Dooniver
Encyclopedia
Dún Ibhir meaning "Ibhir's stronghold", or "Ibhir's fort" is a Gaeltacht
village on Achill Island
in County Mayo
, Ireland
.
, Tóin an tSeanbhaile
and Bunnacurry. The townland
of Dooniver is broken into a number of subsections - Bullsmouth, Claddagh, Dooniver, The Brae, Baile na locha (Lakeside), Dionn, Áird Mhór , New Road and Sebastopol
, etc. Dooniver has a number of beaches including Dooniver strand and Bullsmouth Beach. Just off the village is the island of Innisbiggle.
, garage
, plant hire, headstone
maker and coffee shop
. There is a bed and breakfast
and caravan park. The village has one postbox, one bus stop
and is served by Bus Éireann
440 once a day in each direction.
or Scoil Damhnait
which is located in Pollranny in the Achill area but now go to the new Colaiste Pobail Acla.
. There is a GAA
Pitch in the area called St.Joseph's Park. Dooniver is a part of the St. Colman's (Dooniver, Askill, Valley, Dugort and Dookinella) local GAA team and the 'DVD' (Dooniver, Valley, Dugort) soccer team. The renowned pro boxer Johnny Kilbane
has relatives in the village.
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
village on Achill Island
Achill Island
Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, and is situated off the west coast. It has a population of 2,700. Its area is . Achill is attached to the mainland by Michael Davitt Bridge, between the villages of Gob an Choire and Poll Raithní . A bridge was first...
in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Geography
Dooniver is located on the east coast of Achill Island. Surrounding villages include AskillAskill
Askill is a small village in Achill, County Mayo, Ireland. It is surrounded by Dooniver and Bunnacurry.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
, Tóin an tSeanbhaile
Tóin an tSeanbhaile
Tóin an tSeanbhaile is a small village located on the north east point of Achill Island, Ireland...
and Bunnacurry. The townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Dooniver is broken into a number of subsections - Bullsmouth, Claddagh, Dooniver, The Brae, Baile na locha (Lakeside), Dionn, Áird Mhór , New Road and Sebastopol
Sebastopol
Sebastopol is a former spelling and frequent variant of Sevastopol, the port on the Crimean peninsula.Sebastopol may refer to the following:Places:* Sebastopol, California, USA* Sebastopol, Mississippi, USA...
, etc. Dooniver has a number of beaches including Dooniver strand and Bullsmouth Beach. Just off the village is the island of Innisbiggle.
Census
The following list taken from The Mayo County Council Website shows the population of the village in the years 1841 - 1921| Year | Population | Houses |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 252 | 50 |
| 1851 | 219 | 45 |
| 1861 | 254 | 52 |
| 1871 | 280 | 60 |
| 1881 | 234 | 45 |
| 1891 | 213 | 41 |
| 1901 | 270 | 48 |
| 1911 | 260 | 43 |
| 1921 | 242 | 58 |
Facilities and amenities
Dooniver has a number of amenities a National School, hallHall
In architecture, a hall is fundamentally a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age, a mead hall was such a simple building and was the residence of a lord and his retainers...
, garage
Garage (house)
A residential garage is part of a home, or an associated building, designed or used for storing a vehicle or vehicles. In some places the term is used synonymously with "carport", though that term normally describes a structure that is not completely enclosed.- British residential garages:Those...
, plant hire, headstone
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
maker and coffee shop
Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
. There is a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
and caravan park. The village has one postbox, one bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
and is served by Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann provides bus services in Ireland with the exception of those operated entirely within the Dublin Region, which are provided by Dublin Bus. Bus Éireann, established as a separate company in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann. The logo of Bus Éireann incorporates a red Irish...
440 once a day in each direction.
Education
Dooniver has a National School (founded in 1910). The National School was originally in Bullsmouth, but was later moved. Students had a choice of going to either McHale CollegeMcHale College
Mc Hale College was a VEC Secondary School located on the Currane Peninsula in the village of Pollranny near Achill Island in the West of County Mayo, Ireland. It was originally located in the village of An Caiseal on Achill Island. The last Principal was Barry Kilgannon also, previous manager of...
or Scoil Damhnait
Scoil Damhnait
Scoil Damhnait is a secondary school on the Currane Peninsula in the village of Pollranny near Achill Island in the west of Ireland. It was founded by Padraig Sweeney in the 1940s. The current principal is his daughter, Máire Sweeney. It is beside McHale College.- External links :*...
which is located in Pollranny in the Achill area but now go to the new Colaiste Pobail Acla.
Sport
Dooniver once had a soccer team called the Dooniver Swifts which played in the Mayo & District LeagueMayo & District League
The Mayo Association Football League is an Irish amateur league for association football clubs in the Irish province of Connacht, drawing clubs from County Mayo...
. There is a GAA
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
Pitch in the area called St.Joseph's Park. Dooniver is a part of the St. Colman's (Dooniver, Askill, Valley, Dugort and Dookinella) local GAA team and the 'DVD' (Dooniver, Valley, Dugort) soccer team. The renowned pro boxer Johnny Kilbane
Johnny Kilbane
John "Johnny" Patrick Kilbane was a featherweight boxer in the early part of the 20th century. He held the featherweight title from 1912 to 1923, the longest period in the division's history...
has relatives in the village.
Literature/Bibliography
- Táin Bó FlidhaisTáin Bó FlidhaisTáin Bó Flidhais, also known as the Mayo Táin, is a tale from the Ulster Cycle of early Irish literature. It is one of a group of works known as Táin Bó, or "cattle raid" stories, the best known of which is Táin Bó Cúailnge...
A 12th century document - Glenmason manuscript 12th century
- "Fintan mac Bóchra and the Hawk of Achill" 15th century poem
- "