An Bun Beag (anglicised as Bunbeg), meaning "the small river mouth", [1] is a small Gaeltacht village and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. It is officially the smallest townland in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore), but today the name Bunbeg is used to describe a large region of the parish. It is situated between Derrybeg and the townland of Dore and is home to many of Gweedore's amenities and businesses. The Clady River (Irish: An Chláidigh) flows into the Crolly River (also known as the Gweedore River) beside Bunbeg Quay, on the south-western outskirts of Bunbeg. [2]
There is a ferry service from Bunbeg to nearby Tory Island. [3]
On Tuesday, 23 June 2009, a severe thunderstorm struck the villages of Bunbeg and Derrybeg and other parts of Gweedore. It lasted for several hours and caused two rivers to burst their banks, flooding houses and businesses, and damaging roads and bridges. Lightning strikes damaged power lines and mobile phone services, causing those trapped by the floods to be unable to communicate. [4] [5] Described as the worst storm 'in living memory', it was also the most severe since 1880 when 5 people drowned in Derrybeg. While the highly localised nature of the storm meant the bulk of the rainfall missed the network of rain gauges, the Irish Meteorological Service estimated that up to 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain fell between 2pm and 6pm of 23 June 2009. [5] [6]
The former Óstán Gaoth Dobhair is situated beside Magheraclogher beach. Built in 1970s, it was a X. Frequent guests included George Best and Pat Crerand. [7] It closed in 2015 and has been abandoned since. [8] The hotel used to be very popular for weddings and other events in the area due to its picturesque location and the size of the function rooms. [9] It was bought by private developer in 2020, with plans to redevelop the hotel and provide apartments. [10]
Another hotel, Óstán Radharc na Mara (Seaview Hotel), also closed in 2015. [11] Like with Óstán Gaoth Dobhair, it too was bought by the same developer in 2020 for redevelopment, with work beginning in 2022. [10] [12] The hotel has been used to accommodate refugees since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. [13]
There are a number of public houses in the area, such as Teach Hiúdaí Beag. [14] The Irish-American gangster, Vincent 'Mad dog' Coll, was born above Teach Hiúdaí Beag. [15]
There is a pier in the area, built in the 1830s to encourage fishing. It has ferry routes to both Tory Island and Gola Island available. The local coast guard station is also situated at the pier. [16]
There is an Irish-medium primary school in the area called Scoil Chonaill (Connell's School) with around 100 pupils. [17]
The secondary school for the wider Gweedore area is Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair, which is also an Irish-medium school. [18]
There is an iconic shipwreck on the beach known as Bád Eddie (Eddie's boat). [19] The large fishing boat, originally built in Brittany, France, was called "Ami Des Flots" (Friend of the Waves). At some point it's name was changed to Cara Na Mara (Friend of the sea), before finally being called Bád Eddie after its final owner. In 1977 it came ashore for minor repairs and remained there for unknown reasons. [20]
The shipwreck is best known for featuring in Bono and Clannad's 1985 hit song In A Lifetime in which it was struck by lightning. [21] It has also featured in Vogue magazine. [20] Michael Moore also stated it was his view of the ship that inspired him to finish his book ‘Dude Where’s my Country’ . [22]
In recent years efforts have been taken to preserve and salvage the ship, after decades of being exposed to the elements from the sea have led to it's degradation. [23]
Bunbeg is mentioned in the song "Left in Peace" from the album Finisterres (1997) by Héritage des Celtes.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, abbreviated RnaG, is an Irish language radio station owned and operated by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). The station is available on FM in Ireland and via satellite and on the Internet. It celebrated 40 years on air on 2 April 2012. The station's main-headquarters are in Casla, County Galway with major studios also in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal and Ballydavid, County Kerry.
An Clochán Liath, known in English as Dungloe, is a town on the west coast of County Donegal in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. It is the main town in The Rosses and the largest in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Dungloe developed as a town in the middle of the 18th century, and now serves as the administrative and retail centre for the west of County Donegal, and in particular The Rosses, with the only mainland secondary school for the area.
Errigal is a 751-metre (2,464 ft) mountain near Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountains and the tallest peak in County Donegal. Errigal is also the most southern and the highest of the mountain chain called the "Seven Sisters" by locals. The other peaks of the Seven Sisters are Muckish, Crocknalaragagh, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Aghla More, and Mackoght.
Gweedore is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) district and parish located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Glasserchoo and Bloody Foreland in the north to Crolly in the south and around 14 kilometres (9 mi) from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher and Magheralosk in the west, and is sometimes described as one of Europe's most densely populated rural areas. It is the largest Irish-speaking parish in Ireland with a population of around 4,065, and is also the home of the northwest regional studios of the Irish-language radio service RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, as well as an external campus of the University of Galway. Gweedore includes the settlements of Brinlack, Bunbeg, Derrybeg, Crolly and Dunlewey, and sits in the shade of County Donegal's highest peak, Errigal.
Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, anglicized as Gweedore Theatre, is a local theatre in the Gaeltacht region of Derrybeg in the parish of Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. It seats over 200 patrons, and ever since it was opened by actress Siobhán McKenna, it has staged hundreds of plays in the Irish language.
Proinsias Ó Maonaigh or Francie Mooney was a fiddler from Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. He is known for his distinguished fiddle playing and his unique and vast contribution to Irish music and culture. He is the father of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and grandfather of fiddle player Ciarán Ó Maonaigh.
Gort an Choirce or Gort a' Choirce, anglicised as Gortahork, is a village and townland in the northwest of County Donegal, Ireland. It is a Gaeltacht community, where the Irish language is the main language spoken in the area. Along with Falcarragh, it forms part of the district known as Cloughaneely.
Maria McCool is an Irish singer from Gweedore, County Donegal. She is well known for performing old Irish songs in her native Irish and in English. Her albums include Ailleog and Doagh, on which she covered such songs as "Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí" and "Song For Ireland". She has received numerous awards at Celtic festivals in Ireland and the UK. In 2007, McCool was married and worked as a national school teacher in Dunshaughlin in County Meath.
"Gleanntáin Ghlas' Ghaoth Dobhair" is a song in the Irish language written by Irish musician Proinsias Ó Maonaigh about his hometown of Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal. It translates as "the green glens of Gweedore". The song is one of the well-known Irish language songs of Ireland and it can be heard in many Irish pubs around the world. The song is about immigration overseas to North America and the desire to go back home to Gweedore, Ireland as well as about a great respect and love for Gweedore, its surrounding nature, and its people.
The Duggans were an Irish musical duo from Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland.
Doirí Beaga, is a Gaeltacht village and townland in the parish of Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland. It includes a Roman Catholic church, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta regional studios, a Gaelic Athletic Association club and a golf club. According to the 2016 census 53.4% of the population spoke Irish on a daily basis outside the education system. The village is home of Tim Healy the famous politician.
Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair is an Irish-medium secondary school in the Gaeltacht district of Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland. It has a pupil attendance of around 450.
CLG Ghaoth Dobhair is a GAA club based in the parish of Gaoth Dobhair in northwest County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. They are one of the strongholds of Gaelic football in County Donegal.
Croithlí or Croichshlí is a village in the Gaeltacht parishes and traditional districts of Gweedore and The Rosses in the west of County Donegal in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. The two 'districts' are separated by the Crolly River. It has one convenience shop/restaurant and petrol station and one public house, Páidí Óg's. Crolly is located in two baronies: the Gweedore part of the village is in the Barony of Kilmacrenan, while The Rosses part of the village is in the Barony of Boylagh, the Crolly River being the boundary between the two baronies.
Voodoo is a bar and nightclub in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. It opened in April 2006 and is located on Main Street.
Seán McGinley, known as Seán Mac Fhionnghaile, was an Irish actor from County Donegal. He was known primarily for his comic roles, particularly for his leading roles in the TG4 sitcoms C.U. Burn and Gleann Ceo, as well as RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta comedy series Cois Cuan. He was executive producer for the 12-part series, FFC, and was a member of Aisteoiri Ghaoth Dobhair, an actors' group.
Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta is an annual All Ireland Gaelic football competition contested by clubs from the Irish language-speaking Gaeltacht areas of Ireland. Clubs compete on a county-basis at first, in order to qualify for the tournament that is hosted by a different club from the Gaeltacht each year. The first competition was held in Gweedore, County Donegal in 1969 and was won by the local club CLG Ghaoth Dobhair. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta provides radio coverage of both the regional qualifiers and the national finals, held over the June Bank Holiday. TG4 provides live television coverage of the men's semi-finals and finals on the June Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday, and these are also broadcast online.
Kevin Gillespie is an Irish priest who since 20 August 2018 serves as Vicar Forane and Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe's Cathedral Parish of Conwal and Leck. Having spent much time at the Vatican and worked closely with two Popes, he has been mentioned as a possible future Bishop of Raphoe.
Lord George Augusta Hill was an Anglo-Irish military officer, politician and landowner.
The Clady River is a small river in Gweedore, a district in the north-west of County Donegal in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. The river flows entirely within the Civil Parish of Tullaghobegly.
In the past, sporting legends, such as, George Best and Pat Crerand came regularly to holiday at the óstán.
Óstán Gaoth Dobhair closed three weeks before the Seaview Hotel in 2015.
Bhíodh an-tóir ar an óstán do bhainiseacha agus ócáidí eile sa cheantar mar gheall ar áilleacht na háite ina bhfuil sé agus méid na seomraí ócáide.[The hotel used to be very popular for weddings and other events in the area due to the beauty of its location and the size of the function rooms.]
Vincent 'Mad Dog' Coll was born in Tigh Hiudai Beag's bar,...
Built in Brittany, France and originally named Ami Des Flots (Friend of the Waves), it was renamed Cara na Mara (Friend of the Sea), and later became known as Bád Eddie (Eddie's Boat) after the man who owned it. It came ashore for minor repairs in 1977 and has been stranded there ever since. It has been featured in Vogue magazine as well as the music video for In a Lifetime by Clannad and Bono.
It featured in the haunting Bono and Clannad song 'In A Lifetime' in 1985 and has become the backdrop for newly-married couples and thousands of tourists each year.
Since 1977, she was in the video 'In a Lifetime' by Clannad and BONO, she appeared in VOGUE magazine and she inspired Michael Moore to finish his book 'Dude Where's my Country' while he looked out at her beauty.