Killygordon

Killygordon[2] (Irish: Cúil na gCuirridín) is a small village in the Finn Valley in the east of County Donegal in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. As of 2016, the population was 614. It is located on the N15 between Ballybofey and Castlefin. The separate hamlet and townland of Crossroads, usually known as The Cross, lies half a mile from Killygordon. The River Finn passes by the village on its way towards its confluence with the River Mourne and the River Foyle.[3]

Killygordon
Cúil na gCuirridín
Village
Killygordon is located in Ireland
Killygordon
Killygordon
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 54°48′11″N 7°35′48″W
CountryIreland
ProvinceUlster
CountyCounty Donegal
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total614
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))

Amenities

Killygordon has one pub, St. Patrick's Catholic church at the Crossroads, a Presbyterian church at Liscooley and St. Anne's Church of Ireland at Monellan.

Economy

The main employer in the area is Donegal Creameries Plc which is based in the nearby village of the Crossroads, a dairy company which supplies fresh milk to all of Donegal. As one of the largest employers in the county, it employs over 100 people and has been in operation since 1989. They sponsor most sports in Donegal including the GAA County team and the Finn Harps FC.[4]

Places of interest

Monellan Castle, situated two miles outside the village, was built during the 18th century, and part of the 35 room dwelling was underground, to be used as a place of safety - if such was required. The castle and its gardens were in proper condition for some time after the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1778, until its demolition in the 1930s - on orders given to the Irish Land Commission by the government.[5]

St Anne's Church of Ireland Church, Monnellan, The Cross.
A picnic site in Killygordon.

Demographics

The population of Greater Killygordon is just over six hundred people. The village and surrounding areas have a large Church of Ireland and Presbyterian minority, however, Roman Catholicism is the main religion practised.

Industry

Killygordon - Crossroads is home to some major companies including Donegal Creameries, McMenamin Engineering - a steel fabrication company and Mantis Cranes - a crane rental and manufacturer.

St. Patrick's Church at the Crossroads, Killygordon

Sport

The local Gaelic football team is Aodh Rua (Red Hugh's) and Setanta is the local hurling team. They have separate Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) grounds and both are located at the Crossroads.

Curragh Athletic Football Club are the local football club, featuring teams from under-10 up to senior men's sides in Curragh Athletic grounds.

Finn Harps F.C. operate an underage academy and training facilities in Crossroads, at the former Curragh Athletic grounds. Three pitches are currently in use with underage boys and girls teams from under-11 up to under-19 making use of the facilities.

Education

Killygordon has two primary schools: Dromore National School and Killygordon National School. The Crossroads has one primary school, Gleneely National School.

The people of Killygordon get their secondary education either at the Finn Valley College (formally known as Stranorlar Vocational School), St. Columba's College Stranorlar or at the Royal and Prior, Raphoe.[6]

Transport

Killygordon railway station opened in September 1863, but closed on 1 January 1960.[7]

There is a bus service which connects Killygordon with Stranorlar and Strabane. From Stranorlar, there are routes to Letterkenny, Derry, Strabane, Dublin, Sligo and Galway. In Strabane there are Ulsterbus services to Derry, Omagh, and Belfast.

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Killygordan". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  2. "Cúil na gCuirridín/Killygordon". Placenames Database of Ireland. Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. "River Finn Guide - Salmon Rivers - Salmon Ireland". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  4. "Finn Harps Dot Com". www.finnharps.com.
  5. "Monellan Castle". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  6. "St Columba's College, Stranorlar | CEIST - Catholic Education An Irish Schools Trust". www.ceist.ie.
  7. "Castlefinn station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  8. "Reid, Donal". Hogan Stand. 31 July 1992.
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