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Gweedore
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Gweedore (official name: Gaoth Dobhair) is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, Ireland. Gweedore is also the home of the northwest regional studios of the Irish language radio service Raidió na Gaeltachta, and it is officially the largest Irish-speaking parish in Ireland with a population of around 4,065. It is made up of five main townlands, Bunbeg, Derrybeg, Dunlewey, Crolly and Bloody Foreland, and it sits in the shade of Donegal's tallest peak Mount Errigal.
aoth refers to an inlet of the sea at the mouth of the Crolly River, known as An Ghaoth.
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Encyclopedia
Gweedore (official name: Gaoth Dobhair) is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, Ireland. Gweedore is also the home of the northwest regional studios of the Irish language radio service Raidió na Gaeltachta, and it is officially the largest Irish-speaking parish in Ireland with a population of around 4,065. It is made up of five main townlands, Bunbeg, Derrybeg, Dunlewey, Crolly and Bloody Foreland, and it sits in the shade of Donegal's tallest peak Mount Errigal.
Name
Gaoth refers to an inlet of the sea at the mouth of the Crolly River, known as An Ghaoth. It is the boundary between Gweedore to the north and the Rosses to the south. Dobhar is an old Irish word for water. Gaoth Dobhair translates as the aqueous estuary.
Language
The predominantly spoken language of the district is Irish, but English can be heard and understood as well. All schools, religious services and advertisements are through Irish. Every summer hundreds of students from all over Ireland attend Coláiste Cholmcille (Columcille's College) in order to further their knowledge and understanding of the Irish language.This is a Gaeltacht area, where the Irish language is the first spoken, providing an unbroken link with millennia of Irish history and culture.
Since most of the inhabitants of the village are naturally bilingual, it is common to hear English vocabulary used within an Irish sentence and vice versa. A rich subset of unique vocabulary and phrases has arisen from this bilingualism and due to this, the village has attracted some curious interest from both lexicographers and etymologists in the past. Some examples of these phrases and words are given below, with their standard English definitions:
- Bammy - adj. 1. Eccentric; daft. 2. Of exhibiting anger. [Alteration of the Eng. Barmy.]
- Shy (ball) - n. Used in place of the term 'throw-in' in association football (soccer). [Origin unknown.]
- Big wow - adj. pejorative An expression of contempt for an unimpressive action or idea. [Elsewhere used as a positive remark for something fantastic, remarkable]
(All these terms are in common use in the Glasgow area. Many natives of this part of Donegal settled in the west of Scotland and there is still considerable interraction between the two places.)
- ailte or eáilte - Irish suff. Used to form a Gaelicised version of English verbs: wreckailte - tired. [Generally used in the context of an equivalent Irish word either not existing or rendering the sentence form incorrect.]
Every summer hundreds of students from all over Ireland attend Coláiste Cholmcille (Columcille's College) in order to further their knowledge and understanding of the Irish language.
History
The Ulster Plantation in 1609 added a twist to the fate of the parish. Irish-speaking families who were driven from their fertile lands in the Lagan and the surrounding areas made their way to the poor boglands of west Donegal. Some of them made it as far as Gweedore and could go no further west. Around the same time, English and Scottish settlers began to arrive, when this uncharted territory was converted to baronies. It appears the parish was very sparsely populated up until the 17th century. The first people to arrive lived on the islands or by the shore in clusters, pockets of houses built close together and in each other's shade.
Up until the early 19th century the parish was only lightly populated and it seems the people had an amicable relationship with the landowners.
The standard of life was to deteriorate with the arrival of new landlords in the 19th century, in particular George Hill (1801-1879) and his son Arthur. The people of the parish led by Fr. Séamus Mac Pháidín (parish priest 1875-1901), challenged the landlords with the founding of the Land League and the Plan Of Campaign. The killing by parishioners of District Inspector William Martin (or locally known as An Mháirtínigh) outside the local church, Teach Phobail Mhuire, in Derrybeg on Sunday, the 3 February 1889, while trying to arrest Fr. McFadden with a drawn sword, was the climax of the Land War in Gweedore. The case was recalled in the 1928 memoirs of Tim Healy, who defended some of the parishioners.
An Irish-American journalist WH Hurlbert also investigated the landlord-and-tenant dispute in Gweedore in minute detail in his book "Ireland under Coercion", published in 1888.
Many books have been published in English, but mostly in Irish detailing Gweedore's rich history. One of the most prolific of local historians would be the late Cáit Nic Giolla Bhríde.
Economy
In the 1980s and 1990s, Gweedore had a thriving factory industry, where up to 20 large companies were established producing rubber, carpets, slendertones, and cleaning agents. But in 2001 the companies were dealt a serious blow when most of these companies were destroyed by cheaper Eastern European products. Up to 4,000 dealers were lost, and this affected Gweedore and surrounding areas very badly. The factory in the townland of Crolly have been manufacturing porcelain dolls since 1939 under the name Crolly Dolls.
In 2003, the estate was renamed as Páirc Ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair (Gweedore Business Park), and the Gaeltacht body, Údarás na Gaeltachta, started a campaign to try to entice businesses to Gweedore in hope of reviving their lost economic stability. This worked to a certain extent, when Scottish company Contact 4 opened a call centre on the estate, which provided more jobs in the community. In 2006, the companies that remain there are very successful, such as Euro Iompú Teo, Bia Ghaoth Dobhair, Contact 4 (now Iasachtaí Críonna) and Celtic Transcripts. Other businesses include a few supermarkets, convenience stores, beauticians, hairdressers, contractors, garages, Pharmacists, pubs, cafes, and five well-established hotels.
Education
There are five primary schools in Gweedore, in the townlands of Derrybeg, Bunbeg, Mín an Chladaigh, Dobhar, and Luinneach. The only community school (post primary) is Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, established in Luinneach in 1977, and is managed by headmaster Noel Ó Gallchóir. All these schools teach their students through the Irish language, and they sit their government exams in Irish. In 2004 National University of Ireland, Galway expanded to Gweedore when they opened Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, providing third level education through the Irish language to over 80 students every year.
Physical features
Gweedore is renowned for its distinct physical features. Probably the most recognisable feature is Errigal, the tallest mountain in County Donegal, which overshadows the picturesque Dunlewey Lough. It is surrounded by the deep glens and misty lakes of the Poisoned Glen, and further on, Glenveagh national park and castle, the largest national park in Ireland. Another landmark is 'Bád Eddie' (Eddie's Boat), a shipwreck which has been situated on Magherclogher beach since the early 70s where it had run ashore due to rough seas.
The Gweedore coastline consists of long sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. Also, off the Gweedore coastlines are many beautiful islands, including Gola, and Tory. Behind you a series of spectacular mountains, glens and bogs have combined with the bracing weather to keep this part of the world relatively secluded.
Transport
Gweedore railway station opened on 9 March 1903, closed for passenger traffic on 3 June 1940 and finally closed altogether on 6 January 1947. Coaches that operate from Gweedore include Feda Ó Dónaill, Coyle's Coaches, John McGinley, Patrick Gallagher Coaches, and Crónán Mac is available for private hire in the locality. For many years the Lough Swilly Railway Company provided a bus service for the area, which transported people to places such as Letterkenny and other surrounding parishes.*Gweedore Station on the Letterkenny & Burtonport Extension Railway (L&BER), a company jointly owned by the State and the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway (L&LSR).
- In 1917, the Irish Times christened the Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway ‘that old sinner’. It was a well deserved title for after 14 years in operation, it had become a legend in its own time for its wayward methods, broken down engines, bad management, erratic driving, poor punctuality, passengers travelling in cattle trucks, lost goods, pilferage, nights stuck in the bogs between Letterkenny and Burtonport and severe conflict with the Board of Works.
It seemed that nobody loved the L&BER. There were calls for investigations and inquiries almost annually. Questions were regularly asked in Parliament. Donegal County Council discussed it at almost every meeting. Letter writers vented their fury at its errand ways in the columns of newspapers. Demands for a change of management were made throughout its existence. And yet nothing seemed to change or improve it. It went to its demise as an unrepentant sinner. And yet then people were faithful to it. They travelled in their thousands to the hiring fairs, then feiseanna (festivals of Irish music and song), the football matches, the political meetings, on pilgrimages to the Doon Well or to the Derry Boat. It had its court cases, its funny incidents and its sad and inglorious moments
Sport
Sport plays a very important role in the lives of the local people, sports such as Gaelic football, soccer, golf and various others are exercised religiously by locals both young and old. There is the local Gaelic Athletic Association club CLG Ghaoth Dobhair (Gweedore GAA), that provides facilities in Machaire Gathlán for young Gaelic football hopefuls, the local golf club and voluntary soccer clubs Gweedore Celtic, Gweedore United, Glenea United and Dunlewey Celtic that take part in both county and national competitions.
Scottish footballer Pat Crerand's mother hailed from Gweedore, as did Aiden McGeady's grandmother. Both of them still spend a lot of time in the area.
Music
Gweedore has provided its fair share of famous musicians. Clannad were formed in 1972, and have since gone on to sell over 15 million records. Altan (initially Ceoltóirí Altan) are another band from Gweedore that have put the area on the global stage, they are led by Coshclady fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. Gweedore's most successful musician is Enya, or Eithne Ní Bhraonáin; she first appeared on stage in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair as a member of Clannad, before going on to become one of the world's biggest-selling artists, with sales exceeding 70 million. Other local singers include Aoife Ní Fhearraigh, Brídín Brennan, Na Casaidigh, Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, Gearóidín Breathnach, Seamus McGee and Maria McCool. The well-known 1970s group Skara Brae also had strong links with the district. There are two active choirs in the area. Cór Mhuire Doirí Beaga, led by Baba Brennan and Eileen Nic Suibhne and Cór Thaobh 'a Leithid, led by Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde. Both have recorded successful albums.
The popular Frankie Kennedy Winter Music School takes part in Gweedore every new year in memory of the famous Belfast musician who was married to Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, until he died of cancer in 1994.
The song Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair, was written by local man Proinsias Ó Maonaigh expressing an exile's final farewell to the green valleys of Gweedore.
Placenames in Gweedore
Because Gweedore is in the Gaeltacht and partly due to the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003, while both English and Irish versions of placenames are used, some road signage uses the Irish version exclusively.
Alphabetical listing
- Arduns (An tArd Donn)
- Ardnagappery (Ard na gCeapairí)
- Ballindrait (Baile an Droichid)
- Bloody Foreland (Cnoc Fola)
- Brinaleck (Bun an Leaca)
- Bunaninver (Bun an Inbhear)
- Bunbeg (An Bun Beag)
- Carrick (An Charraic)
- Carrickataskin (Carraig an tSeascain)
- Cotteen (Coitín or An Choiteann)
- Crolly (Croithshlí or Croithlí)
- Curransport (Port Uí Chuireáin)
- Derrybeg (Na Doirí Beaga or Doire Beag)
- Dore (Dobhar)
- Dunlewey (Dún Lúiche)
- Glassagh (Glaiseach or An Ghlaisigh)
- Glasserchoo (Glaisear Chú or Glas Dobhar Chú)
- Glentornan (Gleann Tornáin)
- Knockastolar (Cnoc an Stolaire)
- Lunniagh (Luinneach)
- Magheraclogher (Machaire Chlochair)
- Magheragallon or Magheragallen (Machaire Gathlán)
- Meenaclady (Mín an Chladaigh)
- Meenacuing (Mín na Cuinge)
- Meenaniller (Mín an Iolair)
- Middletown (Baile Lár)
- Sheskinbeg (Seascann Beag)
- Stranacorkra (Srath na Corcra)
Islands
- Gola (Gabhla)
- Inishmen (Inis Meáin)
- Inishirhir (Inis Oirthear)
- Inishinny (Inis Sionnaigh)
- Tory (Toraigh) - although not directly situated off the coast of Gweedore, the main ferry crossings are from the area.
Notable people from Gweedore
- Bríd Rodgers, politician
- Clannad, musicians
- Cormac Breslin, former T.D and Ceann Comhairle
- Dinny McGinley, T.D
- Enya, musician
- James Duffy, recipient of the Victoria Cross
- Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, musician
- Moya Brennan, musician
- Pearse Doherty, senator
- Pádraig Ó Domhnaill, member of the Invincibles
- Proinsias Ó Maonaigh, musician
- Breandán de Gallaí, dancer
- Seán 'ac Fhionnlaoich, author
- Tarlach Mac Suibhne, musician
- Vincent Coll, prohibition gangster
See also
External links
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