Rathmullan
Rathmullan (Irish: Ráth Maoláin, meaning 'Maoláin's ringfort')[2] is a seaside village and townland on the Fanad Peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland. It is situated on the western shore of Lough Swilly, 11 kilometres (7 mi) north-east of Ramelton and 12 km (7 mi) east of Milford. Rathmullan has historical significance as the scene of the Flight of the Earls in 1607, a major turning point in Irish history.
Rathmullan Ráth Maoláin | |
|---|---|
Village | |
Rathmullan Beach | |
Rathmullan Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 55°05′39″N 07°32′15″W / 55.09417°N 7.53750°WCoordinates: 55°05′39″N 07°32′15″W / 55.09417°N 7.53750°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Government | |
| • Dáil Éireann | Donegal |
| Population (2016)[1] | |
| • Total | 493 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | C295275 |
Places of interest
There are also the ruins of the Carmelite Friary in Rathmullan which was built by Eoghan Rua MacSweeney in 1516. The Friary was sacked by the English garrison from Sligo in 1595. In 1617 the Friary was occupied by the Protestant Bishop of Raphoe, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Andrew Knox. A subsequent Bishop of Raphoe turned it into a fortified house in anticipation of a possible French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.
On 14 September 1607, 99 aristocrats of the Gaelic Order, most notably of Clan Ó Néill and Clan Ó Domhnaill, left Rathmullan for the Continent, an episode known as the Flight of the Earls. On 14 September 2007, president Mary McAleese visited the village to mark the 400th anniversary of the event. She unveiled a sculpture by John Behan that represents the plight of the men who were led by the Gaelic aristocrats.[3]
There are the remains of a Martello Tower or battery in the town which serves as a heritage centre. The tower was one of six originally built in 1812 by the British as part of a defence along Lough Swilly against feared Napoleonic invasion. These batteries were manned up until the end of the First World War to protect British warships that were moored in Lough Swilly.[4]
Facilities
Facilities in Rathmullan include shops, a resource centre, The Looking Glass Spa Therapy, Drumhalla House, and also hotels such as Rathmullan House, Fort Royal (closed down in 2015) and the Water's Edge (now closed).
There are three churches in Rathmullan: St. Joseph's Catholic Church,[5] St. Columb's Church of Ireland (Parish of Killygarvan),[6] and the Rathmullan Presbyterian Church.[7]
Lough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival
The sea is a large part of the lives of the people of Rathmullan and Lough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival held in June is evidence of this. The 2007 festival took place on Sat, 2 June, and Sun, 3 June.[citation needed]
Notable people
- Ian Anderson, former President of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man.
- Mary McAlister
- Hugh Law, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, died here in 1883.
- Anne Byrne (née Proctor), Pre-Pregnancy Midwife (Glasgow), born here in 1942 (Died 2016). First Donegal person to receive an honorary MBE in 2001.[8][9]
Literature
Rathmullan is the setting for Australian/British author Brand King's novel An Irish Winter,[10] published in 2020. The story follows the gradually intertwining lives of Alice and Felix, who arrive in the village following traumatic upheavals in their private lives. Many features of the village are described in detail in the novel, with the beach getting special attention. The traditional new year's day cold water swim also features, along with wildlife such as seals and rooks, while a number of scenes are set in the Beachcomber Bar and An Bonnan Bui Cafe.
See also
References
- ^ "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Rathmullen". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ "Ráth Maoláin/Rathmullan". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "McAleese unveils Flight of Earls statue". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Local history". St. Joseph's School, Rathmullan. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "St. Joseph's Church". Diocese of Raphoe. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "St. Columb's Church". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Rathmullan Presbyterian Church". Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | In Depth | Birthday Honours 2001 | Honours in Scotland". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Shaun Doherty Show". m.facebook.com. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ King, Brand (30 June 2020). AN IRISH WINTER. THE CHOIR PRESS. p. 302. ISBN 9781789630992.