Ballyraine
Encyclopedia
Ballyraine is a district located in the parish of Aughaninshin in Letterkenny
, County Donegal
, Ireland
. Ballyraine National School is a co-educational primary school which is under joint management of the Church of Ireland
and Presbyterian Church. Ballyraine Linear Park
is also located in the area.
Physical distance from the town centre, lack of permeability and lack of neighbourhood facilities result in an isolated neighbourhood with high dependency on car usage for daily conveniences.
The area has a rich maritime past. In 1824, when the first description of Letterkenny as a modern town was written, it was stated that: "Within half a mile is the Port of Ballyraine, whither vessels of 100 tons bring iron, salt and colonial produce and whence they export hides and butter".
Port Ballyraine would have seen the regular importation of timber to the building trade and also the poles to carry out the Electrification of Rural Ireland programme during the 1930s. The port was closed to commercial shipping in the 1960s. The 19th century shipping warehouses were demolished in 2001, a coal yard remains at the Port Bridge. The Polestar monument located on the Port Bridge Roundabout serves as a reminder of the area's past. Created by Locky Morris, Its shape alludes to the outline of a boat, as well as having a locomotive (train track) theme, to commemorate the fact that both forms of transportation played a major part in the town's development in the past.
In 1990, due to the growing population of the area, it was deemed necessary to construct a church. The Church of the Irish Martyrs
was completed in 1994 and became the first church in Ireland to be named after the Irish Catholic Martyrs.
is located in the Donegal Enterprise Fund Business Centre in Ballyraine. Confectionery manufacturers Oatfield
are based at the entrance to Ballyraine. Education and training centre Rossan College is also located in the area.
Former industries included a UNIFI plant which closed in 2004.
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...
, 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...
, 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...
. Ballyraine National School is a co-educational primary school which is under joint management of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
and Presbyterian Church. Ballyraine Linear Park
Ballyraine Linear Park
The Ballyraine Linear Park is situated on the outskirts of Letterkenny town. It is a park that has been developed over the last few years, and currently features a stone wall along a small walkway and an area of natural wildlife and plants....
is also located in the area.
Physical distance from the town centre, lack of permeability and lack of neighbourhood facilities result in an isolated neighbourhood with high dependency on car usage for daily conveniences.
History
Port Ballyraine would have seen the regular importation of timber to the building trade and also the poles to carry out the Electrification of Rural Ireland programme during the 1930s. The port was closed to commercial shipping in the 1960s. The 19th century shipping warehouses were demolished in 2001, a coal yard remains at the Port Bridge. The Polestar monument located on the Port Bridge Roundabout serves as a reminder of the area's past. Created by Locky Morris, Its shape alludes to the outline of a boat, as well as having a locomotive (train track) theme, to commemorate the fact that both forms of transportation played a major part in the town's development in the past.
In 1990, due to the growing population of the area, it was deemed necessary to construct a church. The Church of the Irish Martyrs
Church of the Irish Martyrs
The Church of the Irish Martyrs is a Roman Catholic church located in the parish of Aughaninshin in the Ballyraine area of Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland.- History :...
was completed in 1994 and became the first church in Ireland to be named after the Irish Catholic Martyrs.
Local economy
Businesses currently operating in the area include Donegal Creameries, which has operations in Ireland, Britain and Holland, leisure complex Arena 7 which is located in Ballyraine Retail Park and the Mount Errigal Hotel. The Donegal studio of RTÉRaidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
is located in the Donegal Enterprise Fund Business Centre in Ballyraine. Confectionery manufacturers Oatfield
Oatfield (confectionery)
Oatfield is a chocolate and confectionery manufacturer located in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. The company is over 100 years old making it the oldest confectionery manufacturer in Ireland.- The Beginning :...
are based at the entrance to Ballyraine. Education and training centre Rossan College is also located in the area.
Former industries included a UNIFI plant which closed in 2004.