CONWAL

In 1868, the parish of Conwal contained the following places:

"CONWAL, (or Coneval) a parish in the baronies of Kilmacrenan and Raphoe, in the county of Donegal, province of Ulster, Ireland. The surface is mountainous and boggy, with some waste land. The parish is intersected by the road from Strabane to Dunfanaghy, and has the head of Lough Swilly lying to the S.W. It contains the post town of Letterkenny. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Raphoe, value £873, in the patronage of Trinity College, Dublin. The church was built about 1782, and there axe meeting-houses for Covenanters and Methodists, two united Roman Catholic chapels, seven Sunday and twenty-two day schools, within the parish. An abbey is alleged to have been founded here in the 6th century. Ballymacool is the principal residence.

"LETTERKENNY, a small post and market town, in the parish of Conwal, in the barony of Kilmacrenan, county Donegal, province of Ulster, Ireland, 7 miles S.W. of Rathmelton, and 146 from Dublin. It is situated on the left bank of the river Swilly, and consists principally of one long street. It contains Conwall church, a Roman Catholic and three Protestant chapels, a bank, court-house, fever hospital, dispensary, bridewell, and a one-arched bridge which spans the river. It is an assize town and police station. Letterkenny Poor-law Union has 14 electoral divisions in county Donegal. The presbytery comprises Carigart, Dunfanaghy, Fannet, Letterkenny, Kilmacrenan, Milford, Ray, Ramelton, Ramullen, and Trenta. Friday is market day. Fairs are held on 12th May, 10th July, 11th August, and 8th November."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018