Rathmullan

Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes court tomb and ringfort sites in the neighbouring townlands of Crevary Upper and Rathmullan and Ballyboe.{{citation | title = Survey of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland. Volume VI, County Donegal | editor = Cody, Eamon | place = Dublin | publisher = Government Stationery Office | date = 2002}}{{citation | title = Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century | place = Lifford | publisher = Donegal County Council | date = 1983}}

Within Rathmullan village is a ruined Carmelite friary, dating to 1516, which was built by Eoghan Rua MacSweeney. The friary was sacked by the English garrison from Sligo in 1595. In 1617, the friary was occupied by the Protestant Bishop of Raphoe, Andrew Knox. A subsequent Bishop of Raphoe turned it into a fortified house in anticipation of a possible French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.

On 14 September 1607, 99 aristocrats of the Gaelic Order, including of Clan Ó Néill and Clan Ó Domhnaill, left Rathmullan for the European continent, an episode known as the Flight of the Earls. On 14 September 2007, president Mary McAleese visited the village to mark the 400th anniversary of the event. She unveiled a sculpture by John Behan that represents the plight of the men who were led by the Gaelic aristocrats.{{Cite web |title=McAleese unveils Flight of Earls statue |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/mcaleese-unveils-flight-of-earls-statue-1.812191 |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}

There are the remains of a Martello tower or battery in the village which serves as a heritage centre. The fortification was one of six originally built {{circa|1813}} by the British as part of a defence along Lough Swilly against feared Napoleonic invasion.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40819002/rathmullan-fort-kerrs-bay-road-rathmullan-and-ballyboe-rathmullan-donegal | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Rathmullan Fort, Kerrs Bay Road, Rathmullan And Ballyboe, Rathmullan, Donegal | accessdate = 10 May 2023 }} These batteries were manned up until the end of the World War I to protect British warships that were moored in Lough Swilly.{{cite web |title=Local history |url=http://stjosephsrathmullan.ie/localhistory.html |website=St. Joseph's School, Rathmullan |access-date=7 February 2021}}

There are three churches in Rathmullan: St. Joseph's Catholic Church,{{cite web |title=St. Joseph's Church |url=https://www.raphoediocese.ie/church/rathmullan/st-josephs-church/ |website=Diocese of Raphoe |access-date=7 February 2021}} St. Columb's Church of Ireland (Parish of Killygarvan),{{cite web |title=St. Columb's Church |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40819009/st-columbs-church-or-ireland-church-church-road-rathmullan-and-ballyboe-rathmullan-donegal |website=Buildings of Ireland |access-date=7 February 2021}} and the Rathmullan Presbyterian Church.{{cite web |title=Rathmullan Presbyterian Church |url=https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Prayer/Prayer-for-Today/2020/January-2020/12-Jan-18-Jan/Rathmullan-Presbyterian-Church.aspx |website=Presbyterian Church in Ireland |access-date=7 February 2021}}

Other facilities in Rathmullan include shops, a resource centre, a spa, a wedding venue (Drumhalla House), and a hotel.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

The annual Lough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival is held locally in June. The 2007 festival took place on Saturday 2 June and Sunday 3 June.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

File:Rathmullan - Houses along main street - geograph.org.uk - 1330966.jpg

File:Bronze statue - geograph.org.uk - 821113.jpg]]

Rathmullan is the setting for Australian/British author Brand King's novel An Irish Winter,{{cite book |last1=King |first1=Brand |title=An Irish Winter |date=30 June 2020 |publisher=The Choir Press |isbn=9781789630992 }} published in 2020. A number of features of the village are described in the novel, including the local beach.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} The traditional New Year's Day cold water swim also features, while a number of scenes are set in the Beachcomber Bar and An Bonnan Bui Cafe.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

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

• Ian Anderson (1925–2005), former President of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
• Hugh Law (1818–1883), Lord Chancellor of Ireland, died here in 1883.{{Cite DNB|wstitle =Law, Hugh|volume=32}}
• Mary McAlister (1896–1976), Irish-born Scottish nurse who became an MP for the UK Labour Party.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Donegal)
• List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland
• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland

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{{County Donegal}}

{{Flight of the Earls}}

Category:Towns and villages in County Donegal

Category:Townlands of County Donegal