Greencastle, County Donegal
Greencastle, County Donegal (An Caisleán Nua in Irish), is a commercial fishing port located in the north of the scenic Inishowen Peninsula on the rugged north coast of County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. Nowadays, given the decline in the fishing industry, it resembles more closely a 'typical' Donegal holiday village. It is located a few miles from Moville and is about 20 miles from Derry. Greencastle's name comes from the castle in the area, which, in turn, may have derived its name from the green freestone with which it was built. The castle, originally built by the Anglo-Normans, is also known as Newburgh Castle.
The first proper pier was built in 1813[1] and has been added to several times since. Today, as well as being a tie up for trawlers and salmon boats and the home of the Greencastle Fishermen's Co-Op, the Foyle Fishermen's Co-Op and Fresco Seafoods, the pier also has a very different "catch". Visitors disembark from the Magilligan-Greencastle ferry which was inaugurated in 2002.[2] The official website advertises the fact that this saves 78km (or 49 miles) of driving, which would be through Derry. The Lough Foyle Ferry Company has also recently (2004) begun a Lough Swilly ferry service that runs between Buncrana and Rathmullan seasonally. The pier also contains a newly built pilot office to replace the decommissioned pilot office at Carrickarory Pier.
The castle at Greencastle has been linked with the castle in the background of the Derry crest.[3]
The castle was built in 1305 to provide a base for Anglo-Norman power in the North West. This building was named "Northburg".[4] There is a more modern Martello Fort beside the Norman ruin. This was built by the British to stop Napoleon invading circa 1800.
The National Fisheries College (NFC) is located in Greencastle. The NFC recently completed a €1.1 million extension funded under the INTERREG 11 Initiative, thus providing better facilities including a realistic simulator bridge deck.
See also
References
- ^ Sean Beattie (2004). Donegal (Ireland in Old Photographs series). Sutton: Printing Press. ISBN 0-7509-3825-0.
- ^ Donegal Library Information
- ^ British Civic Heraldry - Derry Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ Foyle Ferries Info
External links
- Greencastle Fort Information
- History of Greencastle church
- Greencastle golf club
- Greencastle - Magilligan Ferry
- Moville Records - genealogy information for the Greencastle area
- Please join petition to save Lough Foyle Ferry :Funding issues
