Rathmullan Ráth Maoláin | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Rathmullan Beach | |
  Rathmullan Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates:55°05′39″N07°32′15″W / 55.09417°N 7.53750°W /55.09417; -7.53750 | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Government | |
| • Dáil constituency | Donegal |
| Population | 528 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | C295275 |
Rathmullan (Irish:Ráth Maoláin, meaning 'Maolán's ringfort')[2] is a seaside village andtownland on theFanad Peninsula inCounty Donegal,Ireland. It is situated on the western shore ofLough Swilly, 11 kilometres (7 mi) north-east ofRamelton and 12 km (7 mi) east ofMilford. Rathmullan was the point of departure during theFlight of the Earls in 1607, a major turning point in Irish history.
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includescourt tomb andringfort sites in the neighbouring townlands of Crevary Upper and Rathmullan and Ballyboe.[3][4]
Within Rathmullan village is a ruinedCarmelitefriary, dating to 1516, which was built by Eoghan Rua MacSweeney.[4] The friary was sacked by the English garrison fromSligo in 1595. In 1617, the friary was occupied by the ProtestantBishop of Raphoe,Andrew Knox. A subsequent Bishop of Raphoe turned it into a fortified house in anticipation of a possible French invasion during theNapoleonic Wars.
On 14 September 1607, 99 aristocrats of theGaelic Order, including ofClan Ó Néill andClan Ó Domhnaill, left Rathmullan for the European continent, an episode known as theFlight of the Earls. On 14 September 2007, presidentMary McAleese visited the village to mark the 400th anniversary of the event. She unveiled a sculpture byJohn Behan that represents the plight of the men who were led by the Gaelic aristocrats.[5]
There are the remains of aMartello tower or battery in the village which serves as a heritage centre. The fortification was one of six originally builtc. 1813 by the British as part of a defence alongLough Swilly against feared Napoleonic invasion.[6] These batteries were manned up until the end of theWorld War I to protect British warships that were moored in Lough Swilly.[7]
There are three churches in Rathmullan: St. Joseph's Catholic Church,[8] St. Columb'sChurch of Ireland (Parish of Killygarvan),[9] and the Rathmullan Presbyterian Church.[10]
Other facilities in Rathmullan include shops, a resource centre, a spa, a wedding venue (Drumhalla House), and a hotel.[citation needed]
The annualLough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival is held locally in June. The 2007 festival took place on Saturday 2 June and Sunday 3 June.[citation needed]
Rathmullan is the setting for Australian/British author Brand King's novelAn Irish Winter,[11] published in 2020. A number of features of the village are described in the novel, including the local beach.[citation needed] The traditional New Year's Day cold water swim also features, while a number of scenes are set in the Beachcomber Bar and An Bonnan Bui Cafe.[citation needed]
