Carrigart
Encyclopedia
Carraig Airt is a small Gaeltacht
village in the Barony of Kilmacrenan
to the north of County Donegal
, Republic of Ireland
.
The village is on the R245 route between Letterkenny
and Creeslough
. Situated as it is at the base of the Rosguill
peninsula, in one of the more remote but most scenic parts of the country, the village provides services for a large hinterland, with a supermarket with banking facilities, a post office, a doctor's surgery and a barracks manned part-time by An Garda Síochána. Carrigart has a public park that borders the shoreline behind the houses on the main street. Designed by Angela Gallagher, it is maintained by the Tidy Towns
Committee and has won several awards. The village and its environs remain largely agricultural, relying heavily on passing trade and tourism during the summer months. In common with the rest of this part of Donegal, Carrigart has a large number of second homes, owned especially by Northern Irish
holiday makers.
The village, which celebrated its centenary in 2002, although there is evidence of Carrigart's existence for longer than that, originally formed part of the estates of the Earls of Leitrim
, nearby Mulroy House being one of their seats. William Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim
, was assassinated in nearby Cratlagh wood in 1878 by men from the neighbouring peninsula of Fanad
.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Carrigart had a fair day on June 21.
Each year the town holds host to a festival that runs from 8 to 14 August.
The official name given to Carrigart is Carraig Airt but it has also been translated as Ceathrú Fhiodhghoirt, meaning meaning Quarterland of the Wood of the Field
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
village in the Barony of Kilmacrenan
Kilmacrenan
Kilmacrenan is a small village located in County Donegal on the north west coast of Ireland. The village had a population of 430 in the 2002 census, however the village's population has increased rapidily over the last decade as a result of people leaving Letterkenny and living in the countryside...
to the north of County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
The village is on the R245 route between Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
and Creeslough
Creeslough
Creeslough is a village in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It lies 12 km south of Dunfanaghy on the N56 road, 54 m above sea level and overlooking an arm of Sheephaven Bay...
. Situated as it is at the base of the Rosguill
Rosguill
Rosguill is a peninsula situated in north-north-west County Donegal, Ireland. Lying between the peninsulae of Fanad to the east and Horn Head to the west, Rosguill is a dichotomy of heathland and ocean...
peninsula, in one of the more remote but most scenic parts of the country, the village provides services for a large hinterland, with a supermarket with banking facilities, a post office, a doctor's surgery and a barracks manned part-time by An Garda Síochána. Carrigart has a public park that borders the shoreline behind the houses on the main street. Designed by Angela Gallagher, it is maintained by the Tidy Towns
National Tidy Town Awards
May refer to:*Australian Tidy Town Awards*Tidy Towns *Newfoundland and Labrador Tidy Towns Competition...
Committee and has won several awards. The village and its environs remain largely agricultural, relying heavily on passing trade and tourism during the summer months. In common with the rest of this part of Donegal, Carrigart has a large number of second homes, owned especially by Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
holiday makers.
The village, which celebrated its centenary in 2002, although there is evidence of Carrigart's existence for longer than that, originally formed part of the estates of the Earls of Leitrim
Earl of Leitrim
Earl of Leitrim was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1795 for Robert Clements, 1st Viscount Leitrim. He had already been created Baron Leitrim, of Manor Hamilton in the County of Leitrim, in 1783, and Viscount Leitrim in 1793, also in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1800 he was...
, nearby Mulroy House being one of their seats. William Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim
William Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim
William Sydney Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim was an Anglo-Irish nobleman and landlord.Born in Dublin, he was educated at Sandhurst and was commissioned an Ensign in the 43rd Foot in 1824...
, was assassinated in nearby Cratlagh wood in 1878 by men from the neighbouring peninsula of Fanad
Fanad
Fanad is a peninsula that lies between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay on the north coast of County Donegal in Ireland. It encompasses the parishes of Clondavaddog, Killygarvan and parts of Tullyfern and Aughinish. The peninsula includes the towns and villages of Milford, Kerrykeel , Tamney,...
.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Carrigart had a fair day on June 21.
Each year the town holds host to a festival that runs from 8 to 14 August.
The official name given to Carrigart is Carraig Airt but it has also been translated as Ceathrú Fhiodhghoirt, meaning meaning Quarterland of the Wood of the Field
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland