Coole Castle, Co. Fermanagh
Nestled in the lush countryside of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, Coole Castle has been a symbol of the region’s history for centuries. With its enigmatic past, the castle is a fascinating destination for history enthusiasts and tourists alike. This comprehensive article delves into the captivating history of Coole Castle, offering insights into its origins, its […]
A Fascinating Journey Through Time: The History of Enniskillen Castle, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland
Enniskillen Castle, located in County Fermanagh, Ireland, is a remarkable historical site with a rich and complex past. This castle, standing proudly on the banks of the River Erne, has served as a stronghold, a military barracks, and a museum over the centuries. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the captivating history of Enniskillen Castle, […]
Pier Hotel, Rathmullan: A lasting legacy
The Pier Hotel in Rathmullan, Co. Donegal was a historic hotel that was a staple of the local community for over a century. Located on the pier in the heart of the village, the hotel has played an important role in the history of Rathmullan and the surrounding area. Early History of Rathmullan Rathmullan has […]
Doon Well, Co. Donegal: A Spiritual History
Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Kilmacrennan in County Donegal, Ireland, lies a hidden gem with a rich spiritual and historical legacy – the Doon Well. For centuries, this sacred site has attracted pilgrims and visitors seeking solace, healing, and a connection to the past. This article delves into the fascinating history of Doon Well, […]
Killyleagh Castle: A Rich Historical Treasure of Strangford Lough, Ireland
Nestled in the picturesque village of Killyleagh, Strangford Lough, Ireland, Killyleagh Castle stands tall as a prominent symbol of Irish history. With its enchanting architecture and fascinating past, this stunning castle has captured the hearts and imaginations of locals and visitors alike. This comprehensive guide will take you on a journey through the history of […]
The Old Dunlewey Church: A Haunting Gem in the Wilds of Donegal
The Old Church in Dunlewey, Ireland, is a mysterious and captivating relic of a bygone era. This tiny church, perched on the edge of the dramatic and windswept Dunlewey Lake, has withstood the test of time and the elements for over 150 years. The church was originally built as a memorial to James Russell, a […]
Beltany Stone Circle: A Neolithic mystery outside Raphoe
Hidden away in the rolling hills of County Donegal, Ireland, lies the Beltany Stone Circle, a remarkable and little-known archaeological site just outside the village of Raphoe. Comprising of 64 stones arranged in a circular pattern, the Beltany Stone Circle is one of the largest stone circles in Ireland and remains shrouded in mystery and […]
The SS Laurentic: A Fascinating Shipwreck off the coast of Ireland
In the depths of the Atlantic Ocean lies the remnants of the SS Laurentic, a British passenger liner that was repurposed as a military transport ship during World War I. This ship is a testament to both the ingenuity of naval engineering and the tragedy of war, and remains one of the most fascinating shipwrecks […]
Tory Island: An Enchanted Isle Steeped in Myth and History
Tucked away off the coast of County Donegal in Ireland lies the rugged and windswept isle of Tory Island. This remote speck of land, just three miles long and one mile wide, has been the home of a tight-knit community for centuries and is steeped in myth, legend, and history. The earliest known inhabitants of […]
The Mysterious Tau Cross on Tory Island
Tory Island, located off the northwest coast of County Donegal, Ireland, is home to a unique and mysterious symbol carved into the rugged landscape: the Tau Cross. The origins of the cross are uncertain, but it is believed to date back to the early Christian period, possibly as early as the 7th century. The cross […]
Old photos of Rathmullan, Co. Donegal (in colour)
Thank to DeOldify/MyHeritage.com for providing the colour to these old photos.
The history of Blackcave Tunnel, Larne, Co. Antrim
Learn more about the construction of the Antrim Coast Road by William Bald, and the famous Black Arch near Larne.
Lookout Post 79, Fanad Head, Co. Donegal
In the lead up to World War 2, the Irish Defense Forces set up a series of lookout posts called the ‘Coast Watching Service’. 83 of these posts were placed along the coast every 5-15 miles and local volunteers called Coastwatchers kept an eye out. Coast Watchers used work in 8-12 hour shifts, in pairs. […]
History of the Ramelton Bottling Stores, Co. Donegal
The Ramelton Bottling Stores were built around 1830 and extended over the years to the north along the quay. In the 18th and 19th century, Ramelton was a prosperous port with trade extending to Great Britain, North America, Norway and the Caribbean. There are accounts of ships from the Caribbean sailing up Lough Swilly, anchoring […]
Tullymore Lighthouse, St. John’s Point, Donegal
Tullymore Lighthouse dates back to 1825 when the traders and merchants in Killybegs asked the Ballast Board for a navigation light on St. John’s Point to help ships navigate their way to safe harbour. After some delays, the approval was given in 1829 to start construction. George Halpin Sr. was tasked with the design and […]
Liam Emery’s Celtic Cross, Killea, Co. Donegal
The Mystery of the Cross on the Hill In 2016 passengers on an aircraft approaching City of Derry Airport noticed an unusal sight on the Donegal hillside as they approach to land. A 100m tall cross on the hill was visible in the fields near Killea, and nobody knew how they appeared. Was it a […]
Donegal Town hiring fair
The day I got there the Diamond was full of people and of carts and cars tilted on their end; I counted over fifty of these vehicles. It was the big hiring fair. Boys and girls engage themselves to employers from the ayth of May to the 2oth of November, and there is another hiring […]
How Tyrone and Tirconaill (Donegal) got their names.
Tir Eoghan the province of Owen was once a great principality, which stretched its frontier from the west of Lough Erne across Lough Neagh to the shores of the Channel by Belfast. In the days when Irelandhad a fate of her own Tyrone was the country of the O’Neill. Centuries after Strongbow centuries after the […]
Ardara, Co. Donegal in 1893
The town or village or Ardara, or Hill of the Fort, takes its name from a very conspicuous earthen fort which stands on a hill about 200 perches to the north-east of the town. The “Nesbitt Arms Hotel” offers every inducement to tourists or anglers, and the scenery is magnificent. Two splendid salmon rivers empty […]
Burtonport in 1893
The tourist should visit this interesting spot, at which a boat may he chartered for Arran and the other islands. The position of “the Port,” as it is locally called, is extremely advantageous for commercial purposes, especially as, through the energy and enterprise of Messrs. Hammond & Herdman, regular steam communication has been established between […]
William Sydney Clements (Lord Leitrim) (1806 – 1878)
William Sydney Clements, the 3rd Earl of Leitrim was an Anglo-Irish nobleman and notorious landlord. Born in 1806, he was educated in Sandhurst and served in Portugal for the British Army between 1826 and 1827. In 1831 he was promoted to captain. Following his father’s death he was promoted to Lutentant-Colonel and retired from the […]
The murder of Lord Leitrim
The third Earl of Leitrim had served in the army, rising to be a colonel, before he succeeded his father in the title. He was a man by no means wholly bad and possessed qualities which might, under happier circumstances, have made him famous absolute courage and a perfectly indomitablc will. Nothing could be less […]
A look at Ballyshannon in the 1800s
From A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, by Samuel Lewis (1837) BALLYSHANNON, a sea-port, market, and posttown (formerly a parliamentary borough), partly in the parish of INNISMACSAINT, but chiefly in that of KILBARRON, barony of TYRHUGH, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 35 miles (S. W.) from Lifford, and 102 miles (N. W.) from Dublin; […]
Rathmullan, Co. Donegal
Rathmullan is a small, picturesque seaside village on the western shores of Lough Swilly in Co. Donegal. In 1607 the Flight of the Earls took place just outside the village in a place called Carolina Bay. This marked the end of the Gaelic chieftain rule in Ireland, a major point in Irish history. Some other […]
Mary Anne’s Shop, Rathmullan
Mary Anne Friel lived near Elly, Oughterlin and worked for Mrs. Boyce in Downings. When Mrs. Boyce decided to retire from the knitting business she offered Mary Anne a choice of machines. Mary Anne chose two and brought them to Rathmullan. Being close to her customers was important, so Mary Anne bought two terraced houses […]