Stranorlar
Encyclopedia
Stranorlar is a small town in the Finn Valley of County Donegal
, in Ireland
. Stranorlar and Ballybofey
(located on the other side of the River Finn
) form the Twin Towns.
s. For nearly 100 years, Stranorlar was the headquarters of the County Donegal Railway
system (originally the Finn Valley Railway), with services to Derry
and Letterkenny
via Strabane
(near Lifford
), to Ballyshannon
and Killybegs
via Donegal
, and to Glenties
. At its peak the railway had 130 employees. The last train ran from Stranorlar in 1961. Stranorlar railway station opened on 7 September 1863 and finally closed on 5 February] 1960. The old railway station was demolished to make way for a new bus garage owned and run by Bus Éireann
. To celebrate the millennium, the old clock from the railway station was restored and installed in a new clock tower which sits at the old pedestrian entrance to the railway station yard. The town remains the main depot for Bus Éireann within County Donegal
.
is a popular destination for many walkers. From the top of the tower, on a clear day, the hillfort of The Grianan of Aileach can be seen. There is an interesting raised ring fort at Dunwiley, outside the town. There are numerous guest houses throughout the town and on the main street is Stranorlar's only hotel. Kee's Hotel is a family run three star hotel, first established in the 19th century as a coach house. The town has lost out to its bigger twin on the other side of the river, Jackson's Hotel as far as commercial development goes and is mainly a residential area. The vernacular architecture of the town is largely nineteenth century solid two and three storey townhouses, one or two of some interest. Unfortunately they are rapidly being lost to development.
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...
, in 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,...
. Stranorlar and Ballybofey
Ballybofey
Ballybofey is a town located on the south bank of the River Finn, County Donegal, Ireland. Along with the smaller town of Stranorlar on the north side of the River Finn, Ballybofey makes up the Twin Towns....
(located on the other side of the River Finn
River Finn
The River Finn is a river that flows through County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It rises in Lough Finn in County Donegal and flows east through a deep mountain valley to Ballybofey and Stranorlar and on to the confluence with the River Mourne at Lifford...
) form the Twin Towns.
Transport
The town is located at the junction of the N15 and N13 national primary roadNational primary road
A national primary road is a road classification in the Republic of Ireland. National primary roads form the major routes between the major urban centres. There are over 2,700km of national primary roads. This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits...
s. For nearly 100 years, Stranorlar was the headquarters of the County Donegal Railway
County Donegal Railways Joint Committee
The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee operated an extensive 3 foot gauge railway system serving county Donegal, Ireland,from 1906 until 1960...
system (originally the Finn Valley Railway), with services to 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"...
and 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...
via Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
(near Lifford
Lifford
Lifford is the county town of County Donegal, Ireland. It is the administrative capital of the county and the seat of Donegal County Council, although the town of Letterkenny is often mistaken for fulfilling this role...
), to Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located where the N3 and N15 cross the River Erne, and claims to be the oldest town in Ireland.-Location:...
and Killybegs
Killybegs
Killybegs is the largest fishing port in County Donegal and in Ireland. It is located on the south coast of the county, north of Donegal Bay, near Donegal Town. The town is situated at the head of a scenic harbour and at the base of a vast mountainous tract extending northward...
via Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
, and to Glenties
Glenties
Glenties is a village in the northwest of Ireland in central County Donegal. It is situated where two glens meet, northwest of the Blue Stack Mountains, near the confluence of two rivers. Glenties is the largest centre of population in the parish of Iniskeel...
. At its peak the railway had 130 employees. The last train ran from Stranorlar in 1961. Stranorlar railway station opened on 7 September 1863 and finally closed on 5 February] 1960. The old railway station was demolished to make way for a new bus garage owned and run by Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
. To celebrate the millennium, the old clock from the railway station was restored and installed in a new clock tower which sits at the old pedestrian entrance to the railway station yard. The town remains the main depot for Bus Éireann within 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...
.
Education
Stranorlar is home to St. Columba's College and Finn Valley College. The town is also home to two primary schools. St Mary's primary school which is adjacent to the Catholic Church and the Robertson National School which is opposite the Church of Ireland.Religion
Isaac Butt, founder of the Home Rule Movement is buried in the churchyard of the C of I Church (A registered monument). The Catholic Church of St Mary is an imposing 19th Century structure. There are a Methodist and a Presbyterian church in Stranorlar also.Sport
Finn Valley Athletics Club has its track in the town. There is an 18 hole golf course and game fishing in the river Finn, and nearby is the Lough Alann bird sanctuary.Tourism
Drumboe Woods are the major attraction of Stranorlar. The woods are managed by Coillte and provide walking routes along the banks of the River Finn and the upper woods. Outside the town, a small folly called The SteepleThe Steeple
The Steeple is a rocky ridge, about 500 m, forming the northwest arm of horseshoe-shaped Mount Carroll. It rises on the east side of Depot Glacier, 1.5 nautical miles south of the head of Hope Bay, at the northeast end of Antarctic Peninsula. Discovered by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition,...
is a popular destination for many walkers. From the top of the tower, on a clear day, the hillfort of The Grianan of Aileach can be seen. There is an interesting raised ring fort at Dunwiley, outside the town. There are numerous guest houses throughout the town and on the main street is Stranorlar's only hotel. Kee's Hotel is a family run three star hotel, first established in the 19th century as a coach house. The town has lost out to its bigger twin on the other side of the river, Jackson's Hotel as far as commercial development goes and is mainly a residential area. The vernacular architecture of the town is largely nineteenth century solid two and three storey townhouses, one or two of some interest. Unfortunately they are rapidly being lost to development.
People
- Frances BrowneFrances BrowneFrances Browne was an Irish poet and novelist, best remembered for her collection of short stories for children: Granny's Wonderful Chair.-Early life:...
, poet and novelist - James Boyle, MP
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland