A look at how the rural village of Clane in Kildare has developed into a busy small town.
Clane is situated between Naas and Kilcock in north County Kildare near an ancient crossing point on the river Liffey.
A motte and bailey castle was built at Clane by the Anglo-Normans to guard the river ford. In the 13th century, a Franciscan Friary was established known as Clane Abbey located near the probable location of an earlier Celtic monastery founded in the sixth century. In medieval times, Clane appears to have functioned largely as an agricultural village.
During the first half of the twentieth century, the population of Clane fell as many rural crafts declined in popularity. In 1946, the population reached a low of just 112 people.
Some local people reflect on the changes that have taken place in their lifetimes. Margaret King describes the changes in how people dress and the food they eat. Another local woman, Kitty Healy remembers a time when there were no cars and people had little or no education. Her mother drove a donkey and cart to Naas. Paddy McCormack remembers how Clongowes College employed about fifty men between the farm and the garden. Paddy O'Gorman believes that when he was younger, people in Clane were more sociable.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the population of Clane began to rise slowly. According to the 1971 census, the population stood at 600. In 1983, this had risen to about two thousand.
This represents a growth of almost ten fold within a period of twenty years.
A population increase and the construction of 400 new homes with a mixture of private and council housing has seen the emergence of new shops and services in the village. There are now 27 shops along with banks, a building society, insurance, hairdressing, and dry cleaning services all employing about a hundred people.
Local chemist Des Marron recalls Clane in the 1950s when there were almost no services in the village. He says the change came when two new principals arrived at the two local schools and more people began moving into Clane.
When I was growing up, there was literally only three pubs.
The arrival of new people to Clane meant that the village had to expand. New shops opened and new services became available to make the Clane self-sufficient.
I think it's practically self-sufficient.
This episode of 'Villages' was broadcast on 28 November 1983. The reporter is Martin Dempsey.
