduff AFC respectively.
. In recent years, a section of the line has been reopened as a tourist line, known as The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway.
As part of the new Waterford City bypass, Kilmeaden is now bypassed by a dual-carriageway section of the N25. This brings great relief to the previously overcrowded road through the village, now reclassified as R680.
outlet.
In 1964, all of the co-ops in Waterford amalgamated, and was registered as Waterford Co-op. This led to the construction of a cheese factory on a green field site opposite the general store, and Kilmeaden cheese was to become one of the most recognised and successful cheddar brands in the world. This is evident as the brand won a gold and bronze medal in the World Cheese Awards in London
in 2005. However, production of the cheese ceased at the Kilmeaden plant in 2005, and the production of Kilmeaden Cheese moved to Ballyragget, County Kilkenny
.
Kilmeaden is also the site of the East Waterford Water Treatment Plant. This plant, which is quite large, is operated by Waterford County Council and provides water mainly for Waterford City and the surrounding areas.
The area also has a small retail outlet in the Kilmeaden Village Centre, located directly on the R680 in the village. This building provides space for shops (details in facilities below) and also a few apartments for rent.
Kilmeaden is also home to Cullinagh Stables, a livery yard and working farm located on the banks of the River Dawn. Equipped with a cross country course, riverside treks and an art studio, the farm is also bordered by the historical remains of Fairbrook Mills and the Mill Street (former home to mill workers and their families).
Also on the banks of the River Dawn lies Fairbrook House and Gardens. Seven acres of a former woollen mill have been changed into a romantic walled garden by the Dutch artists Wout Muller and Clary Mastenbroek. Established in 1994 and it has evolved over the years. Stones from former buildings have been recycled into walls, raised borders, obelisks and magic standing stones. From May 2003 the small gallery has been extended as a museum, for contemporary figurative art.
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is on the N25 road
N25 road
The N25 road is a national primary road in Ireland, forming the route from Cork to Rosslare Europort via Waterford City. The road is part of the E30 European route and a short section is also part of the E01 European route...
between Dungarvan, County Waterford and Waterford City. The town is 23 miles from Dungarvan and 5 miles from Waterford.
Kilmeaden shares its name with a world famous cheese brand that was, until 2005, produced in a factory in the heart of the village.
Kilmeaden is also the site of St. Mary's Church, a Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
Chapel, located in the north-western part of the village, Old Kilmeaden, near the railway station, at the R680 road towards Carrick-On-Suir.
The school serving the Kilmeaden area is found in Ballyduff, a neighbouring village, which is also home to the Catholic Church of the area, St. Nicholas' Church. Both the GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
and soccer teams of the area are also named Ballyduff Lower GAA
Ballyduff Lower GAA
Ballyduff Lower GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Ballyduff Lower, County Waterford, Ireland. The club enters teams in both the Waterford Intermediate Hurling Championship and the Waterford Intermediate Football Championship.-Underage:...
and Ballyduff AFC respectively.
Transport
Kilmeaden, lying in a linear pattern along the R680 (former N25 section), was in the last century home to a train station on the line from Waterford City to Mallow Junction in County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. In recent years, a section of the line has been reopened as a tourist line, known as The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway.
As part of the new Waterford City bypass, Kilmeaden is now bypassed by a dual-carriageway section of the N25. This brings great relief to the previously overcrowded road through the village, now reclassified as R680.
Industry
Throughout much of the twentieth century, Kilmeaden was also home to a very successful co-operative. The farmers of the area benefited greatly from the sale of their produce (mostly butter and milk) to the co-op, and as it expanded, a general store was opened in May 1920, which is still present today as a CentraCentra
Centra is a convenience store chain in Ireland.The chain is run by Musgrave, the Irish food wholesaler, however the stores are all owned by individual franchisees. The chain has three different formats available to franchisees — smaller Quick Stop outlets, mid-sized Foodmarkets, and larger...
outlet.
In 1964, all of the co-ops in Waterford amalgamated, and was registered as Waterford Co-op. This led to the construction of a cheese factory on a green field site opposite the general store, and Kilmeaden cheese was to become one of the most recognised and successful cheddar brands in the world. This is evident as the brand won a gold and bronze medal in the World Cheese Awards in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 2005. However, production of the cheese ceased at the Kilmeaden plant in 2005, and the production of Kilmeaden Cheese moved to Ballyragget, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
.
Kilmeaden is also the site of the East Waterford Water Treatment Plant. This plant, which is quite large, is operated by Waterford County Council and provides water mainly for Waterford City and the surrounding areas.
The area also has a small retail outlet in the Kilmeaden Village Centre, located directly on the R680 in the village. This building provides space for shops (details in facilities below) and also a few apartments for rent.
Attractions
The world famous Mount Congreve estate lies just outside the village, on the Old Kilmeaden Road. Owned and run by the late Mr. Ambrose Congreve (1907-2011), Mount Congreve is famous the world over for its rare species of plants and also its plant nurseries. It consists of around seventy acres of intensively planted woodland garden and a four acre walled garden. In addition there are a 18th-century house (the ancestral home of Mr. Congreve), ranges of glashouses, more than 16 miles of paths and a wholesale nursery. After Mr. Congreves death the Mount Congreve estate was left to the Irish State. Whilst the gardens are open to the public, the house is not as yet.Kilmeaden is also home to Cullinagh Stables, a livery yard and working farm located on the banks of the River Dawn. Equipped with a cross country course, riverside treks and an art studio, the farm is also bordered by the historical remains of Fairbrook Mills and the Mill Street (former home to mill workers and their families).
Also on the banks of the River Dawn lies Fairbrook House and Gardens. Seven acres of a former woollen mill have been changed into a romantic walled garden by the Dutch artists Wout Muller and Clary Mastenbroek. Established in 1994 and it has evolved over the years. Stones from former buildings have been recycled into walls, raised borders, obelisks and magic standing stones. From May 2003 the small gallery has been extended as a museum, for contemporary figurative art.