Inishowen

Location of Inishowen

Inishowen peninsula

Inishowen (Irish: Inis Eoghain, meaning 'Island of Eoghan') is a peninsula in County Donegal, and also the largest peninsula in Ireland.

Towns of Inishowen

The main towns and villages of Inishowen are:

• Ballyliffin, Buncrana, Bridgend, Burnfoot, Burt
• Carndonagh, Carrowmenagh, Clonmany, Culdaff
• Dunaff
• Fahan
• Glengad, Gleneely, Greencastle
• Killea
• Malin, Malin Head, Moville, Muff
• Newtowncunningham
• Redcastle
• Quigley's Point

Geography

Inishowen is a peninsula of 884.33 square kilometres (218,523 acres), situated in the northernmost part of Ireland. It is bordered to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, to the east by Lough Foyle, and to the west by Lough Swilly. It is joined at the south to the rest of County Donegal, the part known as Tír Conaill, and by County Londonderry. Historically, the area of County Londonderry west of the River Foyle also forms part of Inishowen, the Foyle forming a natural border. Most of Inishowen's population inhabit the peripheral coastal areas, while the interior consists of low mountains, mostly covered in bogland, the highest of which is "Sliabh Sneacht" (from the Irish, meaning Snow Mountain) which is 619 metres (2,030 feet) above sea level. Other major hills are located in the Malin Head peninsula, as well as the Urris Hills in west Inishowen. Due to its geography, Inishowen usually has relatively more moderate weather conditions, with temperatures slightly lower than other parts of Ireland in summer, and slightly warmer in winter, especially during periods of extended cold weather.

Looking across the mouth of Lough Foyle to Dunagree Point and Inishowen Head.

Inishowen has several harbours, some of which are used for commercial fishing purposes, including Greencastle, Bunagee and Leenan. A seasonal ferry service crosses the Foyle, connecting Greencastle with Magilligan in County Londonderry, while another crosses the Swilly, connecting Buncrana with Rathmullan. The village of Fahan has a privately built Marina.

There are several small outlying islands off the Inishowen coast, most notably Inishtrahull and Glashedy islands, both uninhabited, although the former was inhabited until the early twentieth century. Inch, located in Lough Swilly is technically no longer an island, as it has a causeway connecting it to the mainland at Tooban, south of Fahan.

Lough Swilly is a fjord-like lough, and was of strategic importance for many years to the British Empire as a deep-water harbour. It is also famous as the departure point of the Flight of the Earls. Lough Foyle is important as the entrance to the river Foyle, and the city of Derry, but is much more shallow than Lough Swilly, and requires the use of a guide boat to guide ships to and from the port of Derry.

A large area of land, most of which now forms part of Grianán Farm, one of the largest farms in Ireland, was reclaimed from a shallow area of Lough Swilly, stretching from the village of Burnfoot to Bridgend and Burt. The outline of this land is plainly visible due to its flatness proving a marked contrast to the more mountainous area surrounding it.

Festivals

• DylanFest on the Lough, Ireland's only annual festival of Bob Dylan music takes place in Moville where bands from all over Europe and visitors from all over the world congregate to play and hear Bob Dylan music. The DylanFest takes place in the pubs, the streets of the town, on the shores of Lough Foyle and in the picturesque grounds of the hostel at Gulladuff House. This year's DylanFest on the Lough takes place from July 1st to 4th.

• BeatlesFest on the Lough takes place every year when bands from all over Europe come and play in the streets and pubs of Moville. This year it will take place from August 12th to 15th.

• The Buncrana Music and Arts Festival, Inishowens biggest festival will take place this year from 22nd-25th July in Buncrana. Aimed at being a 'Free Festival' organisers only ask for a donation for entrance. Altan, Coronas, Pyros, The Undertones plus more will play as part of this festival. Check out www.buncranamusicfestival.com

Sport

• Inishowen Football League
• Inishowen Rugby

History

File:INISHOWENSUNSET.JPG

Inishowen sunset

The Grianán of Aileach is a stone fort on the Inishowen peninsula.

Buncrana is the largest town in Inishowen and second largest in Co. Donegal.

Predating the formation of Donegal by centuries, the area was named Inis Eoghain (the Island of Eoghan) after Eógan mac Néill, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Naoigeallach, a High King of Ireland), whose name was also used for Tyrone (Irish: Tír Eoghain). Inis Eoghain is also the ancient homeland of the Mac Lochlainn clan (descended from the tribe of Eoghan), a clan that grew so formidable that they eventually came under siege by a Limerick King, who came north to Aileach, and ordered the destruction of Aileach fort, and that each soldier was to carry away a stone from the fort in order to prevent its rebuilding. Later, after the decline of the Mac Lochlainn clan, the chieftainship of Inis Eoghain was usurped by the Ó Dochartaigh clan, as they lost their own homeland in the Laggan valley area of Tír Conaill.

Inishowen has many historical monuments, dating back to early settlements, and including the ruins of several castles, and the fort at Grianán Aileach. The ancient Grianán Ailigh fort at Burt was the one time seat of the High Kings of Ireland, including both High Kings of the Mac Lochlainn Clan, who held power in Inis Eoghain for many centuries. It was restored in the nineteenth century, although some damage in recent years has resulted in the partial collapse of the south side wall. Among the main castle ruins of Inishowen are Carrickabraghey on the Isle of Doagh, the Norman Castle at Greencastle, Inch Castle, Buncrana Castle and Elagh Castle.

In 1196, John de Courcy, a Norman knight who had invaded Ulster in 1177, defeated the King of the Cenél Conaill and most of Donegal was at his mercy. Two years later he returned to devastate Inishowen.

Demographics

At the last Census of Ireland in 2006, Inishowen counted a population of 31,802, a growth of 8.4% over 1996. Buncrana is the largest town in Inishowen, with a 2006 population of 3,394 in its urban area.

Politics

On a national level, Inishowen forms part of the constituency of Donegal North East, which elects three TDs to Dáil Éireann, the Irish parliament. At the county level, Inishowen is itself an electoral area, electing seven councillors to Donegal County Council. Buncrana town residents also elect representatives to the Buncrana Town Council, one of only three Town Councils in Donegal (the others belonging to Letterkenny and Bundoran). At the 2009 local elections three members of Fine Gael were elected, two members from Fianna Fail and one each from Sinn Fein and the Labour Party

Media

In addition to the radio stations and newspapers available elsewhere in Donegal, there are several media outlets that are based solely on the peninsula including two newspapers (the Inish Times and the Inishowen Independent, both of which are published in Buncrana), one online daily local news service InishowenNews.com. Inishowen is also home to the only community station in the county (Inishowen Community Radio, based in Carndonagh).

References

Traditional news source for Inishowen is the Derry Journal, published in nearby Derry city, since 1772. It still serves the peninsula as a paper of record.

See also

Morton, O. 2003. The macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bull. Ir. biogeog. Soc. No.27: 3 - 164.

External links

• Inishowen Tourism- Inishowen Official tourism website for accommodation
• Inishowen News- Inishowen News online with community notes, local sport and the Business Directory
• Inish Times - Buncrana-based local newspaper, covering Inishowen news
• Raidio Pobail Inis Eoghain - Inishowen Community Radio (ICR)
• Traditional housing of Inishowen