Killygordon[2] (Irish: Cúil na gCuirridín) is a small village in the Finn Valley in the east of County Donegal, Ireland. As of 2022[update], the population was 716.[1] It is located on the N15 between Stranorlar and Castlefin. The separate hamlet of Crossroads, locally known as The Cross, lies half a mile from Killygordon. The other nearby hamlet and townland of Liscooley is about 2 miles from Killygordon.[3] The River Finn passes by the village on its way towards its confluence with the River Mourne and the River Foyle.
Killygordon
Cúil na gCuirridín | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 | |
  Killygordon Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 54°48′11″N 7°35′48″W / 54.8030°N 7.5966°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Population | 716 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
Amenities
editKillygordon has one pub, St. Patrick's Catholic church at the Crossroads, a Presbyterian church at Liscooley and St. Anne's Church of Ireland at Monellan.
Economy
editThe main employer in the area is Donegal Creameries Plc which is based in the nearby village of the Crossroads, a dairy company which supplies fresh milk to all of Donegal. As one of the largest employers in the county, it employs over 100 people and has been in operation since 1989. They sponsor most sports in Donegal including the GAA County team and the Finn Harps FC.[4]
Places of interest
editMonellan Castle, situated two miles outside the village, was built during the 18th century, and part of the 35-room dwelling was underground, to be used as a place of safety - if such was required. The castle and its gardens were in proper condition for some time after the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1778,[verification needed] until its demolition in the 1930s - on orders given to the Irish Land Commission by the government.[5]
Demographics
editThe population of Greater Killygordon is just over six hundred people. The village and surrounding areas have a large Church of Ireland and Presbyterian minority, however, Roman Catholicism is the main religion practised.[citation needed]
Industry
editKillygordon - Crossroads is home to some major companies including Donegal Creameries, McMenamin Engineering - a steel fabrication company and Mantis Cranes - a crane rental and manufacturer.
Sport
editThe local Gaelic football team is Aodh Rua (Red Hugh's) and Setanta is the local hurling team. They have separate Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) grounds and both are located at the Crossroads.[citation needed]
Curragh Athletic Football Club are the local football club, featuring teams from under-10 up to senior men's sides in Curragh Athletic grounds.[citation needed]
Finn Harps F.C. operate an underage academy and training facilities in Crossroads, at the former Curragh Athletic grounds. Three pitches are currently in use with underage boys and girls teams from under-11 up to under-19 making use of the facilities.[citation needed]
Education
editKillygordon has two primary schools: Dromore National School and Killygordon National School. The Crossroads has one primary school, Gleneely National School.
The people of Killygordon get their secondary education either at the Finn Valley College (formally known as Stranorlar Vocational School), St. Columba's College Stranorlar or at the Royal and Prior, Raphoe.[6]
Townlands, hamlets and electoral divisions
editThere are twenty-nine townlands, two hamlets and two electoral divisions in Killygordon.
| Townland | Gaeilge | Hamlet(s) | Electoral Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killygordon[7] | Cúil na gCuirridín | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Blairstown[8] | ~ | Liscooley | Killygordon ED |
| Calhame[8] | Calhaem | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Carricknamanna[8] | Carraig na Manach | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Carricknashane[8] | ~ | Liscooley | Killygordon ED |
| Caven Lower[8] | ~ | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Cavan Upper[8] | ~ | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Cooladawson[8] | Cúil an Daingin | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Corcam[8] | ~ | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Kiltown[8] | Cill Bhaile | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Leaght[8] | ~ | Liscooley | Killygordon ED |
| Liscooly[3] | Lios Cúile | Liscooley | Killygordon ED |
| Magheraboy[8] | An Machaire Buí | Liscooley | Killygordon ED |
| Meenahoney[8] | Mínehoney | Cusheen (Castlefin) | Killygordon ED |
| Mullingar[8] | An Muileann gCearr | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Scotland[8] | Albain | Liscooley | Killgordon ED |
| Whitehill[8] | An Cnoc Bán | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Ballynacor[9] | Béal Átha na Cora | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Dromore[10] | Droim Mór | Crossroads | Killygordon ED |
| Gleneely[11] | Gleann Aola | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Avaltygort[12] | An tAbhallghort | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Drumfergus[13] | Droim Fearghas | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Ballyarrel[14] | Baile Uí Fhearghail | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Ardnagannagh[15] | Ard na gCanach | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Carn | ~ | ~ | Killygordon ED |
| Monellan[16] | Maigh Nialláin | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Mounthall[17] | ~ | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
| Liscooley[18] | Lios Cúile | Liscooley | Killygordon ED |
| Drumavish[19] | Droim vis | Crossroads | Gleneely ED |
Transport
editKillygordon railway station opened in September 1863, but closed on 1 January 1960.[20]
There is a bus service which connects Killygordon with Stranorlar and Strabane. From Stranorlar, there are routes to Letterkenny, Derry, Strabane, Dublin, Sligo and Galway. In Strabane there are Ulsterbus services to Derry, Omagh, and Belfast.
Notable people
edit- Sir Jamie Flanagan, Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) from November 1973 to April 1976; born in Derry but raised near Killygordon.
- The 4th Viscount Lifford
- Hugh McLaughlin, publisher and inventor
- Donal Reid, All-Ireland winning footballer[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Census Interactive Map – Towns: Killygordon". Census 2022. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "Cúil na gCuirridín/Killygordon". Placenames Database of Ireland. Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Liscooley Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ "Finn Harps Dot Com". www.finnharps.com.
- ^ "Monellan Castle". Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "St Columba's College, Stranorlar | CEIST - Catholic Education An Irish Schools Trust". www.ceist.ie.
- ^ "Killygordon Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Killygordon". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Ballynacor Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Dromore Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Gleneely Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Avaltygort Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Drumfergus Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Ballyarrell Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Ardnagannagh Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Monellan Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Mounthall Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Liscooley Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Drumavish Townland, Co. Donegal". www.townlands.ie. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Castlefinn station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
- ^ "Reid, Donal". Hogan Stand. 31 July 1992.