Killybegs

File:Killybegs Harbour 2007 08 21.jpg

There are at least six Court Cairns dating from the Neolithic period located in the Killybegs area. Two of the largest are Shalwy (130 feet long) and Croagh Beg (120 feet long).{{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Cary |date=2004 |title=Sacred Ireland |url= |location=Somerset |publisher=Gothic Image Publications |page=115 |isbn=0 906362 43 1 |access-date=}} In 1588, Killybegs was the last port of call for the Spanish vessel La Girona, which had dropped anchor in the harbour when the Spanish Armada fetched up on the Irish coast during Spain's war with England. With the assistance of a Killybegs chieftain, MacSweeney Bannagh, the Girona's personnel were fed, her rudder repaired, and she set sail for Scotland, but was wrecked off the Antrim coast with the loss of nearly 1,300 lives.{{cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/ACHWS_annual_report_2005.pdf|title=La Girona|work=Annual Report of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wrecks, 2005|publisher=Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites|pages=35 pp|access-date=1 November 2008|archive-date=14 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114115741/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/ACHWS_annual_report_2005.pdf|url-status=live}}

In 1893 a railway station opened in the town, connecting it to Donegal town, but the line closed in 1960.

Bridge Street in the town centre was flooded during Storm Bert in November 2024.{{cite news |last1=Foley |first1=Alan |title='It is heartbreaking to witness the extent of the flooding this morning' |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/south-donegal/1662907/boyle-it-is-heartbreaking-to-witness-the-extent-of-the-flooding-this-morning.html |access-date=23 November 2024 |publisher=Donegal Live |date=23 November 2024}}

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Killybegs is a natural deepwater harbour with a depth of 12 metres at low water spring tide at the new €50 million pier completed in 2004. The harbour is home to all the largest Irish midwater pelagic trawlers and a modest whitefish fleet, but it handles many other types of shipping as well. These include passenger cruise liners and mixed specialist cargoes. In recent years Killybegs has become the favoured port for the importation of wind turbines and is a service port for the offshore gas/oil drilling rigs.

The town is the centre of the Irish pelagic fishing and processing industries, as it specialises in the processing and freezing of species such as mackerel, herring, scad, and blue whiting. The finished processed fish is exported to markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe by freezer ships. However, due to blanket enforcement of EU fishing regulations on Irish vessels by the Irish Department of the Marine, starting in 2005, and mackerel shoals remaining longer in Norwegian waters, there has been a downturn in the fishing industry in the town. This has led to redundancies in the fish processing industry, in which the fish factory workers have been the hardest hit.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}

File:Killybegs Harbour Fishing Trawler SO 716 Sheanne 2007 08 21.jpg

The first national school, known as 'Killybegs National School', and later as the 'Commons National School', opened in 1834 on a site originally provided by the Plantation Commissioners in the reign of King James IBygones-New horizons on the history of Killybegs Killybegs: Pat Conaghan, Aghyeevoge (1989) {{oclc|22529769}}

There are three national schools{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=KILLYBEGS COMMON N S |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/oac0vy-5sdcng-/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.gov.ie |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=S N FHIONNTRA |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/3giaqk-7g82nl-/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.gov.ie |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=S N NEILL MOR |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/2dlkj1-ts3l0u-/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.gov.ie |language=en}} and one second-level school in Killybegs{{Cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=ST. CATHERINE'S VOCATIONAL SCHOOL |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/page/qi8d64-xg8que-/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.gov.ie |language=en}} as well as a third level institution Tourism College Killybegs, the only dedicated tourism institute in Ireland, offering courses in hospitality, tourism and culinary skills.{{Cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Rachel |date=2018-10-01 |title=Chef shortage: 'It is not a desirable career any more' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/chef-shortage-it-is-not-a-desirable-career-any-more-1.3646939 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240415221713/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/chef-shortage-it-is-not-a-desirable-career-any-more-1.3646939 |archive-date=2024-04-15 |access-date=2024-04-15 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |quote=Established in 1969, Killybegs is Ireland's oldest dedicated tourism and catering college outside Dublin. The school is renowned for turning out skilled chefs including McDermott, Adrian Martin and Gary O'Hanlon.}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=ATU Donegal Killybegs {{!}} ATU - Atlantic Technological University |url=https://www.atu.ie/locations/atu-donegal-killybegs |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.atu.ie |language=en}} The college was academically integrated with Letterkenny Institute of Technology since 2001, and ATU Donegal since 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=Killybegs Marine Cluster will bring new business development and internationalisation to the North-West {{!}} ATU - Atlantic Technological University |url=https://www.atu.ie/news/killybegs-marine-cluster-will-bring-new-business-development-and-internationalisation-to-the |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.atu.ie |language=en |quote=Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, officially launched the Killybegs Marine Cluster this week (Monday 11 April) in the Killybegs campus of the newly formed Atlantic Technological University (ATU).}}

St Catherine's Vocational School is a non-denominational, co-educational second-level school.{{Cite web |title=St. Catherine's Vocational School – Donegal ETB |url=https://www.donegaletb.ie/feature/post-primary-school/st-catherines-vs/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Donegal ETB |language=en-GB |quote=}} There are twenty-six teaching staff, five special needs assistants and three support staff. The student population is 385 and the male-to-female student ratio is approximately 50:50. The present two-storey building opened in 1987 provides facilities for students, teachers and members of the community. St Catherine's has a range of extracurricular activities, the school has had success in English, Irish and science debates. The arts are well provided for with an art and music department, the music department has staged a number of musical productions,{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Stephen |date=2018-08-12 |title=School's out for Ultan at the Balor |url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2018/08/12/schools-out-for-ultan-at-the-balor/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Donegal Daily |language=en-US |quote=He knew the actors from the St. Catherine’s Vocational School production of ‘All Shook Up’, which he co-directed, and from Big Fish, which he founded while a student at St. Catherine’s.}} and students are taught a variety of instruments. Sport is also an important aspect of school life students participate in teams representing the school in soccer,{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Cillian |date=2024-01-09 |title=Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair lift Junior B Girls Ulster Schools title |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/soccer/1390910/pobalscoil-ghaoth-dobhair-lift-junior-b-girls-ulster-schools-title.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en |quote=Hat-tricks from Maria Ní hFídhinn and Maria Ní Ghallachóir helped Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair to a comfortable 6-0 win over St Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs, in the Ulster Junior B Girls final on Tuesday.}} Gaelic football,{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Michael |title=Abbey Vocational School News |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/your-community/220125/abbey-vocational-school-news.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en}} athletics,{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Stephen |date=2014-10-22 |title=ATHLETICS NEWS: TIR CHONAILL AC ATHLETE PAUL WARD CONTINUES HIS IMPRESSIVE FORM |url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2014/10/22/athletics-news-tir-chonaill-ac-athlete-paul-ward-continues-his-impressive-form/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Donegal Daily |language=en-US |quote=Congratulations to local schools athletes from St Catherine’s, Killybegs and the Abbey Voc School who travelled in large numbers and from results [see attached] had numerous fine individual and team results.}} basketball{{Cite web |date=2014-02-04 |title=Passing of Anna Ward, Bruckless |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/donegal-news/43222/Passing-of-Anna-Ward--Bruckless.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en |quote=A very well known and popular woman, Mrs Ward was a former teacher of science and maths at St Catherine’s Vocational School, where she also founded and coached the basketball team.}} and rugby.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-28 |title=A first for Killybegs school - an U-16 rugby team |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/soccer/39765/A-first-for-Killybegs-school-.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en}}

Killybegs is on the R263 road, joining the N56 road 3 km to the north.{{cite web |first=Siobhán |last=McNamara |title=Proposed N56 improvement works are vital for the future of the region |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/local-news/991764/proposed-n56-improvement-works-are-vital-for-the-future-of-the-region.html |date=19 December 2022 |website=DonegalLive.ie |access-date=17 April 2025}}

The town is on several bus routes with many buses each day.

Local Link route 293,{{cite web |title=Timetable: Glencolmcille to Donegal Town & Return |url=https://locallinkdsl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/293-Glencolmcille-to-Donegal-Town.pdf |website=Local Link Donegal Sligo Leitrim |access-date=24 November 2024}} and Bus Éireann routes 490 and 492 operate to and from Donegal town and other local places.{{cite web |title=Route 490 |url=https://www.buseireann.ie/routes-and-timetables/490 |website=Bus Éireann |access-date=24 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Route 492 |url=https://www.buseireann.ie/routes-and-timetables/492 |website=Bus Éireann |access-date=24 November 2024}} McGeehan Coaches operates a route 991 to/from Letterkenny and other local places.{{cite web |title=991 - Killybegs - Letterkenny |url=https://bustimes.org/services/991-main-street-letterkenny-mr-chippy-chip-shop?calendar=6589815 |website=bustimes.org |access-date=24 November 2024}}

There is no longer a rail service to Killybegs. A railway line opened on 18 October 1893 on the Donegal Railway Company (DR) line from Donegal town to Killybegs. The Donegal town to Killybegs branch of the DR terminated at the harbour and some of the remains can still be seen to this day. The railway was closed on 1 January 1960.{{cite web | title=Killybegs station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | access-date=2012-04-27 | archive-date=2 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302022802/http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | url-status=live }}

Fintra Beach ({{Langx|ga|Fionntrá}}), a registered blue flag beach, is located on the outskirts of Killybegs town.{{Cite web |last= |title=Fintragh Blue Flag Beach |url=https://www.killybegs.ie/donegal-tourism/fintragh-blue-flag-beach/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Killybegs Tourism and Visitor Information |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Fintra Blue Flag Beach |url=https://www.govisitdonegal.com/things-to-do/places-to-see/fintra-blue-flag-beach |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Go Visit Donegal |language=en-gb}} It consists entirely of fine golden sand and receives large numbers of day-trippers during the peak of the tourist season. It is lifeguarded throughout the bathing season.

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{{Main|Donegal Carpets}}

Killybegs is famous for its tapestries and carpets, some of which were produced on the biggest carpet loom in the world at the "Donegal Carpet Factory". The carpets, known as Donegals, are hand-knotted in the Turkish style. The carpets have adorned many important buildings in Ireland such as Dublin Castle, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Áras an Uachtaráin and internationally the Vatican, The White House, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and most state buildings around the world. The factory in Killybegs closed in 2003 and has been open since 2006 as the [http://www.visitkillybegs.com Maritime & Heritage Centre]. The Centre provides information on carpet making and the fishing industry. Tours are conducted daily and visitors can watch smaller carpets being made and try making a knot.

The local GAA club is Na Cealla Beaga. They play their home games at Eamon Byrne Memorial Park.{{Cite web |title=Club History - Killybegs Gaa Club |url=http://www.killybegs.gaa.ie/club-history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412045012/http://www.killybegs.gaa.ie/club-history |archive-date=2016-04-12 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=killybegs.gaa.ie}}

The local association football club, St Catherine's, was founded in 1896.{{Cite web |last=Foley |first=Alan |date=2015-06-25 |title=Hugh McFadden takes scenic route to Donegal set-up |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20338878.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182501/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/football/hugh-mcfadden-takes-scenic-route-to-donegal-set-up-338878.html |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en |quote=McFadden is from the fishing town in south-west Donegal, a place where there’s an understanding between the local GAA club Killybegs and the soccer equivalent, St Catherine’s FC.}} They play their home games at Emerald Park.{{Cite web |last=Craig |first=Frank |title=Old Saints still marching on at Emerald Park |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/soccer/1161179/old-saints-still-marching-on-at-emerald-park.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en}}

Killybegs Rowing Club can often be seen training in the harbour during the summer months and hold an annual regatta on the last weekend of July.{{Cite web |date=2014-08-07 |title=Busy weekend on water in Killybegs |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/43713/Busy-weekend-on-water-in-Killybegs.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en}} The club row the Donegal Skiff, the traditional skiff of the county.

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File:Killybegs St. Catherine's Well and Cat Castle 2012 09 16.jpg

Killybegs Authors:

John C. Ward: An Teagasg Criostaidhe fa Choinne Dioghoise Ratha Bhota 1891; Turas na croiche agus an Choróin Mhuire maille le dántaibh diadha 1892; Na hEipistil agus na soisgéil do na Domhnaigh agus na laetha saoire arna dtarraingt go Gaeilge 1904; An Cruinneolaí 1906; Leabhar filíochta fa choinne na scoil 1909 (with Padraig O'Beirne).

Thomas Colin MacGinley ('Kinnfaela'): The Cliff Scenery of South-Western Donegal 1867 (Reprinted by the Four Masters Press 2000); General Biology 1874.

Very Reverend James Stephens, P.P.: Illustrated Handbook of The Scenery and Antiquities of South-Western Donegal 1872.

Charles Conaghan: History and Antiquities of Killybegs 1975.

Dr Donald Martin: Killybegs Then and Now 1998; Killybegs-Down Memory Lane 2011.

Pat Conaghan: Bygones 1989; The Great Famine in South-West Donegal 1845–1850 1997; The Zulu Fishermen 2003; Steamed Fish (The Phoenix No 2, Winter 1991/2); Stranorlar, Not San Francisco (The Phoenix No 3, Spring 1992).

Bella McGee (poet) James Conwell (poet) Padraig O'Beirne (poet) e.g.: Mo Phiopa Gairid Donn (n.d).

In 2011, French novelist Sorj Chalandon published ":fr:Retour à Killybegs" ("Return to Killybegs") whose main character, Tyrone Meehan, is a native of Killybegs.{{Cite book |last=Chalandon |first=Sorj |title=Retour à Killybegs |publisher=Grasset |year=2011 |isbn=9782246785699 |language=fr |trans-title=Return to Killybegs}}

{{See also|Category:People from Killybegs}}

• Manus Boyle (born 1966) - Gaelic footballer{{Cite web |date=2012-09-23 |title=Where are they now? |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/where-are-they-now/28812980.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Irish Independent |language=en |quote=Boyle's background is in fishing not sport. He lives in Killybegs, his mother comes from Ringsend in Dublin and his father hails from Rutland Island.}}
• Brian Brady (1903-1949) - Fianna Fáil politician{{Cite web |last=McHugh |first=Michael |title=McHugh's Miscellany - Donegal TDs whose IRA pension applications are now online |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/home/1184697/mchugh-s-miscellany-donegal-tds-whose-ira-pension-applications-are-now-online.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en |quote=Deputy Brian Brady TD and Deputy P.J. Ward were both Killybegs men}}
• Séamus Coleman (born 1988) - professional footballer whom captains both Premier League club Everton and the Republic of Ireland national team.{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Sean |date=2013-06-28 |title=If Seamus Coleman played GAA, he'd be a star with Donegal -- McGuinness |url=https://www.the42.ie/seamus-coleman-gaa-968638-Jun2013/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=The 42 |language=en |quote=Everton’s Seamus Coleman is Killybegs born and bred.}}
• Barry Cunningham (born 1965) - Gaelic footballer{{Cite news |last=Duggan |first=Keith |date=2009-06-13 |title=Medals do not put bread on tables |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/medals-do-not-put-bread-on-tables-1.783511 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240415192744/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/medals-do-not-put-bread-on-tables-1.783511 |archive-date=2024-04-15 |access-date=2024-04-15 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |quote=Barry McGowan, man-of-the-match Manus Boyle and substitute midfielder Barry Cunningham were from Killybegs.}}
• Paddy McClafferty (born 2004) – international footballer with Gibraltar.https://www.donegallive.ie/news/soccer/1748405/former-st-catherines-starlet-patrick-mcclafferty-earns-senior-gibraltar-call-up.html
• Hugh McFadden (born 1994) - Gaelic footballer{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Peter |date=2023-03-16 |title=I'm vocal because I care - Hugh McFadden |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/1062695/im-vocal-because-i-care-hugh-mcfadden.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en |quote=“Growing up in Killybegs we were absolutely blessed with people who loved soccer and Gaelic and gave us a love and desire and a really enjoyable experience playing sport."}}
• Barry McGowan (born 1967) - Gaelic footballer
• Thomas Pringle (born 1967) - Independent TD{{Cite web |last=O'Donnell |first=Ciaran |title=Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle thanks public for get well messages |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/donegal-news/264079/donegal-deputy-thomas-pringle-thanks-public-for-get-well-messages.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=www.donegallive.ie |language=en |quote=In a message posted on his facebook page on Tuesday night, the Killybegs-based Dáil Deputy commented: "Not dying anyway folks! All going well here, have the phone for 20 minutes. Can't reply to all the messages but they are greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your best wishes. See ya soon."}}
• Kevin Sharkey (born 1961) - artist and musician{{Cite web |date=2018-08-03 |title=Balbriggan bid for Áras |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/fingal/balbriggan-bid-for-aras/37167460.html |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Irish Independent |language=en |quote=Defining that relationship, he said: 'You have to remember that I was born in 1961 in Dublin. 'My mother was Irish and I was brought up in Killybegs. 'In Killybegs in 1961, I was the only black kid there but what I found as a child, growing up in Killybegs and in rural Ireland, was that instead of being held apart, instead of being ridiculed, instead of being made to feel unwelcome, the community really, really embraced me.}}
• Noelle Vial (1959-2003) - poet{{cite news |title=Untimely death of local poet |url=http://marinetimes.ie/Assets/_archive_2003/0203_killybegs.htm |access-date=17 March 2022 |work=Marine Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119225435/http://marinetimes.ie/Assets/_archive_2003/0203_killybegs.htm |archive-date=19 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}
• Peter J. Ward (1891-1970) - Sinn Féin politician

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File:Fintragh beach.jpg|alt=Fintragh beach near Killybegs

• List of populated places in the Republic of Ireland
• Largy Waterfall

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.killybegs.ie/ Official Tourism website]
• [http://www.killybegsonline.org/ Killybegs Online]

{{County Donegal}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Fishing communities in Ireland

Category:Populated coastal places in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Port cities and towns in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Towns and villages in County Donegal

Category:Former boroughs in the Republic of Ireland