Laghey
Encyclopedia
Laghey, officially Laghy , is a small village
in County Donegal
, Ireland
, between Ballintra
and Donegal Town. Laghey is one of three villages that makes up the parish of Drumholm
, formerly a Civil
and Church of Ireland
parish, now only used as a division of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe
. The village has a quarry
, a supermarket
, garden centre, filling station
, two public house
s, a church with a graveyard
, an Orange Order hall, a post office, a recycling centre, a Donegal County Council
yard and salt depot, and a national school (St Eunan's NS). Laghey is also situated close to two of the most scenic beaches in Ireland, namely Rossnowlagh
and Murvagh. Murvagh is also the home to the Donegal Golf Club.
The best known landmarks in this village are The Seven Arches Bridge at the bottom of the main street, and the signpost within the village that says Laghey is 1 km away.
, currently Dr Philip Boyce, and is named after Saint Eunan, one of the two patron saints of the diocese. The school was built in the first half of the twentieth century and is in the design of many others built across the country at this time.
The original school had two class rooms, while an extension, which opened in 1992, added a further two to the west end of the existing building, at this point it was and still remains the only school in the village. The school is directly adjacent to the main N15 Sligo
to Letterkenny
road, which also cuts the school off from the main part of the village. Because of this, when the village was being by-passed for the upgrading of the route, a tunnel had to be constructed to allow those living to the east of the road in the main part of the village to access the school safely.
The current principal is Pauric Daly.
Secondary education is provided by the Abbey Vocational School
, Donegal Town, while a small number attend Colaiste Cholmcille in Ballyshannon
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in 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,...
, between Ballintra
Ballintra
Ballintra is a village in the parish of Drumholm in South Donegal, Ireland just off the N15 between Donegal town and Ballyshannon. The village is geographically situated in a limestone area and this natural resource is quarried locally for the building and civil engineering industries.Ballintra...
and Donegal Town. Laghey is one of three villages that makes up the parish of Drumholm
Drumholm
The Parish of Drumholm is the second most southerly parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe, which covers the majority of County Donegal in northwest Ireland...
, formerly a Civil
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
and Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
parish, now only used as a division of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe
Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe
The Diocese of Raphoe is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-western Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The current Bishop of Raphoe is The Most Rev. Dr. Philip Boyce, D.D., O.C.D.. He was enthroned as bishop on 1 October...
. The village has a quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
, a supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
, garden centre, filling station
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
, two public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s, a church with a graveyard
Graveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
, an Orange Order hall, a post office, a recycling centre, a Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council
Donegal County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Donegal in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
yard and salt depot, and a national school (St Eunan's NS). Laghey is also situated close to two of the most scenic beaches in Ireland, namely Rossnowlagh
Rossnowlagh
Rossnowlagh or Rosnowlagh is a seaside beach resort in south County Donegal, Ireland. It is about 8.5 km north of Ballyshannon and 16.0 km southwest of Donegal Town. The extensive beach is very popular with families and is frequented by walkers, surfers, wind-surfers, kite-surfers and swimmers,...
and Murvagh. Murvagh is also the home to the Donegal Golf Club.
Transport
Laghey railway station opened on 1 September 1905, closed for goods traffic on 15 December 1947 and finally closed altogether on 1 January 1960.Education
St Eunan's National School is the only school remaining in the village. It is a Catholic primary school, one of two in the parish of Drumholm, under the patronage of the Bishop of RaphoeRoman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe
The Diocese of Raphoe is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-western Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses which are subject to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Armagh. The current Bishop of Raphoe is The Most Rev. Dr. Philip Boyce, D.D., O.C.D.. He was enthroned as bishop on 1 October...
, currently Dr Philip Boyce, and is named after Saint Eunan, one of the two patron saints of the diocese. The school was built in the first half of the twentieth century and is in the design of many others built across the country at this time.
The original school had two class rooms, while an extension, which opened in 1992, added a further two to the west end of the existing building, at this point it was and still remains the only school in the village. The school is directly adjacent to the main N15 Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
to Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
road, which also cuts the school off from the main part of the village. Because of this, when the village was being by-passed for the upgrading of the route, a tunnel had to be constructed to allow those living to the east of the road in the main part of the village to access the school safely.
The current principal is Pauric Daly.
Secondary education is provided by the Abbey Vocational School
Abbey Vocational School
The Abbey Vocational School is a non-denominational vocational secondary school situated in Donegal Town, County Donegal. It has approximately 800 students, and is the largest school run by the Donegal Vocational Education Committee...
, Donegal Town, while a small number attend Colaiste Cholmcille in Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon
Ballyshannon is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located where the N3 and N15 cross the River Erne, and claims to be the oldest town in Ireland.-Location:...
.
Sport
- The local G.A.A. club is called Naomh Bríd (club also includes Ballintra).
- The local Soccer club is called Copany Rovers (club also includes Ballintra).