Lacken, County Wicklow

Last updated

Lacken
An Leacain
Lackan
Townland
View from the beach at Pollaphuca reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 396270.jpg
View of Pollaphuca Reservoir from Lacken townland
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Lacken
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°08′01″N6°28′41″W / 53.13361°N 6.47806°W / 53.13361; -6.47806
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County County Wicklow
Population
 (2011) [1]
200
Time zone UTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference O005111

Lacken or Lackan (Irish : An Leacain) [2] is a townland and small village in the west of County Wicklow, Ireland, located on the shores of the Blessington lakes and western edge of the Wicklow Mountains.

Contents

Lacken in situated on the Blessington 'Lake Drive' and is sometimes noted for its view across the lake. [3] The area has been used as a location for a number of number of films, including Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), This Is My Father (1999) and P.S. I Love You (2007). [4]

As of the 2011 census of Ireland, the townland had a population of 200 people. [1]

History

Built heritage

Evidence of ancient settlement in the townland includes holy well, bullaun stone and ecclesiastical enclosure sites. [5] [6] The local Catholic church, Our Lady Of Mount Carmel church, is in the parish of Valleymount and was built in 1811. [7]

Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lacken.jpg
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

A primary school was built in Lacken in 1869, and later converted to become a community centre. [4] A new primary school was built and opened in January 2011, [8] and (as of 2013) had an enrollment of 71 pupils. [9]

A post office was opened in Lacken on 4 September 1951 as a sub-office to Blessington, [10] but has since closed.

RAF crash

At approximately 04:34am on 18 April 1941, a Handley Page Hampden aircraft (Registration AD730) [11] [12] got lost in bad weather and crashed on nearby Black Hill (Kilbeg) [13] killing its entire crew of four. All of the crew were under the age of 23. [14]

The plane was one of seven aircraft which had departed RAF Lindholme, North Yorkshire the previous evening around 20.15pm on a bombing mission to Berlin. [11] On the return leg, AD730 went missing. Lack of visibility, bad weather or failure of equipment due to technical or atmospheric problems have all been given as possible reasons for the plane going off course. [11] The plane crashed in an almost inaccessible part of remote bog [14] [12] on Black Hill and it took searchers two days to find the remains of all four crew members. [11] It appeared that death would have been instantaneous as the crew had not even been aware to put on parachutes. [14] Full military funerals took place on Tuesday 22 April 1941 at St. Mary’s Church, Blessington, by order of the Irish Government. [12] In attendance was a Mr. Leywood of the British Legation, who had arrived in Blessington on Sunday 20th and visited the scene of the crash. [14] The Irish Times the day after reported that “During the funeral all shops in Blessington were closed and blinds drawn on windows.” [12] A memorial stone was unveiled at the crash site on 18 April 1991 [14] [11] and the crew are remembered in the prayers of the congregation of St. Mary’s on every anniversary of the crash. [14] The crew included wireless operator/gunner Sgt. Frederick Henry Erdwin, navigator Sgt. John Thompson Lamb, WOp/Gunner Sgt. Stanley Wright, and pilot officer John Kenneth Hill. [11]

Mass path

Lacken Mass Path Lacken Mass Path Aug 24.jpg
Lacken Mass Path

Lacken Mass path is a walking trail that is accessible from the village. [15] The trail follows a signposted route to Lugnagun and unmarked tracks and Coillte forestry roads to Sorrel Hill and Black Hill. [16]

Filming location

The following films have been filmed, in part, in the Lacken area: [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballyheigue</span> Seaside resort in County Kerry, Ireland

Ballyheigue, officially Ballyheige, is a coastal town and civil parish in County Kerry, Ireland. It is 18 km (11 mi) northwest of Tralee along the R551 road. It is a scenic locale which forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way and has several miles of beaches that connect to Banna Strand to the south, and Kerry Head to the north. Local events include the "Half on the Head" (Kerryhead) half marathon in June and an annual summer festival in July.

Events from the year 1941 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Brandon</span> Mountain in Kerry, Ireland

Mount Brandon or Brandon, at 952 metres (3,123 ft), is one of the ten highest peaks in Ireland, being the 8th–highest peak in Ireland on the Arderin list, and the 9th–highest on the Vandeleur-Lynam list. Brandon is the highest Irish mountain outside the MacGillycuddy's Reeks range and has the greatest prominence of any Irish peak except Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessington</span> Town in western County Wicklow, Ireland

Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen, is a town on the River Liffey in County Wicklow, Ireland, near the border with County Kildare. It is around 25 km south-west of Dublin, and is situated on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow. The town is in a townland and civil parish of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilcoole</span> Town in County Wicklow, Ireland

Kilcoole is a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of Greystones, 14 km (9 mi) north of Wicklow, and about 28 km (17 mi) south of Dublin. The town is in a townland and civil parish of the same name. Kilcoole was used as a filming location for the Irish television series Glenroe, which ran through the 1980s and 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killamery</span> Village in County Kilkenny, Ireland

Killamery is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Located near the County Tipperary border, it is in a townland and civil parish of the same name. Killamery lies on the N76 national secondary road, halfway between Kilkenny to the northeast and Clonmel to the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood, County Wicklow</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Hollywood is a village in west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is 15 km (9 mi) south of Naas on the Wicklow Gap road near its junction with the N81 road. It is known for its pre-1950s themed fair which takes place in August of every year. A population of less than 100 people registered in the 2002 Census, though the community draws from a larger area which consists of about 500 people. The village is in a civil parish of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilmihil</span> Village in County Clare, Ireland

Kilmihil is a village in the Barony of Clonderlaw, west County Clare, Ireland. It is also a civil parish and an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. The area was officially classified as part of the West Clare Gaeltacht; an Irish-speaking community; until 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poulaphouca Reservoir</span> Dam in County Wicklow

Poulaphouca Reservoir, officially Pollaphuca, is an active reservoir and area of wild bird conservation in west County Wicklow, Ireland named after the Poulaphouca waterfall on its south-western end where the water exits the lake. The lake is also commonly known as the Blessington Lakes, even though there is just one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacken, County Wexford</span> Townland in Ireland

Lacken is a townland about two miles outside the town of New Ross in County Wexford, Ireland. It is located in the civil parish of Oldross and the electoral division of Whitemoor. Central to the area is Lacken Hill, a hill planted with a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees which has a public walk-way up through the wood. The area is used by walkers and cyclists and there are numerous paths and tracks in the wood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valleymount</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Valleymount is a small village in western County Wicklow, Ireland. The name 'Valleymount' does not appear before 1839. Previously, the village was known as 'the Cross of Ballymore' or simply 'the Cross', with 'cross' referring to land belonging to the church.

Butterhill is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located near the town of Blessington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballyknockan</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Ballyknockan or Ballynockan is a village and townland in County Wicklow, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KnockanStockan</span> Irish independent music festival which existed from 2007 to 2019

KnockanStockan was an Irish independent music festival established in 2007 and held annually until 2019. In early 2020, the organisers announced that there would be no event that year, making the decision to "end the festival after 13 years". The festival was typically held on farmland overlooking the Blessington Lakes, near Blessington in County Wicklow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eadestown</span> Village in County Kildare, Ireland

Eadestown is a townland and parish in County Kildare, Ireland. It is situated on the R410 Regional Road south of Naas, between Naas and Blessington, County Wicklow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coolafancy</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Coolafancy is a townland and village in County Wicklow, Ireland. The area of Coolafancy is often referred to as Crosspatrick on maps. It is located roughly between Tinahely and Carnew, close to the neighbouring village of Coolboy. Coolafancy contains the only primary national school in the area, St. Mary's National School. The school serves the village itself and also the village of Coolboy and surrounding areas like Hillbrook, Coolroe, Cummer and Cummerduff. The name Coolafancy is sometimes written as Coolnafancy or simply Coolfancy. Coolafancy is in the civil parish of Crosspatrick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilbride, County Wicklow</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Kilbride, or Manor Kilbride, is a village, civil parish and electoral division in County Wicklow, Ireland, located at the western edge of the Wicklow Mountains in the barony of Talbotstown Lower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killanena</span> Townland in Munster, Ireland

Killanena is a townland and formerly a district electoral division (DED) in County Clare, Ireland, in the Catholic parish of Killanena.

Lackan is a civil parish in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located about 13 kilometres (8 mi) north–north–west of Mullingar. This name also applies to the townland of Lackan.

Lackan is a townland in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located about 13.6 kilometres (8 mi) north-north–west of Mullingar.

References

  1. 1 2 "CD174 - Wicklow Population by Private Households, Occupied and Vacancy Rate". data.gov.ie. Central Statistics Office. April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2022. Lackan, Lackan, Co. Wicklow [..] Townlands [..] Population: 200
  2. ↑ "An Leacain / Lackan". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Blessington Lakes". Visit Wicklow. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lacken" (PDF). wicklowuplands.ie. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow. Dublin: Stationery Office. 1997. WI010-010---- [..] holy well [..] Lackan / WI010-011004- [..] Bullaun stone [..] Lackan / WI010-011002- [..] Ecclesiastical enclosure [..] Lackan [..] Situated on a gentle SW-facing slope beside a stream. Part of the N graveyard wall (WI010-011003-) stands on an earth and stone bank (Wth 2m; H 1m) outside which there is a fosse
  6. ↑ "Welcome to Lacken - About". lackencommunity.com. Lacken Community. Retrieved 16 April 2022. Lacken [..] is the 27th largest townland in Wicklow. The general area has obviously been inhabited for some thousands of years, as evidenced by the existence of pre-historic burial sites , Bullauns and many other archaeological discoveries
  7. ↑ "Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Lacken". lackencommunity.com. Lacken Community. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Lacken National School - About Us". lackeens.com. 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Whole School Evaluation - Report - Lacken National School". gov.ie. Department of Education. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  10. ↑ Frank, Harald; Stange, Klaus (29 September 1990). Irische Postämter und ihre Stempeltypen / Irish Post Offices [Irish Post Offices and their postmarks]. Munich: Forchumgs- und Arbeitsgemeinschaft Irland e.V. p. 296. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Handley Page Hampden Mk I AD730, 18 Apr 1941". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Lennon, Mattie (30 March 2020). "Kylebeg and World War II". County Wicklow Heritage. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "An Chill Bheag/Kilbeg". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University . Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hill, Colin. "What is Known about the Last Flight of AD730". Irish Aviation. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Buchanan, Myles (29 February 2024). "Two new Wicklow walking trails added to national scheme". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  16. ↑ "Lacken - Mass Path Loop - Sorrel Hill & Black Hill". Wicklow County Tourism. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.