The Rosses
Encyclopedia
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...
, 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...
, centred around the town of Dungloe
Dungloe
Dungloe is a Gaeltacht town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the Rosses and the largest in the Donegal Gaeltacht...
, which acts as the educational, shopping and civil centre for the area. Defined by physical boundaries in the form of rivers, as well as history and language use, the area has a distinctive identity, separate from the rest of Donegal. The extensive region lies between the parish of Gweedore
Gweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...
to the north and the town of 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...
to the south. A large part of the Rosses is in the Gaeltacht
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...
, which means that Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
is the spoken language. The Rosses, Cloughaneely
Cloughaneely
Cloughaneely is a district in the west of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. This is a mainly coastal area centred on the town of Falcarragh, and it is a Gaeltacht area, meaning the Irish language is spoken as the primary language...
and Gweedore
Gweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...
, known locally as the three parishes, together form a social and cultural region different from the rest of the county, with Gweedore serving as the main centre for socialising and industry.
Culture
Once a predominantly IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
-speaking area, over recent generations English has become increasingly common. Irish is still used extensively in some areas including parts of the island of Arranmore
Arranmore
Árainn Mhór is the largest inhabited island of 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 Ranafast
Ranafast
Rann na Feirste is a village and townland in Na Rosa region of northwest County Donegal, Ireland....
and the village of Annagry
Annagry
Anagaire is a Gaeltacht village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland. It has a population of around 249.-Name:The Irish and official name for Annagry is Anagaire, which in turn derives from Áth na gCoire....
. In some areas, like the hills around Dungloe
Dungloe
Dungloe is a Gaeltacht town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the Rosses and the largest in the Donegal Gaeltacht...
, around Loughanure
Loughanure
Loch an Iúir , anglicised as Loughanure, is a village in the north-west of County Donegal, Ireland. It is halfway between Gweedore and Dungloe, on the N56 road, in the Gaeltacht area of the Rosses...
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 football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "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
"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 Scotland
Scotland
Scotland 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...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow 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 MountainsDerryveagh Mountains
The Derryveagh Mountains is the major mountain range in County Donegal, Ireland. It makes up much of the landmass of the county, and is the area of Ireland with the lowest population density. The mountains separate the coastal parts of the county, such as Gweedore and Glenties, from the major...
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.
Transport
The Rosses boasts Donegal's only airport at Carrickfinn. Various coach companies serve the area.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
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
, and was the centre of the parish of Templecrone.
In the 16th century, a number of ships from the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe 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 to stop English...
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
The 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 Dungloe
Dungloe
Dungloe is a Gaeltacht town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the Rosses and the largest in the Donegal Gaeltacht...
.
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 bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
s emanating from the region; the area boasts many All-Ireland championship bands in all grades and disciplines.
Notable people from the Rosses
- Packie BonnerPackie BonnerPatrick Joseph "Packie" Bonner is an Irish former football goalkeeper for Celtic and the Republic of Ireland, who earned 80 caps after making his debut on his 21st birthday...
, former Ireland goalkeeper - Goats Don't ShaveGoats Don't ShaveGoats Don't Shave were an Irish folk rock band formed in 1990. Formed in Dungloe, County Donegal, the group was fronted by singer-songwriter Pat Gallagher and backed by musicians Jason Philbin , Charlie Logue , Declan Quinn , Gerry Coyle , Sean Doherty and Michael Gallagher .The group released two...
, folk band - Niall Ó DónaillNiall Ó DónaillNiall 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'DonnellDaniel O'Donnell (Irish singer)Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. 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. He is known for his close relationship with his...
, singer - Peadar O'DonnellPeadar O'DonnellPeadar O'Donnell was an Irish republican and socialist 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
- MargoMargo (music)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 GriannaSéamus Ó GriannaSéamus 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. He attended an Irish language...
, author - Seosamh Mac GriannaSeosamh Mac GriannaSeosamh Mac Grianna was an Irish writer, in his early career 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...
, author - Skara Brae, folk band
Townlands in the Rosses
- AnnagryAnnagryAnagaire is a Gaeltacht village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland. It has a population of around 249.-Name:The Irish and official name for Annagry is Anagaire, which in turn derives from Áth na gCoire....
(Anagaire) - Braade (An Bhráid)
- BurtonportBurtonportAilt an Chorráin or Ailt a' Chorráin is a Gaeltacht fishing village about 7 km northwest of Dungloe in County Donegal, Ireland....
(Ailt an Chorráin) - Carrickfinn (Carraig Fhinne or Carraig Fhinn)
- CrollyCrollyCroithlí or Croichshlí is a village in the Gaeltacht parishes of Gweedore and the Rosses . The two parishes are separated by the picturesque Crolly River...
(Croithlí)(half of which is situated in Gweedore) - DoocharyDoocharyAn Dúchoraidh , meaning "the black weir", is a small village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland. Doochary is within the Gaeltacht, meaning the Irish language is the main language used there, but concern has been expressed regarding the decline of the language in the area...
(An Dúchoraidh) - DungloeDungloeDungloe is a Gaeltacht town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the Rosses and the largest in the Donegal Gaeltacht...
(An Clochán Liath) - Keadue (Céideadh)
- KincasslaghKincasslaghCionn Caslach or Ceann Caslach is a small Gaeltacht seaside village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland...
(Cionn Caslach) - LettermacawardLettermacawardLeitir Mhic an Bhaird or Leitir Mhic a' Bhaird is a Gaeltacht village in the Rosses region of County Donegal, Ireland. The village, known colloquially as Leitir , is between the larger towns of Glenties and Dungloe.-Amenities:The village has two shops, 'Clerkins', a family run service station, and...
/Leitir (Leitir Mhic an Bhaird) - LoughanureLoughanureLoch an Iúir , anglicised as Loughanure, is a village in the north-west of County Donegal, Ireland. It is halfway between Gweedore and Dungloe, on the N56 road, in the Gaeltacht area of the Rosses...
(Loch an Iúir) - Maghery (An Mhachaire)
- Meenbanad (Meenbanad )
- Mullaghduff (Mullach Dubh)
- RanafastRanafastRann na Feirste is a village and townland in Na Rosa region of northwest County Donegal, Ireland....
(Rann na Feirste)
Islands
- ArranmoreArranmoreÁrainn Mhór is the largest inhabited island of 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 Uaighe)