Greencastle, County Donegal
| Greencastle Irish: An Caisleán Nua | |
| County Donegal | |
|---|---|
 Greencastle | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | C648397 |
| Location: | 55°12’0"N, 6°58’60"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 817 (2011) |
| Local Government | |
| Dáil constituency: |
Donegal |
Greencastle is a commercial fishing port in the north of the Inishowen Peninsula on the north coast of County Donegal, on Lough Foyle. Nowadays, given the decline in the fishing industry, it resembles more closely a 'typical' Donegal holiday village.
The town is a few miles from Moville and about twenty miles from Londonderry. Greencastle's name comes from the castle in the area, which, in turn, may have derived its name from the green freestone with which it was built. The castle, originally built by the Anglo-Normans, is also known as Northburgh Castle.
History
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The first proper pier was built in 1813[1] and has been added to several times since. Today, as well as being a tie-up for trawlers and inshore fishing boats and the home of the Greencastle Fishermen's Co-Op, the Foyle Fishermen's Co-Op and Fresco Seafoods, the pier also has a very different "catch". Visitors disembark from the Magilligan-Greencastle ferry which was inaugurated in 2002, intened to save saves 49 miles of driving, which would be through Londonderry. The Lough Foyle Ferry Company has also recently (2004) begun a Lough Swilly ferry service that runs between Buncrana and Rathmullan seasonally. The pier also contains a newly built pilot office to replace the decommissioned pilot office at Carrickarory Pier.
Greencastle is also one of the disembarkation ports for cruise ships visiting Londonderry: due to the tidal nature of the Foyle Estuary, it is sometimes too shallow for cruise ships to make their way to Lisahally docks in Londonderry, so stopping at Greencastle saves five hours' sailing. However, passengers are required to disembark using tenders as, unlike Lisahally docks, the Greencastle pier was not designed to allow a cruise ship to dock.[2]
The castle at Greencastle has been linked with the castle in the background of the Arms of the City of Londonderry.[3]
The castle was built in 1305 to provide a base for Anglo-Norman power in the North West. This building was named "Northburg".[4]
A more modern Martello Fort stands beside the Norman ruin, built around 1800 against the threat of invasion by Napoleon.
The National Fisheries College (NFC) is located in Greencastle.
Outside links
References
- ↑ Sean Beattie (2004). Donegal (Ireland in Old Photographs series). Sutton: Printing Press. ISBN 0-7509-3825-0.
- ↑ "Bad weather scuppers liner visit". BBC News. 2009-09-02. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8231551.stm.
- ↑ British Civic Heraldry - Londonderry
- ↑ Foyle Ferries Info