Castlefin
Encyclopedia
Castlefin sometimes spelt Castlefinn, is a market town
in the Finn Valley of County Donegal
, Ireland
. The town has a population of 810 (2006) and is located between Ballybofey
and Lifford
. The River Finn
flows by the town. The town is located in along the main N15 national primary road, which runs from Bundoran
to Lifford
. The town lies 6 miles from Lifford
and 8 miles from the twin towns of Ballybofey
/Stranorlar
. It has close links to the twin towns of Ballybofey
/ Stranorlar
, Letterkenny
and has strong links with West Tyrone in Northern Ireland
, especially with the towns of Strabane
and Castlederg
.
and Ballybofey
. Other pubs in the town include Tinneys and Lynch's aka skins. The five housing estates in the town are called the Emmett Park, Sessaigh Park, Caislean Court, Hillhead and Grahamsland - these were built in the 1960s.
The town centre is located around the Diamond area, which is where 3 routes merge. This area has a number of functions, mainly retail/commercial. The Diamond is an attractive area, with landscaped seating and planting areas. This area also has a number of buildings that are included on the Record of Protected Structures.
The town has a number of functions including retail, commercial, education, religious, economic, agricultural, social and recreational and a the C.P.I center where the Garden show is based. However, the majority of functions are limited in scope due to the deficiency in population to support a number of large-scale services.
Castlefinn serves as the focus of primary education for the surrounding rural areas. The National School has a large catchment area and currently has 225 pupils attending. This provides employment for 10 full time teachers and a number of associated job opportunities. The town has a play school for pre-school age children.
The town centre is the focus of a wide range of functions and activities. The town offers the basic essential retail outlets including grocery stores, petrol station, Post office, butchers, take-aways, public houses and some hairdressers . The town also has a recycling facility that is located on the Castlederg road beside the bridge. The main facility is the C.P.I center witch is used for football,parties,computering and the youth club. Holmes' Coaches - operated by Gerard Holmes- is the main transport for the schools, but Castlefinn Cabs and Bus Hire - operated by Michael Carlin- is another taxi company.
, 4.5 miles from Lifford. Its name translates from the castle on the banks of the river finn, the stones from the castle were used in the construction of the bridge that still stands today, and at the close of Elizabeth I
’s reign it belonged to Sir Neill Garbh O’Donnell. It is situated on the river Finn, which is navigable to the River Foyle
for vessels of 14 tons’ burden, is on the road from Strabane
to Stranorlar
and in 1837 consisted of a single street, with a Roman Catholic Chapel.
in Donegal
, this is long since gone.
Castlefinn also offers a pre-school for children five and under.
A number of buses pass through Castlefinn on a daily basis going to Letterkenny
, Derry
, Strabane
, Dublin, Sligo
and Galway
.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in the Finn Valley of 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
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,...
. The town has a population of 810 (2006) and is located between 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....
and 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...
. 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...
flows by the town. The town is located in along the main N15 national primary road, which runs from Bundoran
Bundoran
Bundoran is a town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. The town is located on the N15 road near Ballyshannon, 3 hours drive from Dublin and around two and a quarter hours drive from Belfast...
to 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...
. The town lies 6 miles from 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...
and 8 miles from the twin towns of 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....
/Stranorlar
Stranorlar
Stranorlar is a small town in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, in Ireland. Stranorlar and Ballybofey form the Twin Towns.-Transport:...
. It has close links to the twin towns of 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....
/ Stranorlar
Stranorlar
Stranorlar is a small town in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, in Ireland. Stranorlar and Ballybofey form the Twin Towns.-Transport:...
, 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...
and has strong links with West Tyrone in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, especially with the towns of Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
and Castlederg
Castlederg
Castlederg is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Derg and is close to the border with County Donegal. The village has a ruined castle and two ancient tombs known as the Druid's Altar and Todd's Den...
.
Amenities
The main social outlet in the town is a pub called McBrides, at the foot of the Long Brae beside the main road between LiffordLifford
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...
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....
. Other pubs in the town include Tinneys and Lynch's aka skins. The five housing estates in the town are called the Emmett Park, Sessaigh Park, Caislean Court, Hillhead and Grahamsland - these were built in the 1960s.
The town centre is located around the Diamond area, which is where 3 routes merge. This area has a number of functions, mainly retail/commercial. The Diamond is an attractive area, with landscaped seating and planting areas. This area also has a number of buildings that are included on the Record of Protected Structures.
The town has a number of functions including retail, commercial, education, religious, economic, agricultural, social and recreational and a the C.P.I center where the Garden show is based. However, the majority of functions are limited in scope due to the deficiency in population to support a number of large-scale services.
Castlefinn serves as the focus of primary education for the surrounding rural areas. The National School has a large catchment area and currently has 225 pupils attending. This provides employment for 10 full time teachers and a number of associated job opportunities. The town has a play school for pre-school age children.
The town centre is the focus of a wide range of functions and activities. The town offers the basic essential retail outlets including grocery stores, petrol station, Post office, butchers, take-aways, public houses and some hairdressers . The town also has a recycling facility that is located on the Castlederg road beside the bridge. The main facility is the C.P.I center witch is used for football,parties,computering and the youth club. Holmes' Coaches - operated by Gerard Holmes- is the main transport for the schools, but Castlefinn Cabs and Bus Hire - operated by Michael Carlin- is another taxi company.
History
Castlefinn is in the parish of Donaghmore, barony of RaphoeRaphoe
Raphoe is a town in County Donegal, part of the province of Ulster in Ireland. It is the main town in the fertile district of East Donegal known as the Laggan, as well as giving its name to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe and the Church of Ireland Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.-Name:Raphoe,...
, 4.5 miles from Lifford. Its name translates from the castle on the banks of the river finn, the stones from the castle were used in the construction of the bridge that still stands today, and at the close of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
’s reign it belonged to Sir Neill Garbh O’Donnell. It is situated on the river Finn, which is navigable to the River Foyle
River Foyle
The River Foyle is a river in west Ulster in the northwest of Ireland, which flows from the confluence of the rivers Finn and Mourne at the towns of Lifford in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, and Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. From here it flows to the City of Derry, where it...
for vessels of 14 tons’ burden, is on the road from Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
to Stranorlar
Stranorlar
Stranorlar is a small town in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, in Ireland. Stranorlar and Ballybofey form the Twin Towns.-Transport:...
and in 1837 consisted of a single street, with a Roman Catholic Chapel.
Industry
There used to be a clothing factory in the town which made shirts and other items, but like so much of the textile industryTextile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
in 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" ....
, this is long since gone.
Schools
- St Mary's National School, Castlefinn, St Mary's NS Website www.stmarysns.info
- Scoil Náisiúnta Domhnach Mór, Liscooley, Castlefinn
- St. Safan's, Scoil NáisiÚnta Naomh Samhthann, Drumdoit, Castlefinn
Castlefinn also offers a pre-school for children five and under.
Transport
Castlefinn railway station opened on 7 September 1863, but finally closed on 1 January 1960.A number of buses pass through Castlefinn on a daily basis going to 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...
, 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"...
, Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
, Dublin, Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
and Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
.