Castlefin
{{short description|Town in County Donegal, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Castlefin
| native_name = {{Native name|ga|Caisleán na Finne|paren=omit}}
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Castlefin, County Donegal.jpg
| image_caption = The Diamond
| pushpin_map = Ireland
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Ireland
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Ulster
| subdivision_type3 = County
| subdivision_name3 = County Donegal
| subdivision_type4 = Main townland
| subdivision_name4 = Castlefin
| unit_pref = Metric
| population_as_of = 2022
| population_footnotes = {{cite web | title = Census Interactive Map – Towns: Castlefinn | url = https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/ima/cop/2022&boundary=C04160V04929&guid=a24af9af-6e2f-4ffe-82c5-9378bf445885 | work = Census 2022 | publisher = Central Statistics Office | access-date = 15 October 2024}}
| population_urban =
| population = 730
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1 = WET
| utc_offset1 = +0
| utc_offset1_DST = -1
| coordinates = {{coord|54.8030|-7.5966|dim:100000_region:IE|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| blank_name = Irish Grid Reference
| blank_info =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Castlefin ({{Irish place name|Caisleán na Finne|castle of the (river) Finn}}),{{cite web | url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/1414068 | title = Caisleán na Finne/Castlefin | website = Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie) | access-date = 16 April 2022}} sometimes spelt Castlefinn, is a market town and townland in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, Ireland. It is located between Stranorlar and Lifford in East Donegal. {{As of|2022}}, the population was 730. The River Finn flows by the town. The town is located in along the main N15 national primary road, which runs from Bundoran to Lifford. The town lies 6 miles from Lifford and 8 miles from the twin towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar. It has close links to Letterkenny, to the twin towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar, and to West Tyrone in Northern Ireland, especially with the towns of Strabane and Castlederg.
Amenities
The five housing estates in the town are called the Emmett Park built in the 1980s Sessaigh Park built in the 2000s, Caislean Court built in the 1990s, Hillhead built in the 1970s and Grahamsland built in the 1950s.{{Cite web |title=Property price trends in Ireland. |url=https://proper.ie/county/Donegal/area/Caislean%20Court,%20Castlefin |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=proper.ie}}
The town centre is located around the Diamond area, which is where three routes merge. The Diamond has landscaped seating and planting areas, and the surrounding area also has a number of buildings that are included on the Record of Protected Structures.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-15 |title=07 - The Diamond, Town Centre - Castlefinn, Co. Donegal. History {{!}} Heritage Walking Trail {{!}} Visitor Information |url=https://castlefinn.ie/listing/the-diamond-town-centre-market/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |language=en-US}} The town has a number of retail, commercial, religious, economic, social and recreational amenities.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-12 |title=Locations |url=https://thekernangroup.online/locations/?amp |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=The Kernan Group |language=en-GB}} Castlefinn also serves as a focus of primary education for the surrounding rural areas.{{Cite web |title=School {{!}} St. Mary's National School Castlefinn {{!}} Lifford |url=https://www.stmarysnscastlefinn.com/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=St. Mary's National |language=en}} The local national school has a large catchment area and currently has 180+ pupils attending. The town also has a pre-school.{{Cite web |title=CPI Community Childcare – Donegal Childcare |url=https://donegalchildcare.com/childcare-providers/cpi-community-childcare/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |language=en-GB}}
File:Approaching Castlefin from the south - geograph.org.uk - 689186.jpg
The town centre has a number of amenities including retail outlets, grocery stores, a petrol station, post office, butchers, take-aways, public houses and some hairdressers.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-07 |title=Points of Interest - Castlefinn, Co. Donegal. History {{!}} Heritage Walking Trail {{!}} Visitor Information |url=https://castlefinn.ie/castlefinn-points-of-interest/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |language=en-US}} The town also has a recycling facility that is located on the Castlederg road beside the bridge.
The C.P.I center is used for football, parties, computing and the youth club.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-07 |title=CPI Centre - Castlefinn, Co. Donegal. History {{!}} Heritage Walking Trail {{!}} Visitor Information |url=https://castlefinn.ie/points-of-interest/cpi-centre/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |language=en-US}} There is a local GAA club (Robert Emmetts) and a soccer field (Castlefinn Celtic). Castlefinn is also the home of Finn Valley Radio which broadcasts on 95.8FM locally and online. The station holds a community licence and its studios are located at the CPI Centre.{{cite web |url=http://www.finnvalleyfm.com/ |title=Home |website=finnvalleyfm.com}}
Schools
Local schools include St Mary's National School,{{cite web |url=http://www.stmarysns.info/ |title=St. Mary's National School Castlefin |website=www.stmarysns.info |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721233827/http://www.stmarysns.info/ |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead}} Scoil Náisiúnta Domhnach Mór,(Liscooley) and St. Safan's National School (Doneyloop).{{cite web |title=Sn Naomh Samhthann |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/3c7vkr-62o3nq-/ |publisher=Department of Education |access-date=19 October 2024}}
Transport
Castlefinn railway station opened on 7 September 1863, but finally closed on 1 January 1960.{{cite web | title=Castlefinn station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2007-09-16}}
A number of buses pass through Castlefinn on a daily basis going to Letterkenny, Derry, Strabane, Dublin, Sligo and Galway.
Townlands, hamlets and electoral divisions
There are 18 townlands in Castlefin, along with two hamlets and three electoral divisions.
Politics
Castlefin is in the Donegal constituency for Dáil elections. The town is in the Lifford–Stranorlar Municipal District of Donegal County Council. The six councillors for the district include Gary Doherty of Castlefin.{{cite web |title=Lifford-Stranorlar |url=https://www.donegalcoco.ie/en/services/corporate/municipal-districts/lifford-stranorlar |publisher=Donegal County Council |access-date=18 March 2025}}
Notable people
{{See also|Category:People from Castlefin}}
- Seán Reid, Musician
- Ruby Druce (1915-2025) - oldest person in Ireland{{cite news |last1=Doyle |first1=Louise |title=Ireland’s oldest citizen Ruby Druce laid to rest in her beloved Castlefinn |url=https://donegalnews.com/irelands-oldest-citizen-ruby-druce-laid-to-rest-in-her-beloved-castlefinn/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=Donegal News |date=24 March 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Maglov |first1=Stefan |title=Ruby Druce, Ireland’s Oldest Person, Dies at 109 |url=https://longeviquest.com/2025/03/ruby-druce-irelands-oldest-person-dies-at-109/ |access-date=24 March 2025 |work=longeviquest.com |date=21 March 2025}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012150711/http://www.donegalcoco.ie/services/informationpoints/planning/lapcastlefin.htm Donegal County Council - Castlefinn Local Area Plan]
{{County Donegal}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castlefinn}}