Creeslough
From Wikishire
| Creeslough Irish: An Craoslach | |
| County Donegal | |
|---|---|
 Creeslough | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | C055307 |
| Location: | 55°7’20"N, 7°54’22"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 393 (2016) |
| Local Government | |
| Website: | www.creeslough.com |
Creeslough is a village in County Donegal, sitting seven and a half miles south of Dunfanaghy on the N56 road, overlooking an arm of Sheephaven Bay. It is a small village, with the population of the surrounding area engaged mainly in agriculture, mostly livestock rearing, as little of the surrounding land is suitable for tillage.
The name of the place is believed to be from the Irish An Craoslach, meaning 'the Gorge' or 'Throat Lake'.
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About the village
Nearby attractions include:
- Doe Castle, a 16th-century castle of the MacSuibhne (Sweeney) clan, which has been restored during 2002-2005. It is perhaps best known as the place to which Owen Roe O'Neill returned to command the Irish Confederate's Ulster army in 1642 during the Irish Confederate Wars.
- Ards Forest Park, which contains some megalithic tombs, ringforts and a Mass rock.[1] The forest park encompasses a variety of habitats, including sand dunes, tidal salt marsh as well as several small lakes, two of which are vegetation-filled and in the process of becoming bogs.
- Owencarrow Viaduct (ruins) whose railway line closed in 1941. Scene of the Owencarrow Viaduct Disaster in 1925.
- Glenveagh National Park, Created in 1981 from lands granted by Henry P. McIlhenny, of Philadelphia.
- Muckish Mountain, with its distinctive outline and a number of routes to the summit to choose from, is a popular hiking destination.[2] The surrounding mountainous areas are suitable for hiking and are notable for their ease of access. The annual Glover Highlander walk (from Muckish to Errigal) starts nearby.[3] There are also several marked trails in Glenveagh National Park.
- Doe Chapel, (1784-1971) The remains of the outer walls of the chapel are situated within the current graveyard at Doe (in Cashelmore, two miles north of Creeslough). The bell tower stands intact.
- St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, designed by Londonderry architect, Liam McCormick in 1971, is notable for its unique design, which mimics the shape of the nearby table mountain of Muckish.[4]
Transport
Creeslough railway station opened on 9 March 1903, closed for passenger traffic on 3 June 1940, and finally closed altogether on 6 January 1947.[5]
In popular culture
- No News at Throat Lake is a memoir by Lawrence Donegan about his year living in Creeslough as a reporter at the bi-weekly newspaper, Tirconaill Tribune.
- The area has featured in many Irish folk songs, the most famous being "Cutting the Corn in Creeslough" which has been covered by the likes of Daniel O'Donnell and Creeslough native Bridie Gallagher.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Creeslough) |
References
- ↑ "THE MASSROCK". http://www.creeslough.com/MassRock.html.
- ↑ "Walking Ireland's Iconic Mountains – Number 2: Muckish". 20 January 2011. http://www.walkingandhikingireland.com/343/.
- ↑ The Glover Highlander Walk
- ↑ "St. Michael's Church". http://www.dunfanaghy.info/stmichaelschurch.html.
- ↑ "Creeslough station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf.
