Buncrana Bun Cranncha
Motto: Aoibhinn Linn Áille na hÁite Seo "sweet to us is the beauty of this place"
Location
Coordinates: [1])_region:IE 55°08′11″N 7°27′22″W / 55.1364°N 7.4560°W / 55.1364; -7.4560Coordinates: [1])_region:IE 55°08′11″N 7°27′22″W / 55.1364°N 7.4560°W / 55.1364; -7.4560
Irish grid reference C346320
Statistics
Province:	Ulster
County:	County Donegal
Elevation:	62 m (206 ft)
Population (2006)  - Town:  - Environs:	3,411 [1]   2,500

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	%±
1821	198	—
1831	1,059	434.8%
1841	961	−9.3%
1851	797	−17.1%
1861	686	−13.9%
1871	755	10.1%
1881	764	1.2%
1891	735	−3.8%
1901	1,316	79.0%
1911	1,848	40.4%
1926	2,309	24.9%
1936	2,295	−0.6%
1946	2,729	18.9%
1951	3,039	11.4%
1956	3,064	0.8%
1961	3,165	3.3%
1966	3,115	−1.6%
1971	3,334	7.0%
1981	3,938	18.1%
1986	4,131	4.9%
1991	4,388	6.2%
1996	4,805	9.5%
2002	5,271	9.7%
2006	7,911	50.1%
[2]

Buncrana (Irish: Bun Cranncha) is a town in County Donegal, the northwest of Ireland, located on the Inishowen peninsula, along Lough Swilly, 10 kilometres from Derry and 43 kilometres from Letterkenny. It is an historically important town, with Neds Point Fort lying to the north and being the home of the O'Doherty clan.^[3] It is the second largest town in County Donegal and the largest on the Inishowen peninsula. In the 2006 Census, the population of Buncrana was recorded as 5,911 including the rural vicinity.^[4]

Contents 1 History 2 Etymology 3 Politics 3.1 Local 3.2 National 4 Tourism 5 Transport 6 Music 7 Sport 8 People 9 International relations 9.1 Twin towns — Sister cities 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

[edit] History

North of Buncrana, an old six-arched bridge spanning the Cranna River leads to the O'Doherty's Keep. In 1601 the O'Doherty's Keep was described as being a small, two story castle, inhabited by Conor McGarret O'Doherty. In 1602 it was upgraded by Hugh Boy O'Doherty as an intended base for Spanish military aid that hoped to land at Inch.

In 1718, Buncrana Castle was built by George Vaughan, it was one of the first big houses built in Inishowen, and stone was taken from O'Doherty's Keep to build it. It was erected on the original site of Buncrana, which had grown up in the shadow of the keep, Vaughan moved the town to its present location, where he founded the current main street and built the Castle Bridge (a six-arched stone single lane bridge) in 1718. Wolfe Tone was held there when captured after the British/French naval battle off the coast of Donegal, before being taken to Derry and then subsequently to Dublin. The castle remains as a private home today. In the forecourt there is a memorial rock in honor of Sir Cahir O'Doherty, and a plaque to Wolfe Tone.^[5]

Buncrana was the object of public attention in 1972, when after Operation Motorman it became the place of refuge for many Provisional Irish Republican Army members from Derry. Also in 1991, when a local Sinn Féin councillor, Eddie Fullerton, was killed by loyalist gunmen from Northern Ireland.^[6]

[edit] Etymology

The name Buncrana comes from the Irish Bun Cranncha, which translates to "The Bottom Of The (River) Crana", the Crana being the river alongside which Buncrana is situated.^[3]

[edit] Politics

[edit] Local

Buncrana Town Council is the Local Authority for the town and provides an extensive range of services in the area. These services range from planning control, to the provision of social housing, to the upkeep and improvement of roads, maintenance of parks, beaches and public open spaces. According to the Council's website, it "plays a proactive role in the development of the town.". In partnership with Donegal County Council, the Council assists in assuring economic growth in the town. Buncrana Town Council is made up of 9 elected members. Members are elected according to the system of proportional representation, usually for a period of five years. The Mayor of the Council is elected from the membership at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.^[7] The current mayor as of 2009, is Mr Lee Tedstone.^[8]

[edit] National

Buncrana is part of the Donegal North East constituency of Dáil Éireann. There are three TDs (Teachtaí Dála) in this constituency, with two, Jim McDaid of Fianna Fáil and Joe McHugh of Fine Gael, living in Letterkenny town environs. The other Dáil Éireann representative is Niall Blaney of Fianna Fáil, from Milford.

[edit] Tourism

Buncrana has a relatively strong tourism industry, and it is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the northwest of Ireland. This is possibly due to its close proximity to Derry City, and also for its wide range of retail stores. It also has well-developed tourist facilities, and it serves as the main town on the Inishowen peninsula, which also helps with sustaining the tourism industry in the town.^[9]

[edit] Transport

Buncrana railway station opened on 9 September 1864, was closed for passenger traffic on 6 September 1948, and finally closed altogether on 10 August 1953.^[10] Lough Swilly Buses continues to service the area with a bus service seven days a week with around 12 buses per day going to Buncrana from Derry and vice-versa.

[edit] Music

Buncrana has a vibrant music scene witha host of local pubs or bars having live music most nights of the week. Roddens Bar, O Flaherty's and The Drift Inn are always good for a mix of traditional, rock and country music. The annual Buncrana Music & Arts Festival takes place every 23rd July in the town.^[11]

[edit] Sport

Buncrana is home to many sports clubs, including clubs for soccer, Gaelic football and hurling, athletics and watersports. Football clubs based around Buncrana include Buncrana Hearts F.C., Cockhill Celtic F.C. and Illies Celtic. Buncrana Hearts F.C. are the main team in the area, and play in the Ulster Senior League. In recent years, they have reached the finals of the Donegal News Ulster Senior League Cup and Knockalla Caravans Cup. They play their home matches in Castle Park. Gaelic Football is also a popular sport throughout Buncrana, and the club caters for teams from Under-8 level right up to Senior level. They play their home games at the Scarvey,the team is vey successful underage, winning at least 2 inishowen titles the last few seasons and winning 4 county championships since 2000, reaching under 14 final for the past 2 seasons.

[edit] People

• Daniel Devlin, American businessman
• Frank McGuinness, playwright
• Eddie Fullerton, murdered Sinn Féin councillor
• Ray McAnally, actor
• Danny Hutton, Singer (Three Dog Night)
• Gavin Cullen, Goalkeeper Institute FC

[edit] International relations

[edit] Twin towns — Sister cities

Buncrana is twinned with:

• Campbellsville, Kentucky, USA

[edit] See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Buncrana Hearts F.C.
• List of RNLI stations

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_Table_7_and_12.pdf
2. ^ http://www.cso.ie/census and www.histpop.org. Post 1961 figures include environs of Buncrana. For a discussion on the accuracy of pre-famine census returns see JJ Lee “On the accuracy of the pre-famine Irish censuses” in Irish Population, Economy and Society edited by JM Goldstrom and LA Clarkson (1981) p54, and also “New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850” by Joel Mokyr and Cormac Ó Gráda in The Economic History Review, New Series, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Nov., 1984), pp. 473-488.
3. ^ ^{a b} http://www.donegalcottageholidays.com/holiday_cottage_buncrana.htm
4. ^ http://www.wdc.ie/countyprofiles_donegal.html
5. ^ http://www.odochartaighforever.com/histpics.html
6. ^ http://www.relativesforjustice.com/eddie-fullerton.htm
7. ^ http://www.buncrana.ie/Article_Listings.aspx?tscategory_id=16&category_name=Welcome+Note
8. ^ http://www.derryjournal.com/inishowen/Twentyeight-premises-empty-in-Buncrana.5180360.jp
9. ^ http://www.city-travel-guide.co.uk/travel-guide/buncrana-travel-guide.html
10. ^ "Buncrana station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-13. 
11. ^ www.facebook.com/buncranamusicfestival

[edit] External links

• Buncrana.com Website

v • d • e Places in County Donegal, Ireland County seat: Lifford Incorporated towns1 Ballyshannon · Buncrana · Bundoran · Letterkenny Unincorporated towns2 Ballybofey · Carndonagh · Convoy · Donegal · Dungloe · Killybegs · Lifford · Moville · Ramelton · Raphoe · Stranorlar Villages3 Annagry · Ardara · Ballintra · Ballyliffin · Bridgend · Burtonport · Carrigans · Carrigart · Castlefin · Churchill · Cloghan · Clonmany · Creeslough · Doochary · Dunfanaghy · Dunkineely · Fahan · Falcarragh · Fintown · Frosses · Gartan · Glen · Glencolmcille · Glenties · Greencastle · Gweedore · Inver · Kerrykeel · Kilcar · Killea · Laghey · Lettermacaward · Loughanure · Malin · Manorcunningham · Milford · Mountcharles · Muff · Narin · Newtowncunningham · Pettigo · Portnablagh · Quigley's Point · Rathmullan · Rossnowlagh · St. Johnston · Teelin Townlands Ardagh · Bunbeg · Burt · Carnamoyle · Clonglash · Derrybeg · Downings · Drumardagh · Drumrainy · Gortahork · Kilmacrenan · Kincasslagh · Magheroarty · Portsalon · Ranafast · Termon · Urris Islands Arranmore · Glashedy · Gola · Inishbofin · Inishtrahull Island · Rotten Island · Rutland · Tory Island 1 A C.D.P. with defined boundaries.  2 A C.D.P. with undefined boundaries and a population above 1,000.  3 A C.D.P. with undefined boundaries and a population below 1,000.