Valleymount
Encyclopedia
Valleymount is a small village in western County Wicklow
, Ireland
. Neighbouring villages are Hollywood
, Ballymore Eustace
, Blessington
, Ballyknockan
and Lacken
.
. The village is on a land spit created by the flooding of the River Liffey
and its primary tributary the King's 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.
It is serviced by the Dublin Bus
65 route which connects to Dublin twice daily (Mon - Fri).
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.
s 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, Knocknadruce and Knocknadruce Upper. 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
style, a design 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.
The Inn is apparently named after the Morning Star
that could be seen from the entrance.
Rugby player Brian Carney played Gaelic football
for the Valleymount GAA
club and won a junior championship medal in 1998 with the club.
was filmed on location near Valleymount. The film starred the Oscar winning actor Mel Gibson
and a consequence of the project was the creation of a route around the lake called Braveheart Drive. Some scenes of P.S. I Love You
were filmed in the Valleymount area.
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, 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,...
. Neighbouring villages are Hollywood
Hollywood, County Wicklow
Hollywood, historically known as Killinkeyvin , is a village in west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the Wicklow Gap road, near its junction with the N81 national secondary road...
, Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin...
, Blessington
Blessington
Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen , is a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.- History :...
, Ballyknockan
Ballyknockan
Ballyknockan or Ballynockan is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. Ballyknockan has been known for the granite quarries that have existed since the early 19th century. Ballyknockan holds the Ballyknockan Music Festival annually each summer.-See also:...
and Lacken
Lacken
Lacken may refer to:* Lacken, Austria* Lacken, Belgium* Lacken, County Mayo, Ireland* Lacken, County Wexford, Ireland* Lacken, County Wicklow, Ireland...
.
Location and transport
Valleymount is at an average of 198m above sea level and is situated on the R758 regional roadRegional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
. The village is on a land spit created by the flooding of the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
and its primary tributary the King's River in the late-1930s and early-1940s for the Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
Dam project. The Poulaphouca project now supplies water to the Greater Dublin Area
Greater Dublin Area
Greater Dublin Area , or simply Greater Dublin, is a term which is used to describe the city of Dublin and various counties in the hinterland of the city in Ireland. The term has no basis in law and no local government, department of government or agency of the state is bound by the term...
and electricity to the ESB
ESB
- Organizations :*ESB Reutlingen, a business school of the Reutlingen University in Germany*ESB Customer Supply, the incumbent retail supplier of electricity in Ireland*ESB Group, a multinational energy group based in Ireland...
national grid.
It is serviced by the Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus is a public transport operator in Ireland. It operates an extensive bus network of 172 radial, cross-city and peripheral routes and 18 night routes in the city of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area. The company, established in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann which is...
65 route which connects to Dublin twice daily (Mon - Fri).
The Valleymount Spur of St Kevin's Way, the pilgrim route to the ancient monastery site at Glendalough
Glendalough
Glendalough or Glendaloch is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and partly destroyed in 1398 by English troops....
runs through Valleymount village. Another spur runs from the nearby village of Hollywood to Glendalough.
Townlands
There are numerous townlandTownland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
s 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, Knocknadruce and Knocknadruce Upper. 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
Buildings
The most notable building is the church which of a MexicanMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
style, a design 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.
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
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
that could be seen from the entrance.
GAA
Honours won include:- Intermediate Football Championship 1952-1964-1978-1989
- Junior Football Championship "A" 1963-1998
- Minor Football Championship 1951
- Junior Hurling Championship 1988
- Intermediate Hurling Championship 1989
Rugby player Brian Carney played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
for the Valleymount 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...
club and won a junior championship medal in 1998 with the club.
Films
BraveheartBraveheart
Braveheart is a 1995 epic historical drama war film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The film was written for the screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace...
was filmed on location near Valleymount. The film starred the Oscar winning actor Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
and a consequence of the project was the creation of a route around the lake called Braveheart Drive. Some scenes of P.S. I Love You
P.S. I Love You (film)
P.S. I Love You is a 2007 American drama film directed by Richard LaGravenese. The screenplay by LaGravenese and Steven Rogers is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Cecelia Ahern. The film is dedicated to the memory of producer Molly Smith's sister Windland Smith Rice.-Plot:Holly and Gerry...
were filmed in the Valleymount area.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland