Dunkineely
| Dunkineely Irish: Dún Cionnaola | |
| County Donegal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | G711767 |
| Location: | 54°37’55"N, 8°21’38"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 361 (2016) |
| Dialling code: | 074 |
| Local Government | |
| Dáil constituency: |
Donegal |
| Website: | www.dunkineelytown.com |
Dunkineely is a small village in County Donegal, eleven miles from the town of Donegal and six miles from Killybegs on the N56 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 name Dún Cionnaola means 'Kinealy's fort'.
The village stands at the top of St John's Point, a narrow peninsula jutting seven miles into Donegal Bay.
This is the larger of two villages in the parish of Killaghtee, the other being Bruckless, now the location of the Roman Catholic 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 town.
About the village
The town has two local industries in the village that comprises a fish processing factory and architectural design and fabrication factory. Services in Dunkineely include a shop, café, car dealership, a fishing tackle shop/florist, John's barber shop, auctioneers, 3 bars (Mac's Bar, Mac Laughlin's Bar, McIntyre's Bar), a radio communications shop and a budget accommodation hostel.
There are several B&B's in the locality. McIntyre's bar hosts a weekly Irish traditional music session.
There is also a National School, Community Centre, GAA pitch and soccer pitch.
Sport
- Football: Dunkineely Celtic.
- Gaelic sports: Naomh Ultan GAA
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.