Coolkenno

Coolkenno (Irish: Cuil Ui Caoinaith meaning The Nook of The Ui Caoinaith clan) is a village in County Wicklow in Ireland. It is roughly located between Tullow in County Carlow and Shillelagh in County Wicklow.

The village is served by Ballyconnell National School (2.5 km) and Tullow Community School (8 km). Local monuments include the ruined Clonmore Castle, Rath Gall hilltop ring fort, Labbanasighe megalithic tomb in Moylisha and Saint Finian's monastery at Aghowle. Mount Wolsley Hilton golf course is 8 km away at Tullow and Rathwood Home and Garden Centre is 3 km away. The local public house is Byrne's, the Crablane.

Coolkenno GAA History

The hurling club "Killinure Emmets" were the earliest starters of hurling around the Shillelagh district. Coolkenno are believed to have represented the area as well as Ballyraheen and Derry Rovers. From the beginning of the century “Shillelagh” dominated as the name of the district team.

The history of local football goes back much further than 1980. In 1890 Crecrin Harps played Graiguecullen in the County Carlow final. The Harps men were beaten by a one-point scored between two posts which were beside the goal. Crecrin's top defender, Jim Carthy, moved up in attack, Graiguecullen managed to get the ball and sent it over his head and Jim was left stranded. A Graiguecullen player got the ball and with his chance he scored the only point of the match. John Lennon of Knockballystine was captain that day and his team mates were Joe Lennon King’s Cross, William Doyle Coolmanagh, John and Edward O’Brien Crecrin, Michael and Pat Treacy, Michael Donaghue, Martin Keogh, Pat Murphy, John Sheppard, Jim Kennedy, Charlie Breen, Pat Mulhall The Rock . Patrick O’Neill, Knockeen. Pat and John Bolger, John Condron, Kilquiggan Pat Timmons and Jim ‘Red’ Tyrrell, Killinure, and of course Jim Carthy, Knockballystine. As can be seen football teams had 21 players in those days.