Donegal Ireland

The Anglo-Normans entered county Kerry in the 1200s, although the authoritary position of the indigenous Gaelic inhabitants wasn’t compromised until the late 1500s to early 1600s, when the political borders of modern Kerry were established. Even after foreign dominance was thoroughly implemented, the Gaelic people of Kerry maintained their cultural integrity, as is evidenced by the Irish language, which is still spoken there.

Co. Kerry

The wildest and most diversified county in Ireland, on account of its long, fiord-like sea-inlets, its high mountain ranges, and its beautiful lakes and woods. The area from Killarney north to the Shannon is alone rather dull, as the high ribs of sandstone and slate which produce the bold features of the rest of the county are here replaced by softer shales, which weather into low, bog-smothered hills. The rivers of Kerry are short and rapid, and among the mountains small lakes and tarns are numerous lakes around its base tend to enhance its height, and add greatly to its beauty. Immediately to the south of the ridge which contains Errigal and Muckish, the Derryveigh mountains form a massive ridge culminating in Slieve Snacht (2240 feet). A short distance south of this upland lies the deep and romantic Glen Veigh, which occupies part of the most remarkable of the N.E.-S.W. valleys of which mention has already been made. These ridges and valleys cross Lough Swilly into the peninsula of Inish- owen, where another Slieve Snacht rises to 2019 feet. Far to the south, the group of the Blue Stack mountains or Croaghgorm reaches 2219 feet.

The strong folding to which Donegal has been subjected has a marked effect on human life within the area. Traffic naturally lies along the troughs which run north- east and south-west; the construction of roads or rail- ways in directions more or less at right angles to this is fraught with difficulties, as the successive ridges offer serious obstacles. The effect is to cut off the north- western portion of Donegal (Bed and Breakfasts, Donegal, Ireland) from free communication with other parts of the country. The. coastal district, which is strongly indented in the direction of the folding, though very irregular in surface, is generally low, and comparatively level roads join the heads of the many bays and inlets, where most of the villages arc situated. Good roads also traverse the valley troughs ; but from the fertile district of the Foylc basin, lying south of the hill-area, only a very few roads and a single railway find their way, by many windings and steep climbs, across the wave-like succession of heathery ridges.

East of the Bann the great triangular sand- flat of Magilligan, a raised beach of comparatively recent date, almost blocks the entrance of Lough Foyle, with the lofty basaltic cliffs of Benevenagh looking down on it. Lough Foyle is a large triangular land-locked inlet. It is mostly quite shallow, but a channel leads along the northern (Donegal) shore to Derry, situated on the Foylc, 5 miles above the point where the river debouches into the head of the lough. Londonderry is well placed on a hill overlooking a bend of the river. Westward of the mouth of Lough Foyle, the coast of Donegal (Accommodation, Donegal, Ireland) at once assumes the wild, romantic aspect which characterises it throughout. Round the edge of Inishowen, the large peninsula enclosed between Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly, wild headlands and tall cliffs alternate with sheltered sandy bays and great boulder beaches. Malin Head, at the extremity of the peninsula, is the most northerly point of the Irish mainland ; but the islet of Inishtrahull lies several miles further north. The deep and picturesque inlet of Lough Swilly, 25 miles in length, winding far to the southward through the hills, forms a spacious and safe harbour, and presents much beautiful scenery ; the little towns of Buncrana and Ramelton stand one on either side of its waters. Beyond Lough Swilly there is a tangle of land and water, Mulroy Bay being exceedingly complicated in outline, Sheep Haven being more open. This district is a favourite one for tourists. West of Sheep Haven, the lofty promontory of Horn Head stands boldly out, its towering cliffs overhanging the ocean to a height of over 600 ft.

Beyond Horn Head a long stretch of rocky, much- indented coast-line, mostly low in elevation, with high hills inland, runs south-west for some 40 miles in a direct line (twice or three times as much if measured along the shore), to Loughros Bay. Many islands lie off the coast, the most important being Aran (not to be confused with the Galway Bay Aran or the Scotch Arran), and Tory. The latter lies far out, 7 miles from the nearest point of the mainland, and is still a very primitive place, but well provided with fine fishing-boats. Much fishing is done all along this coast. Towns are very few and small; a narrow gauge line, winding through the bogs and rocks, connects this remote region with the main traffic routes at Derry.

Forming the most westerly portion of the Donegal (Holiday Homes, Donegal, Ireland) coast, the high bare Mahnmore promontory, cliff-bound and mountainous, presents much bold scenery. Beyond its extremity, where lies the little island of Rathlin OBirne, the coast at length trends eastward, and we pass under the tremendous cliffs of Slieve League, 1972 ft. in height, into Donegal Bay and a softer type of scenery. The busy little town and harbour of Killybegs provides a sheltered anchorage, and a narrow- gauge line runs eastward to join the Great Northern Railway at Ballyshannon and Strabane. Long, low projections of limestone run far into Donegal Bay, and at its shallow upper end is the little town of Donegal (Holiday Cottages, Donegal, Ireland)Thence the coast trends south-westward to the sandy mouth of the River Erne, where stands the town of Ballyshannon, and a few miles further on, close to the point where Donegal joins Leitrim, and the province of Ulster the province of Connaught, we reach the pleasant watering-place of Bundoran

Posted on April 15th, 2008 under History. Tags: anglo-normans, bann, Bundoran, derryveigh, Donegal, errigal, galway bay aran, glen veigh, History, muckish, mulroy bay, ramelton. RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.