Seán Beattie On 9 January 1918, the Beagle class destroyer, the RACOON, went down off Inishtrahull island, having ran foul of rocks off the treacherous Garvan Islands. The minesweeper ventured into Inishtrahull Sound, between the mainland and the island on its way to engage in patrol duties in Lough Swilly, having sailed from Liverpool. She was well armed, with quick firing 12-pounder guns and torpedo tubes. Of the crew of 95, 17 were buried at Rathmullan and others were interred…
Download a PDF of Culdaff Census 1901-1911 I have uploaded the 1901 and 1911 Census for Culdaff village which shows how life in the village has changed over 100 years ago. Many names are still there. Following the very popular Facebook page OUR CULDAFF, set up by Jennifer Doherty, would readers please upload any old photos of family, friends or relations who lived in the village in 1911? Here is a summary of the occupations in 1911 – 3 shoemakers,…
St. Boden’s Boat, Culdaff The Blessing of the Fleet at Bunagee pier, Culdaff, Inishowen took place last month (August, 2019). There was a large attendance and the sun blazed in the sky. This pier has a special place in the hearts and minds of local fishermen. The patron saint of the parish is St. Boden and he promised that no harm would come to any boat launched at Bunagee. His feast day is July 22nd. The Bell of St. Boden…
Throughout the country, the National Volunteers were being organised and by 1914 a corps was formed in Culdaff with the purpose of securing the final passing of the Home Rule Bill. Initially, the corps was unarmed but by the end of 1914, finance became available from an unusual source. A Ballyharry man, James Kelly was working in Boston and was in contact with a Carndonagh man Patrick Doherty of Churchtown. Kelly decided to hold dances to raise funds for arms…
According to local folklore Robbie Burns had a relation who taught in a school at Cloncha near the old monastic site. I am trying to research relations of Burns and I have located the foundations of the Hibernian Sunday School Society building at Cloncha. It was a landmark for fisherman and Bunagee harbour can be clearly seen from the site. The building is gone but a strong foundation remains with clean-cut building stones. I presume this is where he taught.…
Charles Macklin Autumn School committee in celebratory mood in McGrorys, Culdaff, after final session of 25th Festival on Sunday 12 October 2014. Picture shows S. Beattie, A McDaid, A. McCartney, A. Doherty, Rosin and Neal McGrory. Rosiin played at the first Festival in 1990 (she was a school girl) and Neal has done the sound for 25 years on a pro bono basis.Their two daughters sung songs and played music at the opening and closing event. Almost 1,000 visitors visited…