History Gweedore

magheragallon cemetery, derrybeg.



an aerial view of gweedore.

the plantation of ulster in 1609 added twist fate of parish. irish-speaking families driven fertile lands in lagan valley , surrounding areas made way poor boglands of west donegal. of them made far gweedore , go no further west. around same time, english , scottish colonists began arrive when uncharted territory converted baronies. appears parish sparsely populated until 17th century. first people arrive lived on islands or shore in clusters, pockets of houses built close , in each other s shade.

up until 19th century parish lightly populated , seems people had amicable relationship landowners.

the standard of life deteriorate arrival of new landlords in 19th century, in particular lord george augusta hill (1801–1879) , son arthur. people of parish led james mcfadden (irish: séamus mac pháidín), parish priest in 1875–1901, challenged landlords founding of land league , plan of campaign. killing parishioners of royal irish constabulary district inspector william limbrick martin (locally known mháirtínigh) outside local church, teach phobail mhuire, in derrybeg on sunday 3 february 1889, while rushing father mcfadden drawn sword, climax of land war in gweedore. case recalled in 1928 memoirs of tim healy, defended father mcfadden , parishioners.

an irish american journalist, w.h. hurlbert, investigated landlord-tenant dispute in gweedore in minute detail in book ireland under coercion, published in 1888.

many books have been published in irish, , several in english, detailing gweedore s rich history. 1 of prolific of local historians cáit nic giolla bhríde.

freak storm

on afternoon of 23 june 2009, severe thunderstorm struck gweedore. centred on adjoining villages of bunbeg , derrybeg, , lasted several hours, causing 2 rivers burst banks, flooding houses, shops , factories, ripping roads , destroying bridges. lightning lasted 2 hours damaged power lines , caused major breakdown of mobile phone service, leaving people trapped floods unable contact help. 20 houses cut off outside world after 3 access bridges carried away swollen rivers.

described worst storm in living memory , severe since 1880 when 5 people drowned in derrybeg. owing highly localised nature of storm, areas of maximum rainfall missed network of rain gauges met Éireann estimated between 2pm , 6pm, 60 centimetres (24 in) of rain fell @ core.