Cloughaneely

A sign indicating the beginning of Cloughaneely.

Cloughaneely (official name: Cloch Cheann Fhaola)^[1] is a district in the west of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. This is a mainly coastal area centred on the town of Falcarragh, and it is a Gaeltacht area, meaning the Irish language is spoken as the primary language.^[2] Cloughaneely includes the secondary school Pobalscoil Chloich Gheann Fhaola, with over 500 students. Places of interest include Cnoc na Naomh, considered to be a mountain with religious significance.^[3] Cloughaneely, the Rosses and Gweedore, known locally as the three parishes, together form a social and cultural region different from the rest of the county, with Gweedore serving as the main centre for socialising and industry.^[4]

Name

The name Cloch Cheann Fhaola (also written Cloich Chionnaola, meaning "the Stone of Faoil's Head") comes from a story which tells of the killing of Faoil. The story says that Balor of the Evil Eye beheaded Faoil on a rock because Faoil stole the Cow of Plenty from Balor and brought it back to the mainland from Tory.

A scenic view of Machaire Rabhartaigh strand and Muckish mountain, Cloughaneely.

Townlands in Cloughaneely

• Ballyness (Baile an Easa)
• Ballingat (Baile an Gheata)
• Ballyconnell (Baile Chonaill)
• Ballytemple (Baile an Teampaill)
• Caoldroim Íochtarach (Lower Keeldrum)
• Caoldrum lar (Middle Keeldrum)
• Caoldrum Thuas ( Upper Keeldrum)
• Derryconnor (Doire Chonaire)
• Falcarragh (An Fál Carrach)
• Gortahork (Gort an Choirce)
• Killult (Cill Ulta)
• Magheroarty (Machaire Rabhartaigh)
• Meenlaragh (Mín Lárach)
• An Sruthán Riach

Islands

• Inishbofin (Inis Bó Finne)
• Tory Island (Oileán Thoraigh)

Notable people from Cloughaneely

• Cathal Ó Searcaigh, poet
• Micí Mac Gabhann, memoirist

References

1. ^ Placenames (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) Order 2004.
2. ^ Places
3. ^ http://www.tartanplace.com/faery/gods/coll.html
4. ^ http://www.gaelsaoire.ie/therosses