Knocknacarra
Knocknacarra
Cnoc na Cathrach
Knocknacarragh
Suburb
Áras Mhic Amhlaigh, a hub for Irish language resources in Knocknacarra
Áras Mhic Amhlaigh, a hub for Irish language resources in Knocknacarra
Knocknacarra is located in Ireland
Knocknacarra
Knocknacarra
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°15′47″N9°07′01″W / 53.263°N 9.117°W / 53.263; -9.117
CountryIreland
ProvinceConnacht
CountyCounty Galway
Local government areaGalway City Council
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))

Knocknacarra or Knocknacarragh (Irish: Cnoc na Cathrach)[1] is a townland, electoral division and suburban area to the west of Galway city centre. As of 2018, Knocknacarra was described as one of Galway's fastest-growing suburbs.[2] Its population rose, from over 12,000 in 2004,[3] to approximately 17-18,000 people by 2021.[4][5]

Location

The townland of Knocknacarra (or Knocknacarragh) lies, on the shores of Galway Bay, within the civil parish of Rahoon and the historical barony of Galway.[1][6]

The suburb of Knocknacarra lies approximately 5 kilometres west of Galway city centre.[2] It borders Salthill to the south-east and Barna to the west.[1][7] The area is home to a public park, Cappagh Park,[8] which connects directly into Barna Woods.[2][9]

History and development

Evidence of ancient settlement within Knocknacarra townland includes a number of ringfort, holy well and midden sites.[10]

In the 1810s, 97 people were reported to be living in Knocknacarra.[11] By 1913, Knocknacarra had a population of 153 people and it was considered a rural area.[12]

In the 1970s, urban development had begun on Knocknacarra,[13] and a sewage system was 'nearing completion' by 1973.[14] While the area was still considered to be 'mostly fields' in the 1980s and 1990s, the area experienced significant development from the late 1990s both commercially and residentially.[2] These included developments within the Gateway Retail Park in 2007 and 2020.[15][16]

Amenities

While Knocknacarra is primarily a residential area, there are several shops, cafés and restaurants in the area, including in the Gateway Retail Park. This shopping centre counts Dunnes Stores, B&Q and Harvey Norman among its tenants.[17] There is also a Lidl, an Aldi and a Tesco in the area.[18] The local Dunnes branch is sometimes known locally as a 'fancy Dunnes' due to its homeware options, the size of its clothing section, as well as its instore deli, cheese-monger and other facilities.[19][20]

Knocknacarra Community Centre

Knocknacarra Community Centre, which has a bookable hall and meeting rooms, is one of three community centres run by Galway City Council.[21]

Catholic Church in Knocknacarra dedicated to Saint John The Apostle

Knocknacarra's Catholic church, dedicated to St John the Apostle, is within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.[22]

Irish language and education

Together with nearby Barna, Knocknacarra is in a "Language Planning Area" which means that government funding is available to promote the Irish language in the area.[23] An Irish language centre, Áras Mhic Amhlaigh, was opened in Knocknacarra in September 2022.[24] The building is used on weekdays as a naíonra (Irish speaking pre-school) which is run by the nearby Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh. The only secondary school in Knocknacarra, Coláiste Na Coiribe, is an exclusively Irish-speaking school (or Gaelcholáiste).[25]

Transport

Road travel in Knocknacarra is centred on the Western Distributor Road, a 2.9-kilometre route running west–east between the Cappagh Roundabout and the Deane Roundabout. This road serves as the suburb's main artery,[26] while also linking into four minor north–south roads that provide access to surrounding neighbourhoods.[7] The R336, which has a junction with R337 at Knocknacarragh, also runs through the area.[7][27]

Several CityDirect bus routes, including routes 410, 411 and 412, run from Knocknacarra into Eyre Square.[28] The 410 travels via Salthill, the 411 travels via westside, and the 412 offers a more direct route.[29]

There has been some criticism of traffic congestion and public transport options in the Knocknacarra area.[2][30] In a survey conducted by the National Transport Authority, 50% of respondents expressed approval for a proposed bus route from Gateway Retail Park in Knocknacarra to Oranmore, the highest approval rate among the routes considered.[31]

Sport

The local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club, Salthill–Knocknacarra GAA, is based in the Salthill and Knocknacarra areas of Galway.[32]

Galway Bay Rugby Club, formerly Barna Knocknacarra Rugby Club, was established in the area in 2007.[33]

References

  1. ^ abc"Cnoc na Cathrach / Knocknacarragh". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  2. ^ abcde"Your guide to Knocknacarra: Fast-growing Galway suburb bordered by woods and sea". thejournal.ie. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  3. ^McDonald, Frank (9 November 2004). "Galway, the city of tribes and developers". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 September 2025. [Knocknacarra] suburb has a population of 12,000-plus - making it the same size as many Irish towns
  4. ^"Calls for new industries to be sourced for Knocknacarra following AbbVie decision". advertiser.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025. Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish said [..] "There is a big population in Knocknacarra of about 17,000 people"
  5. ^"Salthill to get three new community gardaí". advertiser.ie. Retrieved 25 September 2025. Independent Galway City West councillor, Donal Lyons, [..] Cllr Lyons noted that [..] Knocknacarra [..] has a population of c18,000
  6. ^"Knocknacarragh Townland, Co. Galway". townlands.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  7. ^ abc"Knocknacarra on Google maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  8. ^"Galway City Council - Public Parks". galwaycity.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2025. Cappagh Park [..] Address: Cappagh Road Knocknacarra Galway [..] Description: Local Neighbourhood Park
  9. ^"Barna Woods, Barna". The Family Edit. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  10. ^Gosling, Paul, ed. (1993). Archaeological Inventory of County Galway Vol. I - West Galway. Dublin: Government Stationery Office. ISBN 9780707603223.
  11. ^Hardiman, James (1820). The history of the town and county of the town of Galway. Galway, Ireland. p. 284.
  12. ^Parliamentary Papers Volume 117. H.M. Stationery Office. 1913.
  13. ^Directory of National Bodies Concerned with Urban and Regional Research. UN. 1978.
  14. ^Report On Water Pollution. Ireland. Inter-Departmental Working Group on Air and Water Pollution. 1973.
  15. ^"Dunnes opens new store in Galway suburban centre". The Irish Times. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  16. ^"Creation of 300 Jobs at Gateway Shopping Park's Phase 2 in Galway". bannon.ie. July 2020. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  17. ^"Our Stores". gatewayshoppingpark.ie. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  18. ^"Shops, Supermarkets, Retail | Knocknacarra, Galway". Knocknacarra.ie. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  19. ^"Irish people divided over 'fancy Dunnes Stores' as shoppers claim they're 'running' for pizzeria, sushi & homeware". thesun.ie. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  20. ^Telford, Thomas (12 January 2024). "'Posh Dunnes Stores' leaving Irish people baffled as Galway store talk of TikTok". galwaybeo.ie. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  21. ^"Community Centres". galwaycity.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  22. ^"Parishes - Knocknacarra". galwaydiocese.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  23. ^"'Things to Do (Kids and Adults)'". knocknacarra.ie. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  24. ^"'Chambers to officially open new Irish Language Centre at Knocknacarra tomorrow'". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  25. ^"Ráiteas Misin agus Éiteas na Scoile". colaistenacoiribe.ie. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  26. ^"Galway City Western Distributor Road (WDR) Cycle Scheme". publicconsultation.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  27. ^"S.I. No. 54/2012 - Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads". Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  28. ^"Buses, Trains, Timetables". knocknacarra.ie. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  29. ^"Galway". citydirect.ie. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  30. ^"Galway major road upgrade 'welcomed' but 'missed opportunity' for one addition". galwaybeo.ie. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  31. ^"Just a third of public think new Galway city bus network will benefit them". galwaybayfm.ie. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  32. ^"History of SKGAA". Salthill Knocknacarra GAA (SKGAA). Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  33. ^"Galway Bay Rugby". galwaybayrugby.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025. Galway Bay Rugby, formerly known as Barna Knocknacarra Rugby Club or Na Bairneachaí, was established in 2007
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