Dunkineely
Encyclopedia
Dunkineely is a small village in County Donegal
in North West Ireland
. It is situated 11 miles from the town of Donegal
and 6 miles from Killybegs
on the N56
National secondary road
. It is a small single street village with a population of around 300 in its surroundings. There is a dun
on the edge of the village from which Dunkineely derives its name. The village lies at the top of St John's Point, a narrow peninsula
jutting seven miles into Donegal Bay
, which boasts beautiful sceenary and is a world renowned diving site.
Dunkineely lies at approximately 150m above sea level.
Dunkineely is the larger of two villages in the parish of Killaghtee, the other being Bruckless
, now the location of the R.C. parish church. Nearby is the ancient parish church of Killaghtee. In the old graveyard there is one of the oldest celtic crosses in Ireland, the Killaghtee Cross.
The population is a mix of Roman Catholic and Protestant (Methodist and Church of Ireland
). Employment in the area relies on seasonal fishing and mixed agriculture as well as service and light industry in the nearby towns of Killybegs
and Donegal.
3 local industries in the village comprise of a fish processing factory, a net making factory and architectural design and fabrication factory. Services in Dunkineely include a shop , cafe, several garages, a fishing tackle shop/florist, auctioneers, 4 bars (Mac's Bar, Mac Laughlin's Bar, McGuire's Bar, McIntyre's Bar), a radio communications shop, 2 butchers and a hostel. There are several B&B's in the locality. Castle Murray House, a noted local restaurant, is located just 2 km outside the village on Saint Johns Point. Until recently, Dunkineely boasted seven bars but is now reduced to four to serve its population of 300 houses. McIntyre's bar hosts a weekly Irish traditional music session
. There is also a National School, Garda
Station, Community Centre, GAA pitch and soccer pitch. The local radio station is South West Donegal Community Radio 88.6 FM.
club is named Naomh Ultan. The local football team is Dunkineely Celtic.
Dunkineely lies on the main N56 road between Donegal Town and Killybegs
. A regular bus service
operates along this route.
Events over the years have included a parade through the town, soap box derby races, live bands, pub quizzes, sporting competitions, classic car show, wheelie bin races and digger and tractor driving competitions.
The 2010 Dunkineely Summer Street Festival takes place between the 27–29 August.
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 North West 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,...
. It is situated 11 miles from the town of 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 6 miles from 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...
on the N56
N56 road (Ireland)
The N56 road is a national secondary road in Ireland that runs from Donegal town to Letterkenny. As originally designated, it included the section of the N13 between Stranorlar and Letterkenny, forming a circular route including parts of the N15....
National secondary road
National secondary road
A national secondary road is a category of road in Ireland. These roads form an important part of the national route network, but are secondary to the main arterial routes which are classified as national primary roads. National secondary roads are designated with route numbers higher than those...
. It is a small single street village with a population of around 300 in its surroundings. There is a dun
Dun
Dun is now used both as a generic term for a fort and also for a specific variety of Atlantic roundhouse...
on the edge of the village from which Dunkineely derives its name. The village lies at the top of St John's Point, a narrow peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
jutting seven miles into Donegal Bay
Donegal Bay
Donegal Bay is an inlet in the northwest of Ireland. Three counties – Donegal to the north and west, Leitrim and Sligo to the south – have shorelines on the bay, which is bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean...
, which boasts beautiful sceenary and is a world renowned diving site.
Dunkineely lies at approximately 150m above sea level.
Dunkineely is the larger of two villages in the parish of Killaghtee, the other being Bruckless
Bruckless
Bruckless is a small village in Southwest Donegal, Ireland, with a population of around 200. It lies on the N56 national secondary road which links it to Donegal Town 20 km east and to Killybegs 7 km west. The village overlooks McSwyne's Bay, an inlet in Donegal Bay. Bruckless is part of...
, now the location of the R.C. parish church. Nearby is the ancient parish church of Killaghtee. In the old graveyard there is one of the oldest celtic crosses in Ireland, the Killaghtee Cross.
The population is a mix of Roman Catholic and Protestant (Methodist and 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...
). Employment in the area relies on seasonal fishing and mixed agriculture as well as service and light industry in the nearby towns of 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...
and Donegal.
Facilities
Irish traditional music session
Irish traditional music sessions are mostly informal gatherings at which people play Irish traditional music. The Irish language word for "session" is seisiún...
. There is also a National School, Garda
Garda
Garda may refer to:* An Garda Síochána, the national police of the Republic of Ireland* Lake Garda, a lake in northern Italy.* Garda , a commune on the shores of the Italian Lake Garda in the province of Verona....
Station, Community Centre, GAA pitch and soccer pitch. The local radio station is South West Donegal Community Radio 88.6 FM.
Sport
The local Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club is named Naomh Ultan. The local football team is Dunkineely Celtic.
Transport
Dunkineely railway station opened on 18 August 1893, and closed on 1 January 1960.Dunkineely lies on the main N56 road between Donegal Town 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...
. A regular bus service
operates along this route.
Festival
Every year in the month of July or August the town hosts a 3 day weekend Summer Street Festival.Events over the years have included a parade through the town, soap box derby races, live bands, pub quizzes, sporting competitions, classic car show, wheelie bin races and digger and tractor driving competitions.
The 2010 Dunkineely Summer Street Festival takes place between the 27–29 August.
Famous people
- Joseph Brennan, former TD and Ceann Comhairle
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland