The Rosses (official name:
Na Rosa or
Na Rosann, is a geographical and social region in the west of
County DonegalCounty Donegal is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the Province of Ulster and is part of the Republic of Ireland. It was named after the town of Donegal ....
, part of the Province of
UlsterUlster is one of the four Provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island.Ulster is composed of nine counties: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone are part of Northern Ireland; while Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of the Republic of Ireland.-Terminology:The...
in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
. Defined by physical boundaries in the form of rivers, as well as history and language use, the area has a distinctive identity, separate to the rest of Donegal. The widespread region sits between the parish of
GweedoreGweedore 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 RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, and it is officially the largest Irish-speaking parish in Ireland with a...
to the north and the town of
GlentiesGlenties 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...
to the south.
The Rosses (official name:
Na Rosa or
Na Rosann, is a geographical and social region in the west of
County DonegalCounty Donegal is one of the traditional counties of Ireland. It is located within the Province of Ulster and is part of the Republic of Ireland. It was named after the town of Donegal ....
, part of the Province of
UlsterUlster is one of the four Provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island.Ulster is composed of nine counties: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone are part of Northern Ireland; while Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of the Republic of Ireland.-Terminology:The...
in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
. Defined by physical boundaries in the form of rivers, as well as history and language use, the area has a distinctive identity, separate to the rest of Donegal. The widespread region sits between the parish of
GweedoreGweedore 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 RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, and it is officially the largest Irish-speaking parish in Ireland with a...
to the north and the town of
GlentiesGlenties 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...
to the south. A large part of the Rosses is in the
Gaeltachtis 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 recognizes that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
, which means that
IrishIrish is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now only spoken natively by a small minority of the Irish population but also plays an important symbolic role in the life of the Irish state, and is used...
is the spoken language.
Culture
Once a predominantly
IrishIrish is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now only spoken natively by a small minority of the Irish population but also plays an important symbolic role in the life of the Irish state, and is used...
-speaking area, over recent generations English has become increasingly common. Irish is still used extensively in some areas including parts of the island of
ArranmoreArranmore Island is the largest inhabited island in County Donegal, and the second largest in all of Ireland, with a population of 528 in 2006, down from 543 in 2002, and over 600 in 1996. The island is part of the Donegal Gaeltacht...
, the townland of
RanafastRanafast is a townland situated in The Rosses , north-west County Donegal, Ireland....
and the village of
AnnagryAnnagry is a village in the Gaeltacht area of the Rosses , Donegal, near Gweedore and with a population of around 249. It has seen large numbers of its parish folk working in Scotland, England and Wales and much wider afield including the USA, Australia and Canada...
. In some areas, like the hills around
DungloeDungloe is a town in the Gaeltacht of County Donegal, Ireland, and is the main town in the Rosses...
, around
LoughanureLoch an Iúir is a village in the north-west of County Donegal, Ireland. Situated halfway between Gweedore and Dungloe, on the N56 road, in the Gaeltacht area of the Rosses.-Name:...
and in pockets of Doochary and Lettermacaward, the Irish language is still predominant.
The local people are said to have a preference for soccer over
Gaelic footballGaelic football , commonly referred to as "Football" , "Gaelic" or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, which is less often the case in rural areas of the country. The area fields a number of football teams, both in soccer and Gaelic football. Keadue Rovers from the lower Rosses have traditionally been the area's strongest soccer team, whereas Dungloe have been the strongest in Gaelic football. There is also a strong tradition of songwriting in the area, Seán McBride (1906-1996) from Cruit Island wrote the popular song "
The Homes of Donegal"The Homes of Donegal" is an Irish ballad written by songwriter Seán McBride in 1955. It has been performed by many singers, most famously by Paul Brady....
".
There are connections between the people of The Rosses and
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
,
GlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in particular, due to the economic need for emigration in the past and the strong ties forged over the generations as a result. Many people from The Rosses, in common with people from other parts of County Donegal, have also settled in the City of Derry, especially since the late 1840's.
Geography
The area is bounded by the Gweebarra River to the south, the Gweedore River to the north, the
Derryveagh MountainsThe Derryveagh Mountains are the major mountain range in County Donegal, Ireland. They make up much of the landmass of Donegal, and are the area of Ireland with the lowest population density. They separate the coastal parts of Donegal such as Gweedore and Glenties from the inland centres such as...
and the Gweebarra River (Doochary Bridge) to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The name comes from "Ros", the Irish word for headland. The area presents a rocky barren landscape, studded with a myriad of lakes and inlets of the sea.
History
The Rosses has been inhabited since time immemorial, and the ancient church of St. Crona in Termon near Dungloe has been dated to the 6th century AD. It was the site of a monastery founded by St. Crona, a cousin of the Royal Saint Columcille, founder of the monastic settlement at
IonaIona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland that has an important place in the history of Christianity in Scotland and is renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty...
, and was the centre of the parish of Templecrone.
In the 16th century, a number of ships from the
Spanish ArmadaThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England.Philip II of Spain had been co-monarch of England until the death of his wife Mary I in 1558...
sank off or landed off its coast.
Economy
Historically The Rosses has relied heavily on hospitality, tourism and the fishing industry as the mainstays of its economy. The area has its own indigenous supermarket chain called
The CopeThe Cope, or the Templecrone Agricultural Co-operative Society , is a co-operative retail chain indigenous to The Rosses area of County Donegal in Ireland...
which has been quite successful. There is very little manufacturing industry in The Rosses apart from a few companies located in
DungloeDungloe is a town in the Gaeltacht of County Donegal, Ireland, and is the main town in the Rosses...
.
Tourism
The area claims a large proportion of Donegal's tourist income, due to its renowned scenery and its many festivals, including the Mary From Dungloe International Festival. There is a very strong tradition of
marching bandA marching band is, in the broadest terms, a group of performers that consist of instrumental musicians and sometimes dance teams / color guard who generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds,...
s emanating from the region; the area boasts many All-Ireland championship bands in all grades and disciplines.
Notable people from the Rosses
- Packie Bonner
Patrick Joseph "Packie" Bonner is a former football goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland, who earned 80 caps after making his debut on his 21st birthday...
, former Ireland goalkeeper
- Goats Don't Shave
Goats Don't Shave are an Irish musical group from the Rosses, County Donegal. They are most famous for their hit song " In the Hills of Donegal", which has become a favourite all over Ireland. They are led by Pat Gallagher, who currently resides in Gweedore, Donegal...
, musicians
- Niall Ó Dónaill
Niall Ó Dónaill was an Irish language lexicographer from Loughanure, County Donegal, Ireland. Ó Dónaill is most famous for his work as editor of the 1977 Irish-English dictionary Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla which is still widely used today. He received his education in St Eunan's College in Letterkenny...
, lexicographer
- Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell, Hon. M.B.E. , is an Irish singer and television presenter. O'Donnell came to public attention in 1983 and has since become a household name in Ireland and the UK. He has also had considerable success in the US...
, singer
- Peadar O'Donnell
Peadar O'Donnell was an Irish republican Marxist activist and writer.-Early life:Peadar O'Donnell was born into an Irish speaking family in Dungloe, County Donegal in northwest Ireland, in 1893. He attended St. Patrick's College, Dublin, where he trained as a teacher...
, socialist and author
- Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, MEP
- Seosamh Mac Grianna
Seosamh Mac Grianna was an Irish writer, under the pen-name Iolann Fionn. He was born into a family of poets and storytellers, which included his brothers Séamus Ó Grianna and Seán Bán Mac Grianna, in Ranafast, County Donegal, at a time of linguistic and cultural change.-Education and early...
, author
- Margo
Margo is an Irish singer. She rose to prominence during the 1960s in the Irish country music scene and has had a successful career since.-Background:...
, singer
- Séamus Ó Grianna
Séamus Ó Grianna was an Irish writer, who used the pen name Máire. Born into a family of poets and storytellers in Ranafast, County Donegal, he attended local primary school until the age of 14. He spent several years at home and as a seasonal worker in Scotland...
, author
- Skara Brae, musicians
Townlands in the Rosses
- Annagry
Annagry is a village in the Gaeltacht area of the Rosses , Donegal, near Gweedore and with a population of around 249. It has seen large numbers of its parish folk working in Scotland, England and Wales and much wider afield including the USA, Australia and Canada...
(Anagaire)
- Burtonport
Burtonport is a fishing village situated on the northwest coast of Ireland, some 7 km northwest of Dungloe in County Donegal and it forms part of the official Gaeltacht region....
(Ailt an Chorráin)
- Carrickfinn (Carraig Fhinne or Carraig Fhinn)
- Doochary
Doochary , is a small village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland. Doochary is situated within the Gaeltacht, meaning the Irish language is used in the village, but concern has been widely expressed regarding the decline of the language in the area...
(An Dúchoraidh)
- Dungloe
Dungloe is a town in the Gaeltacht of County Donegal, Ireland, and is the main town in the Rosses...
(An Clochán Liath)
- Keadue (Céideadh)
- Kincasslagh
Kincasslagh is a small seaside village in the Rosses area, in northwest Ireland, consisting of a pub, an art gallery, a shop and post office....
(Cionn Caslach)
- Lettermacaward
Lettermacaward , is a Gaeltacht village situated in the Rosses region of County Donegal, Ireland. The village, which is usually known as simply 'Leitir' , is situated between the larger towns of Glenties and Dungloe.The village has two shops, 'Clerkins', a family run service station, and 'the Cope'...
(Leitir Mhic an Bhaird)
- Loughanure
Loch an Iúir is a village in the north-west of County Donegal, Ireland. Situated halfway between Gweedore and Dungloe, on the N56 road, in the Gaeltacht area of the Rosses.-Name:...
(Loch an Iúir)
- Maghery (An Mhachaire)
- Meenbanad (Meenbanad )
- Mullaghduff (Mullach Dubh)
- Ranafast
Ranafast is a townland situated in The Rosses , north-west County Donegal, Ireland....
(Rann na Feirste)
Islands
- Arranmore
Arranmore Island is the largest inhabited island in County Donegal, and the second largest in all of Ireland, with a population of 528 in 2006, down from 543 in 2002, and over 600 in 1996. The island is part of the Donegal Gaeltacht...
(Árainn Mhór)
- Cruit (An Chruit)
- Iniscaoragh (Inis Caorach)
- Inisfree (Inis Fraoigh)
- Owey Island (Oileán Í)