Robertstown (Irish: Baile Riobaird)[2] is a village on the banks of the Grand Canal in County Kildare, Ireland, 12 km north west of Naas. It grew in importance on the arrival of the canal, at the highest level (85 metres (279 ft) above sea level) of which it lies, in 1784.
Robertstown
Irish: Baile Riobaird | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Robertstown and the Grand Canal and Hotel | |
  Robertstown Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°16′14″N 6°49′00″W / 53.27065°N 6.81677°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Kildare |
| Elevation | 85 m (279 ft) |
| Population | 707 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | N786252 |
History
editRobertstown was a planned village, set along the canal featuring a prominent hotel and bridge with a small row of cottages and a shop.[3]
Grand Canal Hotel
editIn 1801 the Grand Canal Hotel was officially opened to cater for the passenger traffic along the canal and an extension was added in 1804. For a time business was good, with the canal carrying 100,000 passengers per year, but revenues began to fall and gradually the 72 windows and 62 hearths were closed up to avoid paying tax.[4] It ceased being a hotel in 1849, was used as a barracks for the Irish Constabulary between 1869 and 1905 and was later used as a community centre. As of 2002, the building was in use as a museum/gallery.[5]
Modern times
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There was once three public houses in the village and two supermarkets.but now due to an economic decline in the industry only one public house remains open and active. Developments include a set of canal-side cottages, and Lowtown Marina,[6] with boats for sale and other services. The town caters for tourism with canal walks, fishing and an annual vintage fair which takes place in June every year.
A local group, Robertstown Community Amenities Association (RTG Ltd.) was formed in 2008 with the aim to build a community centre on lands promised, with an added grant of €500,000, to the community by Failte Ireland when the hotel was sold to a private buyer. A canal barge, 52M Eustace, was also to be transferred.[citation needed]
Wildlife
editDucks, swans and herons, fish such as pike, barracuda, bream, tench, roach and stickleback, and mammals such as pygmy shrew, stoat, and brown rat, are all observed locally.
Demographics
editThe population of Robertstown more than tripled (from 206 to 707 inhabitants) in the 20 years between the 1996 and 2016 census.[7] As of the 2002 census, Robertstown had a population of 375, growing (by 65.6%) to 621 in 2006, and to 669 by the time of the 2011 census.[7] The 2016 census recorded a population of 707.[1]
Sport
editRobertstown GAA is based in Maurice Musgrave Park in Robertstown. There is also a soccer team, Bridgewood FC, 3-time winners of the Lumsums Cup.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Sapmap Area - Settlements - Robertstown". Census 2016. CSO. April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Robertstown / Baile Riobaird". logainm.ie. Irish Placenames Commission. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ Darley, Gillian (1975). Villages of vision. London: Architectural Press. p. 148. ISBN 0-85139-705-0. OCLC 1921555.
- ^ Guide to the Grand Canal of Ireland. Waterways Service and Inland Waterways Association of Ireland. 1995.
- ^ National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (23 April 2002). "Robertstown Canal Hotel (former), ROBERTSTOWN EAST, Robertstown, KILDARE". Buildings of Ireland. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Lowtown Marina". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ^ a b "Robertstown (Ireland) Census Town". City Population. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
External links
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