Manorcunningham
Manorcunningham
Mainéar Uí Chuinneagáin | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Government | |
| • Dáil Éireann | Donegal North-East |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Urban | 643 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
Manorcunningham, or Manor (Irish: Mainéar Uí Chuinneagáin) is a small village and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located 7 kilometers from Letterkenny on the main road to Derry. It's known locally and throughout Donegal as just Manor.[2]
Currently housing development is ongoing and quickly becoming a place to live and commute to the major towns such as Letterkenny.
History
Before the Plantation of Ulster, Mannorcunningham was part of the townland of Magheramore (historically spelt as Machrimore and Maghrimore; from Irish Machaire Mór).[3]
Transport
- Manorcunningham railway station opened on 30 June 1883, closed for passenger traffic on 3 June 1940, and finally closed altogether on 10 August 1953.[4]
In recent years the much mooted New Railway Corridor Link might be operational and invoke memories of days gone by. Near neighbouring villages remember the era of industrial time fondly and would embrace any new technological advances.
Village life
Whilst the village is quiet, it does house a number of activities. The Local Community Resource Centre hosts many local community groups under the umbrella organisation called Manorcunningham Community Development Ltd. often referred to as MCDA, who run the Community Resource Centre. The facility has a new Computer Suite, with Broadband access, Fitness, Boxing, Parent & Toddler Group, Women's Group, Historical Society, Festival Committee, Lagan Harps Football Club, Irish & Old Time Dancing, Community Youth Project.
The Centre has been a hub for most activities over the years. In 2007 they held their first Community Festival in over 22 years and now plan to hold an annual event.
MCDA whilst looking after and making sure the local Community Resource Centre remains operational, MCDA are also developing plans for the wider village, inclusive of Health Matters, Outreach Services, Infrastructure.
There are two local shops where provisions may be purchased (including petrol and selected hardware at one of the shops, known as Ivan Browne's Shop), regular Sunday and other services in both the Church of Ireland [5] and Presbyterian Church [6] and a hairdressers beside the post office located in the village.
A regular Lough Swilly bus service runs through the village (non-express services are available through requesting stop at the main road) towards either Letterkenny or Derry.[7]
Transport is also available via Gallaghers Coach Company, who run a regular daily service between Annagry and Belfast via Derry, and which will stop in Manorcunningham at request.[8]
Entertainment
Music is provided in the local pub at weekend times. The main public house is The Lagan Inn which houses after match refreshments for the local Lagan Harps Football Club. They run a weekly Take Your Pick quiz to raise money for the local Festival and also takeaway in the area.
Services
Manor Community Childcare offer reduced expense educational facility for none attending national school age, and also an After School Programme.
Irish Wheelchair Association provide Countywide Services for wheelchair usuers, courses, training, a small fleet of buses for users and meals for all participants.
People
- Major General Sir James Murray Irwin, Major in the British Army
- Erminda Rentoul Esler, novelist
See also
References
- ^ http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_Table_7_and_12.pdf
- ^ http://www.eastdonegalulsterscots.com/history.html
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ "Manorcunningham station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
- ^ http://www.ireland.anglican.org
- ^ http://www.presbyterianireland.org/congregations/ray.html
- ^ http://www.loughswillybusco.com/timetables
- ^ http://www.gallagherscoaches.com
