Kilcavan, County Wicklow

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View of Croghan mountain in the snow from Kilcavan

Kilcavan is a townland in South Wicklow approximately 5 Kilometres north-east of
Carnew. The area is located at the southern end of the Wicklow Mountains.

Contents
1 History
2 Kilcavan Church
3 Kilcavan Quarries
4 Agriculture
5 References
History
Over the centuries, the land of Kilcavan attracted people because of its rolling
hills, fertile soil, and slate quarry. The original mention of the name Kilcavan
was first noted shortly after County Wicklow was established in 1606. In 1608, the
first mention of Killkavane was made. Other notes of this townland were referred in
1636 as Kilkevine, in 1655 as Bearnkilkeavan, 1660 as Killcavan, 1668 Kilcavin, in
1760 as Killkevin. The specific area in Kilcavan previously known as Bearnkilkeavan
is now called Kilcavan Gap.

In the nineteenth century the area was in the control of Lord Fitzwilliam and was
originally leased to only Protestants. This changed after 1808, and Catholics were
given the chance to get leases from Lord Fitzwilliam.

Kilcavan Church
On the R748 road between Carnew and the Kilcavan Gap, there is a field with many
granite stones. This land is in Kilcavan Upper and is privately owned today. This
was once the site of an early religious settlement known as Kilcavan Church. Very
little is known of this church, but it is believed to have been a circular shaped
building (according to the 1838 Ordnance Survey map), and is also believed to have
contained a cemetery. Today there is very little left of the Church except
scattered granite stones, some resembling grave stones, others most likely church
building material.

Kilcavan Church was named after Saint Cill Chaoimhgin, who founded the monastery of
Airdne Coemain, now Ardcavan, County Wexford, in 548-9. Cill Chaoimhgin is
apparently the same priest named Caeman of Dairinis in other sources, which Saint
Finnian of Clonard, visited before he went to Aghowle. So the connection with Saint
Finnian makes it probable that Cill Chaoimhgin is the correct form of this name,
which translates from the Gaelic language to Kilcavan.

Kilcavan Quarries
From 1800 to 1941, the Slate Quarries of Kilcavan provided many labor jobs and was
a source of employment for many local inhabitants. Although this slate was mainly
exported, it was also used locally and throughout Ireland. There is some evidence
to suggest that the quarry was producing slate much further back than the
officially recognized date of 1800. The quarry was officially closed in 1941.

In those days, slate was used for many types of building materials and also
produced a byproduct called "Inner Tight", which was a fine powder rock that was
used as a base for battleship paint. Kilcavan quarry produced a black/dark grey
slate.

In the years that the quarry was open it attracted many people to this part of
County Wicklow and provided steady work during the times of famine.

Agriculture
The geography of Kilcavan was highly conducive to agriculture, tilling, grazing and
farming in the nineteenth century and even in the present day, the area is
dominated by agriculture. [1]

References