Greencastle, County Donegal
Encyclopedia
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
Peninsula on the north coast 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...
, part of the Province of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, in the northwest of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Nowadays, given the decline in the fishing industry, it resembles more closely a 'typical' Donegal holiday village. It is located a few miles from Moville
Moville
Moville is a town and coastal resort on the Inishowen Peninsula of County Donegal, close to the northern tip of Ireland.-Location:...
and is about 20 miles from Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. Greencastle's name comes from the castle in the area, which, in turn, may have derived its name from the green freestone with which it was built. The castle, originally built by the Anglo-Normans, is also known as Newburgh Castle.
The first proper pier was built in 1813 and has been added to several times since. Today, as well as being a tie up for trawlers and salmon boats and the home of the Greencastle Fishermen's Co-Op, the Foyle Fishermen's Co-Op and Fresco Seafoods, the pier also has a very different "catch". Visitors disembark from the Magilligan
Magilligan
Magilligan peninsula lies in the northwest of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, at the entrance to Lough Foyle...
-Greencastle ferry which was inaugurated in 2002. The official website advertises the fact that this saves 78 km (or 49 miles) of driving, which would be through Derry. The Lough Foyle Ferry Company has also recently (2004) begun a Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly
Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
ferry service that runs between Buncrana and Rathmullan
Rathmullan
Rathmullan is a small seaside village on the Fanad Peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It is situated on the western shore of Lough Swilly, 11 km north-east of Ramelton and 12 km east of Milford...
seasonally. The pier also contains a newly built pilot office to replace the decommissioned pilot office at Carrickarory Pier.
Greencastle is also one of the disembarkation ports for cruise ships visiting Derry. Due to the tidal nature of the Foyle Estuary, it is sometimes too shallow for cruise ships to make their way to Lisahally docks in Derry. Stopping at Greencastle also saves 5 hours sailing round trip. However passengers are required to disembark using tenders as, unlike Lisahally docks, the Greencastle pier was not designed to allow a cruise ship to dock.
The castle at Greencastle has been linked with the castle in the background of the Derry crest.
The castle was built in 1305 to provide a base for Anglo-Norman power in the North West. This building was named "Northburg". There is a more modern Martello Fort beside the Norman ruin. This was built by the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
to stop Napoléon invading circa 1800.
The National Fisheries College (NFC) is located in Greencastle. The NFC recently completed a €1.1 million extension funded under the INTERREG
Interreg
Interreg is an initiative that aims to stimulate cooperation between regions in the European Union. It started in 1989, and is financed under the European Regional Development Fund...
11 Initiative, thus providing better facilities including a realistic simulator bridge deck. Greencastle is also home to the world famous Diver potato empire, winner of the 2010 Best Spud and Chip award.
The late James Kealy is credited as vastly improving tourism to the village. Taking over his late father, William Kealys pub The Black Dog, he renovated and transformed it into The Kealy's Seafood Bar which has gone onto win many prestigious awards, most recently Georgina Campell's Seafood Restaurant of the Year 2010 was awarded to Tricia, James' widow and Head Chef.
Marina Protests
Allegations that visiting yachts were turned away from the harbour have now been shown to be completely unfounded lies. A private company was seeking to establish a private Marina in the public harbour, forcing local fishermen out, A malicious rumour was publicised that visiting yachts were turned away into a storm, Gardai investigations found these acusations to have no foundation as confirmed by the harbour master.http://www.highlandradio.com/2011/06/09/no-truth-that-greencastle-inshore-fishermen-turned-away-yachts-in-stormy-conditions/
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- Greencastle Fort Information
- History of Greencastle church
- Greencastle golf club
- Greencastle - Magilligan Ferry
- Moville Records - genealogy information for the Greencastle area
- Please join petition to save Lough Foyle Ferry :Funding issues Website Now Offline having seen the ferry receive support from both local Governments in Jan 2010, Thankyou to those who helped and signed petition.
Signed - Cahir O'Doherty - creator of website