Falcarragh
Encyclopedia
An Fál Carrach sometimes called Na Crois Bhealaí ("the crossroads") is a small Gaeltacht
town and townland
in northwest County Donegal
, Ireland
. The settlement is in the old parish
of Cloughaneely
.
as he believed 'Na Crois Bhealaí', the Cross Roads, was too common in Ireland to allow distinction. Na Crois Bhealaí is still used by native speakers when referring to the town.On some maps it shows up as 'Crossroads' deriving from its Irish language name Na Croisbhealaí but older maps refer to it as Robinson's Town, but its now listed as An Fál Carrach. An Fál Carrach, the main commercial town between Letterkenny and Dungloe
was known in former times both as Crossroads and as Robinson’s Town. An Fál Carrach, the official name, originally referred to a little hamlet south east of the present town, at the foot of Falcarragh hill - but gradually houses were built at the crossroads, mainly for the workers and trades people employed on the Olphert Estate in Ballyconnell.
in 1822. Wilson was the Protestant Bishop’s stewart responsible for the collection of tithes to support the Protestant clergy. He, apparently, received a hostile reception on arrival in Cloughaneely
(parish) according to his account to the bishop:
Slater’s Directory of 1870 provides us with valuable information about Falcarragh and it’s surrounding area:
Slater’s Directory of 1881 records that the population increased to 258 inhabitants in 1871 and also tells that there was a Protestant Episcopal Church in the town. We are given some information about the local post office situated at the crossroads. Thomas Browne was Postmaster at the time and “letters from all parts arrive at ten minutes past eleven morning, and are dispatched at one afternoon.”
in Ireland is located near Falcarragh.
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...
town and 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...
in northwest County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The settlement is in the old parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Cloughaneely
Cloughaneely
Cloughaneely is a district in the west of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. This is a mainly coastal area centred on the town of Falcarragh, and it is a Gaeltacht area, meaning the Irish language is spoken as the primary language...
.
Etymology
The name Falcarragh (lit. An (the) Fál (Wall) Carrach (Stone), Stone Wall / Boundary) has been used since 1850, ascribed so by O' DonavanJohn O'Donovan (scholar)
John O'Donovan , from Atateemore, in the parish of Kilcolumb, County Kilkenny, and educated at Hunt's Academy, Waterford, was an Irish language scholar from Ireland.-Life:...
as he believed 'Na Crois Bhealaí', the Cross Roads, was too common in Ireland to allow distinction. Na Crois Bhealaí is still used by native speakers when referring to the town.On some maps it shows up as 'Crossroads' deriving from its Irish language name Na Croisbhealaí but older maps refer to it as Robinson's Town, but its now listed as An Fál Carrach. An Fál Carrach, the main commercial town between Letterkenny and Dungloe
Dungloe
Dungloe is a Gaeltacht town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the Rosses and the largest in the Donegal Gaeltacht...
was known in former times both as Crossroads and as Robinson’s Town. An Fál Carrach, the official name, originally referred to a little hamlet south east of the present town, at the foot of Falcarragh hill - but gradually houses were built at the crossroads, mainly for the workers and trades people employed on the Olphert Estate in Ballyconnell.
History
The first recorded reference to Falcarragh appears in a report written by William Wilson, RaphoeRaphoe
Raphoe is a town in County Donegal, part of the province of Ulster in Ireland. It is the main town in the fertile district of East Donegal known as the Laggan, as well as giving its name to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe and the Church of Ireland Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.-Name:Raphoe,...
in 1822. Wilson was the Protestant Bishop’s stewart responsible for the collection of tithes to support the Protestant clergy. He, apparently, received a hostile reception on arrival in Cloughaneely
Cloughaneely
Cloughaneely is a district in the west of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. This is a mainly coastal area centred on the town of Falcarragh, and it is a Gaeltacht area, meaning the Irish language is spoken as the primary language...
(parish) according to his account to the bishop:
- According to my intention I went to Cloughineely and on Monday about 12 o’clock arrived at a place called Falcarrow in
- your Lordship’s See (about five miles distant from Dunfanaghy) where I then, pursuant to advertisement, proposed holding
- the Court as I twice before had, but was immediately on my arrival surrounded by upwards of 150 to 300 men who had
- assembled merely for the purpose of preventing me from holding any Court and threatened my life if I would. Their measures
- I was obliged to comply with.
Slater’s Directory of 1870 provides us with valuable information about Falcarragh and it’s surrounding area:
- Crossroads or Falcarragh, is a village, in the parish of Tullaghbegley, and partly of Raymunterdoney, barony
- of Kilmacrennan, situated on the summit of a small hill near to the coast; opposite here is the Island of Torrey, nine
- miles distant. The places of worship are the parish church and a Presbyterian meetinghouse. A dispensary and a school are
- the charitable institutions. Fairs are held on the last Thursday monthly. Population in 1861 was 231.
Slater’s Directory of 1881 records that the population increased to 258 inhabitants in 1871 and also tells that there was a Protestant Episcopal Church in the town. We are given some information about the local post office situated at the crossroads. Thomas Browne was Postmaster at the time and “letters from all parts arrive at ten minutes past eleven morning, and are dispatched at one afternoon.”
Landlords
From 1622 to 1921, the Olpherts were the main landlords in the district, Sir John Olphert being the last Olphert landlord, who died in 1917. The tallest Celtic crossCeltic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
in Ireland is located near Falcarragh.
Transport
- Falcarragh railway station opened on 9 March 1903, closed for passenger traffic on 3 June 1940 and finally closed altogether on 6 January 1947. The 1992 movie "The Railway Station Man" starring Donald Sutherland & Julie Christie was partly filmed at the station.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland