placenamesKilcoo
Cill Chua
A church built at the turn of the twentieth century and a football club’s rise to national success form two prominent chapters in Kilcoo’s story.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Cill Chua · Irish · main form · validated name
- Kilcoo · English · main form
Place & story
Building Saint Malachy’s
The foundation stone of Saint Malachy’s Church was laid on 17 September 1899 by Bishop Henry of Down and Connor. The first cross was placed on the north gable in June 1900, and the parish marked the church’s golden jubilee in June 1951. Later improvements included new Stations of the Cross in 1944 and a grotto developed under Father Charles O’Neill, with large stones brought in to form its setting. [2]
Light during the blackout
The parish’s account of its first Midnight Mass, at Christmas 1941, preserves a practical detail of wartime worship: black paper covered the windows to keep light from escaping during the blackout. Carbide lighting remained in use until an engine was installed to generate electricity in December 1942. Mains electricity followed in October 1944. A well sunk in the parochial house garden in 1941 had already supplied running water to both house and church. [2]
The Magpies’ early successes
Kilcoo’s club history records a renewed football team in November 1915, followed by negotiations between the Moneyscalp Emmetts and Kilcoo Owen Roes. Their first championship success came in 1917, when Killyleagh were beaten by a point. Medals were awarded because the championship cup had been lost. Paddy Mallon became Kilcoo’s first Down representative that year. A further championship victory over Rossglass in 1922 required a replay before the team could return home as winners. [3]
An All-Ireland won at the last
On 12 February 2022, Kilcoo won their first All-Ireland senior club football title at Croke Park. They defeated Kilmacud Crokes by 2–8 to 0–13 after extra time, having recovered from a seven-point deficit during normal play. With the Dublin side again ahead late in extra time, Ryan Johnston’s blocked attempt fell to Jerome Johnston, who scored the decisive goal. The victory followed Kilcoo’s extra-time defeat to Corofin in the final two years earlier. [4]
Geographic information
- Place type
- Population centre
- County
- Down
- Barony
- Iveagh Upper, Lower Half
- Coordinates
- 54.22979, -6.03692 (approximate)
- Logainm ID
- 1411721 ↗
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Kilcoo. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Saint Malachy’s Church, Kilcoo: History of our church · Kilmegan and Kilcoo Parishes
- Kilcoo GAC history: Getting Started · Kilcoo GAC
- AIB All Ireland Club SFC Final: Kilcoo stage dramatic comeback, 12 February 2022 · Paul Keane, Gaelic Athletic Association
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2019-10-08. How this page was prepared.