Stranorlar

Infobox Irish Place
name = Stranorlar
gaeilge = Srath an Urláir
crest

motto =
map

pin coords = left: 83px; top: 71px
north coord = 54.8 | west coord = 7.790 | irish grid = H194946
area = | elevation = 30 m
province = Ulster
county = County Donegal
web = |http://www.ballybofeystranorlar.com|

Stranorlar ("Srath an Urláir" in Irish, meaning the 'valley of the floor' or flat bottomed valley) is a small town in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, Ireland, part of the Province of Ulster located in the Republic of Ireland. Stranorlar and Ballybofey (located on the other side of the River Finn) form "the Twin Towns".

Transport

For nearly 100 years, Stranorlar was the headquarters of the County Donegal Railway system (originally, the Finn Valley Railway), with services to Derry and Letterkenny via Strabane (near Lifford), to Ballyshannon and Killybegs via Donegal, and to Glenties. At its peak the railway had 130 employees. The last train ran from Stranorlar in 1961. Stranorlar railway station opened on 7 September 1863 and finally closed on 5 February 1960. [cite web | title=Stranorlar station | work=Railscot - Irish Railways | url=http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf | accessdate=2007-11-24] The old railway station was demolished to make way for a new bus garage owned and run by Bus Éireann. To celebrate the millennium, the old clock from the railway station was restored and installed in a new clock tower which sits at the old pedestrian entrance to the railway station yard. The town remains the main depot for Bus Éireann within County Donegal.

Education

Stranorlar is home to St. Columba's College and Finn Valley College, both highly rated secondary schools. The town is also home to two primary schools. St Mary's primary school which is adjacent to the Catholic Church and the Robertson National School which is opposite the Church of Ireland.

Religion

There is an interesting old Church of Ireland church, where in its cemetery Home Rule League founder Isaac Butt is buried, the Catholic church of St Mary's, and there are 2 Presbyterian churches.

port

Finn Valley Athletics Club has its track in the town. There is an excellent 18 hole golf course and fine game fishing in the river Finn, and nearby is the Lough Alann bird sanctuary. Also, in Stranorlar's twin town Ballybofey, There is Donegals only senior soccer club,Finn Harps.

Tourism

Drumboe Woods are the major attraction of Stranorlar. The woods are managed by Coillte and provide walking routes along the banks of the River Finn and the upper woods. Outside the town, a small folly called The Steeple is a popular destination for many walkers. From the top of the tower, on a clear day, the hillfort of The Grianan of Aileach can be seen. There is an interesting raised ring fort at Dunwiley, outside the town. There are numerous guest houses throughout the town and on the main street is Stranorlar's only hotel. Kee's Hotel is a family run three star hotel, first established in the 19th century as a coach house. The town has lost out to its bigger twin on the other side of the river as far as commercial development goes and is mainly a residential area. The vernacular architecture of the town is largely nineteenth century solid two and three storey townhouses , one or two of some interest. Unfortunately they are rapidly being lost to development.

References

External links

* [http://www.fiacharts.com/ Local Art Group]