Knockbridge

Knockbridge (Irish: Droichead an Chnoic)^[2] is a village in County Louth, Ireland. 7 km south-west of Dundalk, it is in the townland of Ballinlough (Baile an Locha) in the historical barony of Dundalk Upper.^[2] As of the 2022 census, the village had a population of 759 people.^[3] Knockbridge won a "best kept village" award in the 2008 Tidy Towns competition.^[4]

Knockbridge Irish: Droichead an Chnoic
Village
Knockbridge crossroads
Knockbridge Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°58′N 6°29′W
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	Louth
Elevation	42 m (138 ft)
Population  (2022)[1]	759
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	H994037

Facilities

The village is centred on a crossroads, where there is a pub and a shop. There are four housing estates, a Roman Catholic church and a large primary school in the village.

Stephenstown House, a large ruined Georgian house, once owned by a branch of the Fortescue family, stands beside the River Fane about a mile outside the village. Stephenstown Pond, about a hundred metres from the house, was redeveloped in the mid-1990s and is a public amenity. Stephenstown Pond has a conference centre and community enterprise space.^[5]

Knockbridge Church (St Mary's) has a number of Harry Clarke designed stained-glass windows.

History

Stephenstown House, Knockbridge

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1986	309	—
1991	292	−5.5%
1996	274	−6.2%
2002	335	+22.3%
2006	427	+27.5%
2011	583	+36.5%
2016	667	+14.4%
2022	759	+13.8%
[1]

The village may take its name from "Cnoic Bhríde" - Bridget's Hill - reputed to be a site connected with local Saint Bridget. It may also take its name from "Droichead an Chnoic" - Bridge of the hill - after a bridge over the nearby River Fane.^[6]

Clochafarmore, where the legendary hero Cú Chulainn is reputed to have died, is also nearby.

Sport

The village's Gaelic football team, St Bride's GFC, was founded by Séamus Quinn, the parish priest in 1927. The club plays in Páirc an Chuinnigh, which was bought as a memorial to Quinn who died in 1952. The grounds were opened on 1 May 1955. The club competes in the Louth Senior Division.

The local hurling club, Knockbridge GAA, has won the Louth Senior Hurling Championship twelve times.^[7]

Location and transport

The village is situated 6.5 km (4.0 mi) south-west of Dundalk, the county town. The village is 75 km north of Dublin Airport. Bus Éireann provides bus routes to and from Knockbridge.

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland