COUNTY DONEGAL

Ancient name, Tyrconnell

Picture courtesy of Cookie Gibbons

Tyrconnell was the ancient name.

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COUNTY DONEGAL

"Donegal county, Republic of Ireland), Donegal, county in northern Republic of Ireland, northernmost in the country, in Ulster Province, bounded on the north and west by the Atlantic cean. It is mountainous and boggy and has many small lakes and rivers. Numerous islands lie off the long and deeply indented shoreline of the county. The soil is not fertile; small crops of barley and wheat are grown in cultivated areas. About 35 percent of the land is in pasture, and cattle, sheep, and poultry are raised extensively. The chief manufactures are linens, muslins, and woolens, including the well-known Donegal homespun. The county has sandstone and granite quarries and important deep-sea and salmon fisheries. Donegal in ancient times was called Tyrconnell, and sometimes O'Donnell's country, after the family that ruled much of the area before the 17th century. Along the coast are many ruins of castles, including that of the early northern Irish kings, at the head of Lough Swilly, and Kilbarron Castle, near Ballyshannon. The county town is Lifford. Area, 4830 sq km (1865 sq mi); population (1991) 128,117. [From "Donegal (county, Republic of Ireland)," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.]