Westward bound in Donegal

Decided to head to Carrigans where great great grandmother was caught stealing back in 1847. Took photo of street of the village then headed back via the Ulster Scots Historical Society in the hills toward Letterkenny. Miss W thought they might have something about the Jackson family, alas nothing there but we were given the name of a researcher to contact at a later time.

Glenveagh Castle garden

Through Letterkenny and on to Glenveagh National Park which is the 2nd largest park in Ireland. This also includes a castle built by John Adair with magnificent gardens attached. At the visitor centre we read the sad story of how John evicted 244 persons from his land just so the view from the castle was more aesthetic. Copies of the Londonderry Standard on the walls of the visitor centre told the whole story.

From the park we headed further west toward the coast and it was here we started noticing lots of the bog being dug up. Apparently people still use the peat for heating their homes in the winter.

We then found a museum that was the Dunfanaghy workhouse which is where many of the evicted tenants were sent after their houses and properties were taken from them. There was also an exhibition about Wee Hannah and her survival through the famine and then the workhouse.

Back to the B&B and our last meal at the Smugglers Pub. Thought We had better take a photo of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. Here I am checking out the pub from the bridge across the River Finn.

Border is a river

2 thoughts on “Westward bound in Donegal

  1. Hello Davo,

    Sounds like you and Miss W. have been having quite the adventure. (Cute picture. You look like you are spying on some smugglers. 🙂 )

    My great grandparents came from Ireland, and I have always wanted to go there to visit and see what it is like in person. Maybe one day. For now, I will look forward to reading more about it from your point of view.

    Be safe!

  2. G’day Ms Mara,
    Having a relative coming from Ireland was one reason we decided to come here before heading to the ISTE2014 conference in Atlanta, Georgia at the end of June.

    I have had a great time researching her and her family in the 1840’s, have had some successes, but many records were burnt in Dublin during 1922.

    Visiting the National Archives, National Library as well as local County Archives have been helpful.

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