Valleymount

{{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}

Vallymount is located approximately 32km from Dublin city centre.

Valleymount is at an average elevation of 198m above sea level and is situated on the R758 regional road. 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.

Vallymount neighbours the villages of Hollywood, Ballymore Eustace, Blessington, Ballyknockan and Lacken.

The townlands in the area of Valleymount include: 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

file:St Josephs church Valleymount.jpg

The most notable building is St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Built in 1803, to which a porch extension was added around 1835, the 'Mexican style' of the church is attributed to design ideas brought home by Irish emigrants returning from New Mexico, and adapting the style to the local area.{{cite web|url = http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WI®no=16401002 | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsorireland.ie | title = Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, Valleymount, County Wicklow | access-date = 1 November 2018 | quote = built in 1803, but with distinctive pinnacled front façade and porch added c.1835. The [..] front façade and porch are said to have been designed either by a former priest inspired by churches he saw on a visit to Malta, or by parishioners who had visited New Mexico}} The church features stained glass windows by Harry Clarke, a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement and art students from Dublin's Art colleges sometimes visit the church to see the windows.{{fact|date=November 2018}}

The pub was established around 1836, and changed owners. The current proprietor took over the family business in 1985 and refurbished the premises in 1996. The Inn is apparently named after the Morning Star that could be seen from the entrance.{{cite web |url=http://www.oconnorsvalleymount.com/about.htm |title=Welcome to The Star Inn, Leo O Connor's Pub Vallymount, Wicklow |publisher=O'Connors Valleymount |access-date=2009-06-05 }}

Valleymount House is a stone building that was the village's one and only shop and post office until it closed in 2006.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

The village also used to have its own forge which was active until the 1980s.{{fact|date=December 2020}}

There is a prehistoric sweathouse in the townland of Annacarney near Valleymount.{{cite web|url=http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/463/Annacarney.html|title=Annacarney: Sweat House|publisher=Megalithomania|date=2002-05-20|access-date=2014-08-15}}

Honours won by Valleymount GAA club include the Intermediate Football Championship (1952,1964,1978,1989), Junior Football "A" Championship (1963,1998,2020), Minor Football Championship (1951), Junior Hurling Championship (1988), and Intermediate Hurling Championship (1989).{{cite web|url=http://wicklow.gaa.ie/Clubs/Valleymount04.htm |access-date=26 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122033807/http://wicklow.gaa.ie/Clubs/Valleymount04.htm |archive-date=22 November 2007 | title = Valleymount G.A.A. Club Moin An Bhealaigh}}

Rugby player Brian Carney played Gaelic football for Valleymount GAA and won a junior championship medal in 1998 with the club.{{cn|date=August 2014}}

The following films were made in or near Valleymount:{{cite web|url = http://www.visitwicklow.ie/films/| website = visitwicklow.ie | title = Films in Wicklow | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120727012009/https://visitwicklow.ie/films/ | archivedate = 27 July 2012 }}{{fv|reason=Webpage doesn't mention Valleymount|date=March 2021}}

• The Outcasts (1982) includes a scene filmed by Cyril Cusack in the old forge in Valleymount (south of the Star Inn){{fact|date=March 2021}}
• Widows' Peak (1994) was filmed in the area, particularly in Ballyknockan.{{fact|date=March 2021}}
• Braveheart (1995) was partially filmed near Valleymount, and a route around the lake is called "Braveheart Drive".{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}
• This Is My Father (1998), featuring Aidan Quinn and James Caan, was filmed around Valleymount, Hollywood and Kilteel in County Kildare.{{fact|date=March 2021}}
• P.S. I Love You (2007), starring Hilary Swank, saw some scenes filmed locally near Valleymount and in Ballyknockan.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

• Jack Reynor (born 1992), Irish-American actor, grew up in ValleymountTara Brady, [https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2012/1208/1224327573537.html "Wandering Jack"], The Irish Times, 8 December 1012{{cite web|author=Roe McDermott|url=http://www.hotpress.com/features/interviews/South-Side-Story/9190691.html|title=Interview|work=Hot Press|access-date=1 December 2013}}

{{commons category|Valleymount}}

• List of towns and villages in Ireland

{{reflist}}

{{County Wicklow}}

Category:Towns and villages in County Wicklow