DONEGAL

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

"DONEGAL, a parish, seaport, market town, and extinct borough, in Bannagh and Tyrhugh baronies, county Donegal, province of Ulster, 28 miles S.W. of Lifford, and 143 N.W. by N. from Dublin. It is situated in 54° 8' N. lat. and 8° 1' W. long, at the mouth of the river Eask, in Donegal Bay. On the landward side it is nearly surrounded by hills. The town and neighbourhood were in the possession of the O'Donell family from a very early period. A castle was built by them in the 12th century, and a Franciscan monastery was founded in 1474 by Hugh O'Donell, Prince of Tyrconnel, and his wife, Fiongala, daughter of O'Brien, Prince of Thomond. During the reign of Elizabeth, the O'Donells were continually in a state of insurrection.

In 1592 the town was occupied by English troops, who were soon after repulsed by the young O'Donell; but during his absence, in 1600, the English gained possession of the town and monastery. In 1798 the town was threatened by three French men-of-war; but as the militia were called out, and preparations made for defence, no attempt to land was made. Donegal consists of a large triangular market-place and three streets. It contains a bridewell, a sessions-house, a dispensary, and constabulary station. The harbour, on the E. side of the peninsula of Durin, about 2 miles from the town, contains over 12 feet of water at low tide, and there is also a market quay, with about 9 feet of water, built by the Earl of Arran. Near the town a pump-room and bath have been erected over a sulphur spring. Donegal was incorporated as a borough on the 27th February, 1612, and returned two members to the Irish parliament till the Union, when the corporation became extinct. A manor was erected in 1639, by grant, to Henry Brooke, with the right of holding a court-leet and a court-baron. The manorial court is still held monthly, petty sessions fortnightly, and the general sessions quarterly, in March, June, October, and December. The Poor-law Union contains 11 electoral divisions, and an area of 157,841 acres. The population of the town, according to the census of 1861, was 1,516, of whom 191 belonged to the Established Church, 1,166 were Roman Catholics, 95 Presbyterians, 65 Methodists, 8 Independents, and 3 Baptists. The living is a vicarage, value £255, in the patronage of the Bishop of Raphoe, to which diocese it belongs. The church was built in 1825, and the glebe-house rebuilt in 1816, both by the assistance of the late Board of First Fruits. The Roman Catholics have a chapel in the town, and another at Townawilly. Their parish coincides with that of the English church. The Presbyterians, Independents, and Wesleyans have also places of worship. The schools include the parochial schools, built on land presented by the Earl of Arran; one on Erasmus Smith's foundation; one built in accordance with the bequest of Colonel Robertson, who died towards the end of the 18th century; three Sunday-schools, and four or five smaller day schools. The antiquities of the town consist of the ruins of the castle and monastery already mentioned. The cloister of the latter remains, and is composed of a row of small arches on coupled pillars. It contains two narrow passages about 7 feet high by 10 in length and 4 in width, probably used as places of safety for the treasures of the convent in time of danger. The chronicle of Donegal, known as the "Annals of the Four Masters," was compiled here. The Hall, within 3 miles of the town, is the residence of the Conyagham family; Lough Eask House is occupied by T. Brook, Esq.; and St. Ernan's by J. Hamilton, Esq. The Chicheaters derive the titles of marquis and earl from the town of Donegal. A weekly market is held on Saturday, and a fair on the second Friday in every month."

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