Culdaff
| Culdaff Irish: Cúil Dabhcha | |
| County Donegal | |
|---|---|
 Main Street | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | C467453 |
| Location: | 55°15’0"N, 7°16’12"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 237 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
| Dáil constituency: |
Donegal |
Culdaff s a village on the Inishowen peninsula in the north of County Donegal. Known for its beach, it attracts tourists from all over Ireland. The 2016 census recorded a population of 237.
The name of the village is from the Irish Cúil Dabhcha[1]
The present village dates back to the 8th century and was originally the site of the monastery of St Buadán (Baithéne mac Brénaind), after which the Church of Ireland parish church is named. William Lawson Micks and Samuel Arnold Lawson, acted as Trustees for one hundred acres of bogland at Meenawarra near Culdaff on behalf of the purchaser, Jane Leferre.[2]
About the village
Culdaff beach is only about 50 yards away from the village. It includes two beaches, 'the small beach' and 'the big beach'. The beach can be very busy during the summer, and is known for the expansive sand on the main beach, and a large area of rocks around the second and further along the coastline.
The Bunagee Pier is the mooring for two boats that take anglers out to fish, the Barracuda and the Gemini. Fish caught offshore include White Pollock, Black Pollock, Plaice, Rock Salmon, Sea Trout, Salmon. Shell Fish include Brown Crab, Lobster, Green Crab, and Velvet Crab.
Ancient monuments in the area (located near the Bocan chapel) include the Carrowmore High Crosses, the Cloncha Cross, the Bocan Stone Circle and the Temple of Deen (a ruined court tomb). Other sights include St. Bodans Rock (located below the Bridge), and the site of old St Bodans well (located behind the Church of Ireland church.
Sport
- Football: Culdaff FC, whose home ground, Caratra Park, is next to the beach.
References
- ↑ Cúil Dabhcha / Culdaff: Placenames Database of Ireland
- ↑ Bonner, Brian (1982) Redford Glebe: the story of an Ulster townland, Donegal; p. 24
- Peter Harbison, Guide to National and Historic Monuments of Ireland, Dublin, Gill & Macmillan, 1992, ISBN 0-7171-3239-0; pp. 96–97
- Lou Callan et al., Ireland; 5th ed. London, Lonely Planet, 2002 ISBN 1-86450-379-3; pp. 599–600
