Page 271 - Guerin Media | The Wild Atlantic Way
P. 271
Fanad Head- Fánaid RATHMCUhLaLrtAerNs• Swilly Explorer
The origins of the name Fanad are lost in time though • Enterprise 1
there is some speculation that the name derives
from an old Gaelic word Fana for “sloping ground”. Rathmullan, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
An estimated 30% of the population of this region are Email: rathmullancharters@eircom.net
Irish speakers.The landscape of Fanad has been shaped www.rathmullancharters.com
by geological processes which include the effects of
periodic covering with ice sheets and glaciers as recently Lough Cruises • Sightseeing on Lough Swilly
as 14,000 years ago. The retreat of the ice sheet had a Corporate Trips • Full Day Charters
major impact on Fanad and surrounding areas. It is Fully Licenced and Insured
speculated that much of Lough Swilly was may have
been dry land which was flooded due to a rise in sea Enterprise 1 Swilly Explorer
level within the last 10,000 years. In common with
much of the rest of Ireland, the post-glacial landscape 38ft Aquastar available for: Purpose built Motor Cruiser
gradually changed with rises in temperature from open
tundra to one dominated by forests of pine, oak, alder, • Deep Sea Angling available for:
hazel and birch, with breaks in the canopy on the edges • Dept of Marine Licenced
of the intervening expanses of lake and bog. This was • Tea/Coffee supplied • Lough Cruises
probably the landscape which greeted the earliest settlers • Rod and Reel Hire Available • Dept of Marine Licenced
who ventured along the coastline in the late Mesolithic • Accommodation and Flight • Sightseeing on Lough Swilly
Period, possibly about 5,000 BC. There is archaeological • Ferry Pickups Arranged • Corporate Trips
evidence of human occupation of coastal areas of • Full Day Charters
Inishowen at Dunaff and west of Horn Head during this
period and it is reasonable to assume that Fanad also saw Wreck, Reef, Tope and Shark Fishing
some transient occupation at this time.
Bookings: Neil Doherty, Tel: (0)749158129
Rathmullan- Ráth Maoláin Mob: 00353 (0)87 0507464
Angela Crerand, Tel: 00353 (0)74 9158315
Mob: 00353 (0) 87 2480132
“Maoláin’s ringfort”
This scenic village on Donegal’s Fanad peninsula is
a historical town indeed. It was here that the Irish
Earls left in haste in “The Flight of the Earls” 1607,
effectively paving the way for the Plantation of Ulster
that followed. Clan O Neill and Clan O Domhnall left
for the continent, it is not known finally what spurred
their hasty departure. Such was their sudden exit that
a young son and a pregnant wife were unwittingly left
behind! The “Flight” took place at Portnamurray on the
Southern edge of the town.
Rathmullan was also the site of a Carmelite Friary built In the North West of Donegal on the beautiful Sheephaven Bay
by Eoghan Rua Mac Sweeney in 1516 but sacked by an lies the thoroughly modern and luxurious Downings Bay Hotel.
English garrison in 1595. JC’s Bar & the Haven Dining Room serve locally sourced fresh
food daily. The Sheephaven Suite is available for 20 – 350 people.
The Lough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival is held in Magherabeg Leisure Centre & Kidz Kingdom (1/2 mile from
Rathmullan in June each year. Hotel) are complimentary to hotel guests.
Letterkenny- Leitir Ceanainn Local activities include golf, fishing, walking, diving, horse riding
“Hillside of the O’Cannons” & water sports. Within driving distance of Fanad Lighthouse,
Glenveagh National Park, Horn Head & Dunlewey Heritage
The O’ Cannons were the last of the Irish chieftains Centre.
of Tír Conaill ,alleged descendants of Conn of the
Hundred Battles and Niall of the Nine Hostages, two of Directions: 22 Miles north of Letterkenny via Milford (R245).
Ireland’s most renowned Kings. Canannain high-king At Carrigart take a right on to the Rosguill Peninsula. Downings is a
further 2½ miles (R248). We are in the middle of the village on the left
hand side of the road.
Downings, Co. Donegal. Phone:(074) 915 5586.
Email: info@downingsbayhotel.com.
www.downingsbayhotel.com
269
The origins of the name Fanad are lost in time though • Enterprise 1
there is some speculation that the name derives
from an old Gaelic word Fana for “sloping ground”. Rathmullan, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
An estimated 30% of the population of this region are Email: rathmullancharters@eircom.net
Irish speakers.The landscape of Fanad has been shaped www.rathmullancharters.com
by geological processes which include the effects of
periodic covering with ice sheets and glaciers as recently Lough Cruises • Sightseeing on Lough Swilly
as 14,000 years ago. The retreat of the ice sheet had a Corporate Trips • Full Day Charters
major impact on Fanad and surrounding areas. It is Fully Licenced and Insured
speculated that much of Lough Swilly was may have
been dry land which was flooded due to a rise in sea Enterprise 1 Swilly Explorer
level within the last 10,000 years. In common with
much of the rest of Ireland, the post-glacial landscape 38ft Aquastar available for: Purpose built Motor Cruiser
gradually changed with rises in temperature from open
tundra to one dominated by forests of pine, oak, alder, • Deep Sea Angling available for:
hazel and birch, with breaks in the canopy on the edges • Dept of Marine Licenced
of the intervening expanses of lake and bog. This was • Tea/Coffee supplied • Lough Cruises
probably the landscape which greeted the earliest settlers • Rod and Reel Hire Available • Dept of Marine Licenced
who ventured along the coastline in the late Mesolithic • Accommodation and Flight • Sightseeing on Lough Swilly
Period, possibly about 5,000 BC. There is archaeological • Ferry Pickups Arranged • Corporate Trips
evidence of human occupation of coastal areas of • Full Day Charters
Inishowen at Dunaff and west of Horn Head during this
period and it is reasonable to assume that Fanad also saw Wreck, Reef, Tope and Shark Fishing
some transient occupation at this time.
Bookings: Neil Doherty, Tel: (0)749158129
Rathmullan- Ráth Maoláin Mob: 00353 (0)87 0507464
Angela Crerand, Tel: 00353 (0)74 9158315
Mob: 00353 (0) 87 2480132
“Maoláin’s ringfort”
This scenic village on Donegal’s Fanad peninsula is
a historical town indeed. It was here that the Irish
Earls left in haste in “The Flight of the Earls” 1607,
effectively paving the way for the Plantation of Ulster
that followed. Clan O Neill and Clan O Domhnall left
for the continent, it is not known finally what spurred
their hasty departure. Such was their sudden exit that
a young son and a pregnant wife were unwittingly left
behind! The “Flight” took place at Portnamurray on the
Southern edge of the town.
Rathmullan was also the site of a Carmelite Friary built In the North West of Donegal on the beautiful Sheephaven Bay
by Eoghan Rua Mac Sweeney in 1516 but sacked by an lies the thoroughly modern and luxurious Downings Bay Hotel.
English garrison in 1595. JC’s Bar & the Haven Dining Room serve locally sourced fresh
food daily. The Sheephaven Suite is available for 20 – 350 people.
The Lough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival is held in Magherabeg Leisure Centre & Kidz Kingdom (1/2 mile from
Rathmullan in June each year. Hotel) are complimentary to hotel guests.
Letterkenny- Leitir Ceanainn Local activities include golf, fishing, walking, diving, horse riding
“Hillside of the O’Cannons” & water sports. Within driving distance of Fanad Lighthouse,
Glenveagh National Park, Horn Head & Dunlewey Heritage
The O’ Cannons were the last of the Irish chieftains Centre.
of Tír Conaill ,alleged descendants of Conn of the
Hundred Battles and Niall of the Nine Hostages, two of Directions: 22 Miles north of Letterkenny via Milford (R245).
Ireland’s most renowned Kings. Canannain high-king At Carrigart take a right on to the Rosguill Peninsula. Downings is a
further 2½ miles (R248). We are in the middle of the village on the left
hand side of the road.
Downings, Co. Donegal. Phone:(074) 915 5586.
Email: info@downingsbayhotel.com.
www.downingsbayhotel.com
269
