Donegal

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This article is about the Irish town of Donegal. For the county, see County Donegal. For other uses, see Donegal (disambiguation).
Donegal
Dún na nGall
Dinnygal
Coat of arms of Donegal
Location
Location of Donegal
centerMap highlighting Donegal
Irish grid reference
G924789
Statistics
Province: Ulster
County: County Donegal
Dáil Éireann: Donegal South West
European Parliament: North-West
Dialling code: +353 74
Elevation: 32 m
Population (2006) 2,339[1] 
Website: www.donegaltown.ie

Donegal (pronounced /ˌdʌnəˈgɔːl/; Irish: Dún na nGall)[2] is a town in County Donegal, in the Province of Ulster, in Ireland. Donegal is not the county town (capital) of County Donegal, despite being its namesake. Rather, the county town is Lifford, and Letterkenny is the county's largest town. Donegal town is situated at the mouth of Donegal Bay, on the River Eske and is overshadowed by the Bluestack Mountains. The town has been bypassed by the N15 and N56 roads. The Irish name translates into English as Fort of the Foreigners (Vikings).

Contents

[edit] History

There is evidence for settlements around the town dating back to prehistoric times including the remains of round forts and other earth works. There is a record of an early Danish fortress being destroyed by Muirchertach MacLochlainn, High King of Ireland in 1159. This Viking settlement is possibly the origin of the town's name.

Donegal castle showing keep built by the O'Donnell clan and wing added by Basil Brooke
Donegal castle showing keep built by the O'Donnell clan and wing added by Basil Brooke

Donegal Town itself is famous for being the former home to the O'Donnell Clan, who played a pivotal role in Irish history. From the 15th to the 17th century, they provided the main opposition to the colonisation of Ireland by England. The town itself contains Donegal castle, on the banks of the River Eske and the remains of a Franciscan abbey which dates back to the 15th century on the Southern shore of the Bay. The Annals of the Four Masters are traditionally thought to have been started in the abbey in the early 17th century. The story of Red Hugh O'Donnell, Lord of Tyrconnell, was the inspiration behind many books and films, not least, Disney's The Fighting Prince of Donegal (1966).

After the Flight of the Earls in 1607 the castle and its lands were given to an English captain, Basil Brooke, as part of the Plantation of Ulster. Brooke carried out major reconstruction work and added a wing to the castle in the Jacobean style. The current plan of the town was also laid out including an attractive town square or Diamond. From the late 17th until the early 20th centuries, Donegal Town formed part of the vast estates of the Gore family (from 1762 Earls of Arran) and it while in their ownership that the town took on its present appearance. Donegal returned two members to the Irish Parliament until the Act of Union (1800). Evidence of the Irish Famine still exists including a workhouse, whose buildings are now part of the local hospital, and a famine grave.

[edit] Industry and tourism

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Part of the Diamond in Donegal
Part of the Diamond in Donegal

There are many sandy beaches in the area of Donegal boasting good surfing conditions. Donegal is also used as a base for hill-walking in the nearby Bluestack Mountains. Despite the town's many hotels catering for visitors, it suffers from a lack of social amenities for its local population. Many have to travel to nearby towns such as Letterkenny for facilities like public swimming pools, cinemas and large shopping centres.[citation needed]

Traditionally the largest employer in the town has been Magee of Donegal, who are manufacturers of tweed garments, some of which could, in the past, be seen being woven by hand on small looms in the company's department store.[citation needed] Like most clothing manufacturers in Ireland, the size of the workforce has been in decline for many years.

[edit] Transport

The town is a stop on the three bus companies that operate in the county: the Bus Éireann service number 64 Derry/Galway route which makes several other stops including Letterkenny and Sligo (which allows for rail connections) and the number 30 Donegal/Dublin route which makes stops at other key towns such as Enniskillen (which provides connections to Belfast via Ulster Bus).[3] Two private companies operate the other routes: 'McGeehan Bus' operate a regular service from West Donegal to Dublin Airport and the Busaras which passes through the town[4]; while Feda O'Donnell Coaches (also known as Bus Feda) operates a regular Glenties/Galway service that stops in Donegal.[5]

Donegal railway station opened on 16 September 1889 and finally closed on 1 January 1960.[6] The site of the old station is now used by CIE as a bus depot while the actual building is the home of the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre.[7]

[edit] Sport

Main Street, looking north towards Roman Catholic Church, made with local red granite
Main Street, looking north towards Roman Catholic Church, made with local red granite

Donegal town is home to many amateur sports clubs. The most popular sport in the area is Gaelic football and the local Gaelic Athletic Association club is The Four Masters.[8] The club also has been developing hurling. Other popular sports clubs include football (Finn Harps), rugby union, basketball and athletics.

[edit] Media

The town is home to the regional newspapers Donegal Democrat and Donegal Post and the local Donegal Times[9] newspaper. Ocean FM, an independent regional radio station, has one of its three studios in the town, which broadcasts to most of south County Donegal.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Table 7 - Persons in each town of 1,500 population and over, ... (PDF). Census 2006, Volume 1 - Population Classified by Area pages 119. Central Statistics Office (2007-04-26). Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
  2. ^ Welcome to the Official Donegal Town Website for Hotels and Businesses
  3. ^ Bue Éireann homepage
  4. ^ McGeehan Bus homepage
  5. ^ Bus Feda homepage
  6. ^ Donegal station. Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
  7. ^ County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd. homepage
  8. ^ Four Master's GAA Club
  9. ^ The Donegal Times On-line

[edit] External links