Greencastle, County Donegal

Greencastle (Irish: An Caisleán Nua, meaning 'New Castle')[2] is a commercial fishing port located in the north-east of the Inishowen Peninsula on the north coast of County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. The port is on the western shores of Lough Foyle. Nowadays, given the decline in the fishing industry, it resembles more closely a 'typical' Donegal holiday village. It is located a few miles from Moville and is about 20 miles from Derry.

This article is about the port in County Donegal. For other uses, see Greencastle.

Greencastle
An Caisleán Nua
Town
Greencastle and Lough Foyle from the castle
Greencastle and Lough Foyle from the castle
Greencastle is located in Ireland
Greencastle
Greencastle
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 55°12′00″N 6°59′00″W
CountryIreland
ProvinceUlster
CountyCounty Donegal
BaronyInishowen East
Elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
 (2022)[1]
1,268
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid ReferenceC648397
The ruins of Green Castle, also known as Greencastle Castle or Northburgh Castle, in Greencastle.
Plan of the castle
Greencastle Pier at dusk

Greencastle's name comes from the castle in the area, which, in turn, may have derived its name from the green freestone with which it was built. The castle, originally built by the Anglo-Normans, is also known as Northburgh Castle.

The port was the fastest growing urban area in County Donegal between the 2016 and 2022 census, with a population increase of 52.6% from 831 to 1,268.[1][3]

History

The first proper pier was built in 1813[4] and has been added to several times since. Today, as well as being a tie-up for trawlers and inshore fishing boats and the home of the Greencastle Fishermen's Co-Op, the Foyle Fishermen's Co-Op and Fresco Seafoods, the pier also has a very different "catch". Visitors disembark from the Magilligan-Greencastle ferry which was inaugurated in 2002.[5] The official website advertises the fact that this saves 78 km (or 49 miles) of driving, which would be through Derry. The Lough Foyle Ferry Company has also recently (2004) begun a Lough Swilly ferry service that runs between Buncrana and Rathmullan seasonally. The pier also contains a newly built pilot office to replace the decommissioned pilot office at Carrickarory Pier.

Greencastle is also one of the disembarkation ports for cruise ships visiting Derry. Due to the tidal nature of the Foyle Estuary, it is sometimes too shallow for cruise ships to make their way to Lisahally docks in Derry. Stopping at Greencastle also saves 5 hours sailing round trip. However, passengers are required to disembark using tenders as, unlike Lisahally docks, the Greencastle pier was not designed to allow a cruise ship to dock.[6]

The castle at Greencastle has been linked with the castle in the background of the Derry crest.[7]

The castle was built in 1305 to provide a base for Anglo-Norman power in the North West. This building was named "Northburg".[8] There is a more modern Martello Fort beside the Norman ruin. This was built by the British to stop Napoleon invading circa 1800.

The National Fisheries College (NFC) is located in Greencastle. The NFC recently completed a €1.1 million extension funded under the INTERREG 11 Initiative, thus providing better facilities including a realistic simulator bridge deck.

In 2011, it was rumoured (against a backdrop in which a private company was seeking to establish a private marina in the public harbour) that visiting yachts had been turned away during a storm. A subsequent Garda investigation found that these accusations had no foundation.[9][10]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Interactive Data Visualisations: Towns: Greencastle". Census 2022. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. "An Caisleán Nua/Greencastle". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  3. "Sapmap Area: Settlements Greencastle". Census 2016. Central Statistics Office. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  4. Sean Beattie (2004). Donegal (Ireland in Old Photographs series). Sutton: Printing Press. ISBN 0-7509-3825-0.
  5. Donegal Library Information Archived 2005-04-06 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Bad weather scuppers liner visit". BBC News. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  7. British Civic Heraldry - Derry Retrieved 2007-09-29.
  8. Foyle Ferries Info
  9. No truth that Greencastle inshore fishermen turned away yachts in stormy conditions
  10. Irish Times 20 May 2011
  11. "Mr William Robert FITZSIMONS (1870-1926)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  12. "The life of Brian Friel". The Irish Times. 3 October 2015. p. 29.
  13. Collins, Simon (5 February 2016). "Mark Farren – A Tribute". Derry Journal. pp. 68–69.
  14. "Greencastle girl Saoirse Monica Jackson". www.inishowennews.com.
  15. Arboine, Niellah (12 March 2019). "Who Is Saoirse-Monica Jackson? The 'Derry Girls' Lead Actress Captures Cringey Teenage Angst SO Perfectly". Bustle.
  16. Staff Writer (6 January 2023). "Roma McLaughlin signs pro deal with former Danish champions Fortuna Hjorring". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
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