Seamus Grant Weekend of Traditional Music & Culture – Clonmany 14th - 16th October.
This is a weekend celebrating our heritage, music, genealogy and culture and will be dedicated to the memory of one of our greatest musicians and gentlemen, Seamus Grant of Clonmany.
The 4* Red Door Country House Restaurant and B&B, pictured above, is nestled beside the ancient area of Fahan, on the shores of Lough Swilly and located a short drive from Buncrana, a picturesque seaside town on the Western side of the Inishowen Peninsula. On approach to the Red Door it is hard to deny the stunning views from the moment you step out of the car and make your way to the entrance.
During your visit you will be surrounded by picturesque gardens, colourful flowerbeds and a carefully maintained landscape that emphasizes the unspoiled nature of the area.
A Meal With A View
At The Red Door Restaurant, pictured above, you will notice the interior design is inviting, stylish and quirky. The seating arrangement in place, allows you to take advantage of the wonderful views surrounding the grounds. With this in mind, as you can see below, you can enjoy a meal with beautiful views.
History on The Door Step: Fahan Abbey
Located a short walk from the hotel is Fahan, the site of an important ancient abbey founded in the 6th century. On a visit to the Abbey you can view the beautifully carved St Muras Cross, pictured below. The decorated cross and associated grave slab is thought to date from the 7th Century and is believed to mark the Saints grave.
Also on site you can view the grave of Agnes Jones (1832 – 64) a nursing pioneer from Fahan Inishowen. Agnes trained alongside Florence Nightingale and worked tirelessly to improve the dreadful conditions that existed in workhouses during the 1850s in Liverpool.
Article Submitted By No Salt Chef Brian Mc Dermott Donegal chef Brian McDermott, pictured above, will be a popular figure at the National Ploughing Championships where he will be cooking at the National Dairy Council’s stand. The Ploughing Championships are one of the biggest events of the year in Ireland and takes place from Tuesday September 20th to Thursday September 22nd in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
Dropping in to help Brian in the kitchen over the course of the three days will be a number of big names from the world of sport and fitness with Henry Shefflin, Rob and Brian Kearney and Operation Transformation’s Karl Henry all hoping they can lend Brian a helping hand.
National Ploughing Championship, Ireland
Brian will be performing daily cookery demonstrations over the three days and the popular chef is delighted to be back at the event;“The Ploughing Championships are a fantastic three days and I love working with the National Dairy Council who do a fantastic job in educating people on the goodness and quality of our dairy produce,” Brian explained before adding “Dairy is a key ingredient in so many of the dishes closest to my heart. I think it illustrates everything that is good about honest Irish cooking.”
The Inishowen based chef is looking forward to the opportunity of cooking with Henry Shefflin, the Kearneys and Karl Henry; “It will be good to have people just as fit as me in the kitchen,” joked Brian before continuing in a more serious vain; “Getting the guys into the kitchen will be great and I think it shows that dairy is vital and necessary part of a healthy diet.”
Healthy Cooking with Brian Mc Dermott
Brian runs his own cookery school in Moville, Inishowen, Co Donegal where he says local produce is the key to all the cooking that he does and expanding on this theme the RTE and BBC chef stated that the Ploughing Championships will be full of ‘brilliant’ local producers; “As Chefs we have the easy task of simply applying heat and common sense to quality produce. Less should be more with cooking in 2016 as we should allow the ingredients speak for themselves. My cooking is good honest healthy cooking made easy but for me it’s the farmers and producers who do the hard work. Our meat, our dairy, our seafood, our vegetables and rapeseed oils now have us riding high in acclaim for our ingredients and without doubt we have the best producers creating superb produce,” Brian explained before appealing to people to ‘buy Irish.’“We need to ensure we buy Irish produce and support the complete Irish food chain as we are seeing Irish food and produce enjoying world renown.”
Brian Mc Dermott is a regular TV Chef on RTE Today Show as well as other regular TV to include TV 3 live slot next week from the Ploughing 2016. Brian has his own Cookery Slot on BBC Radio Ulster and he is a great communicator across all media platforms. He has a strong active social media presence and a regular contributor to print and online media. Following serious cardiac issues as a 33 year old Chef Brian changed the way he cooked focusing on a Healthy Style of Cooking. He is launching his second cookery Book in Spring 2017.
Brian headlines the majority of national Food Festivals to include Bloom, National Ploughing, Balmoral Show and many more. Brian is also a regular MC at many Food events. Brian runs his own cookery school in Moville Inishowen Co Donegal teaching many clients his clean, healthy ethos of cooking focusing on the ingredients as the champion. Brian spent 6 years working in New Product Chef role with Kerry Group and currently is Food Innovation Centre manager at North West Regional College having just opened a £500K Innovation Centre to support small food producers with development and route to market.
Malin Head is Ireland's most Northerly Point situated a short drive from Malin Town pictured above. On route to Malin Town, you will pass over an historic ten-arched bridge which leads to this bright and charming village.
The word Malin itself originates from the Irish word Malainn meaning Braeface or Hillbrow, which hints at the type of geography you will encounter at this stunning location. On approach to Malin Head you will be greeted by an impressive Tower built in 1805 to act as a Signal Tower for the British Admiralty during the Napoleonic Wars. Today it is recognized as signature point along the popular Wild Atlantic Way Route.
In front of the Tower you will notice a large Eire symbol, pictured above, that is marked out by white stones on the landscape. Eire was used during the Second World War to inform fighter pilots on approach to Malin Head that they were in Ireland, a country of neutrality.
The Malin Head Trail
Located at Malin Head is a trail, viewed above, that will take you along a scenic path packed with wonderful views across the Atlantic and Inishowen Landscape. The route itself is graded as a moderate walk spanning a distance between 570-655m. A purpose built path with signage, will lead you along the picturesque headland.
From Malin Head you can view neighboring sites in County Donegal such as Fanad Head Lighthouse. This impressive Lighthouse marks the entrance to Lough Swilly that separates the Fanad Peninsula from the Inishowen Peninsula. On a clear day, the headlands of Horn Head and Dundaff Head, in the wider Co Donegal area can also be seen.
Making your way along the walk some of the sites you can see, weather permitting, include the beautiful Tory Island and to the North East the captivating Inishtrahull Island that you can see above. On a clear day it is possible to see the hills of Western Scotland and the Island of Islay.
The rock at Malin Head is composed primarily of igneous and metamorphic rock that formed over 400 million years ago. During your walk you will notice a number of these striking rock formations, which includes Hells Hole, a deep chasm in the rugged cliff face with a subterranean cave, pictured above. At Hells Hole and throughout the trail you can see and hear the power of the sea as it crashes against the rugged rocks and coastline.
The Force Is With Malin Head
The captivating nature of the cliff walk and its surrounding scenery is a perfect location to capture the imagination of visitor and local alike. From your visit to Malin Head you can understand why a section of the headland that lies beyond the trail was chosen to shoot a number of scenes of the eagerly anticipated Star Wars Episode VIII due to air on December 15th 2017. More To Come Stay tuned for another installment of our walking guide series that provides information on scenic walks around Inishowen.
Trean House Farmhouse B&B is located in the picturesque townland of Lecamy on the Inishowen Peninsula. During your stay you will be immersed in a truly stunning landscape, comprising of large mature gardens, pictured above, with colourful flowers and fruit trees. The grounds include farm outbuildings and sheep that roam the 125 acres of working farmland. The house itself offers ample space to relax, read a book, spend time in the gardens and rest in spacious, bright, rooms pictured below. On arrival you will be greeted by the family's friendly collie.
Farming at Trean House
During your stay you will have the opportunity to learn about Joyce and Mervyn Norris's working farm and on request you may be given a tour of the vast farmland surrounding Trean House. If visiting in the springtime you can come face to face with a collection of adorable lambs.Whatever the season there is always something different to engage with at Trean and the surrounding landscape in Inishowen. The family have recently been awarded the “Farmhouse of the year 2016″ by Georgina Campbell’s Ireland Guide, a guide that selects some of the best places to eat, drink and stay throughout Ireland.
Hidden Gems on Your Doorstep
Amongst the scenic areas close to Trean House is Tremone Bay, located a mere five minute walk from your accommodation. Tremone Bay, pictured above, is an unspoiled gem, nestled behind another popular beach, Kinnagoe Bay, pictured below.
If beach life is too quiet for your interests, you are within short driving distance to a number of coastal towns in Inishowen, like Culdaff and Malin Town. Trean House can act as a base to explore the entire Peninsula, immerse yourself in culture, relax near a beach or enjoy the grounds on location. Find Out More http://www.treanhouse.com/the-farm/ https://www.facebook.com/treanhouse/
Mary Doherty, pictured above, comes from Bocan in Inishowen, an area steeped in legend and history. Using bogwood, an ancient material found on the landscape, Mary crafts beautiful wooden sculptures. Mary had "always wanted to work with wood" and in 1993 attended a week long course on Bogwood Sculpture at Esker Redemptorist Monastery in Athenry. Following the course, Mary has perfected her craft over the past 22 years. With a growing collection of sculptures, Marys husband Sean, a Joiner and Carpenter, built a studio on the grounds, see below, to display the unique collection of bogwood.
Bogwood originates from forests that once grew in this area 1000s of years ago. The forests consisted of oak, yew and pine and grew where bog land now exists. Over time, the wood has decayed and undergone a process of chemical change which gives the wood its unique colour and texture.
From Raw Wood to Finished Material
The bogwood that is crafted has come to the surface due to turf cutting. Turf is extracted from these bogs and used in Ireland as a fuel source. You can see from the image above that the sculptures on display are of a variety of colours and sizes. Over the years bog oak changes to a striking black, yew to a reddish brown and pine to a golden yellow. Once Mary has located the bogwood it is brought back and stored in an open shelter, pictured below, where it will dry naturally. As you will find out during your visit, the drying process can take between 3 to 5 years.
Crafting a Piece of Bogwood
When dry, Mary begins to remove the dead wood with a mallet and chisel, describing the process as going "with the wood" and "whatever comes from it is completely unique". The wood is then carefully sanded into a chosen form at her workshop, pictured below. The wood is then, over several days, coated with linseed oil. To prevent the wood from becoming dull, Mary finishes off by coating the wood with her own homemade beeswax, inspired by her late mothers recipe. Mary describes the work as "very time consuming but loves working with the piece to see what comes from it”
Click below to learn about Marys first piece of sculpted Bogwood. During your visit you will have the opportunity to see this piece and the different areas the wood is stored and sculpted.
Inishowen Bogwood: In High Demand
With encouragement from friends and family Mary began to exhibit her work at local craft fairs and soon her work was in high demand. To date Mary has exhibited all over the world and has been commissioned, to name but a few, to make pieces for John Hume, a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Peter Robinson, First Minister of Northern Ireland and Jean Kennedy Smith, a previous Ambassador for the United States.
Connected to The Past: Shapes in The Wood
Mary has a connection to each piece she creates stating that “When I number the sculpture I give it a name but I don’t share this with my customers because I like them to tell me what they see in the sculpture, as everyone sees them differently”. During your visit you can expect to find curious shapes in each piece adding to the unique nature of the wood carefully crafted by Mary. As a result of the skill and craftsmanship you will see at the Studio, Marys bogwood sculptures has been shipped globally. On a visit to the studio you will leave with a newfound appreciation of her craft and of the ancient landscape from which it is taken.
Inishowen is an ancient area that spans 1000s of years, visible archaeological monuments, that occupy the landscape testify to that fact. Yet recent discoveries at Cooley Moville, pictured above and Carndonagh have proven, that much more can be learnt about our ancient landscape and its important ecclesiastical past by looking beneath the surface.
The Bernician Studies Group (BSG) based in the UK have been instrumental, alongside the Lands of Eogain Group formed in 2015, in increasing the profile of Inishowen as an area of important historical and archaeological significance. The BSG have visited Inishowen over the last five summers and within that time are responsible for locating the existence of four double precincts (boundaries) of monasteries located at Cloncha, Carrowmore, Cooley and now Carndonagh.
Archaeological Finds at Cooley
Cooley is an area representative of an important ecclesiastical site which, as you can see above, overlooks Moville Town and the expanse of the Lough Foyle. In a field behind Cooley Graveyard, the BSG, based on a previous Geophysical Survey, carried out a small excavation through a section of the identified boundary ditch.
You can see the team, pictured above,alongside local archaeologists and undergraduate students from Newcastle University, excavating in a 3 metre test trench. Some of the finds pictured below include; metal, glass (to the right) and possible Souterrain Ware pictured on the left below. Max Adams, Excavation Director at the site, stated this indicates possible industrial activity such as Iron working as "early monasteries were centres of fine liturgical craftsmanship". Another promising find was evidence of a palisade trench, only further excavation will allow us to learn much more about this complex and ancient site.
Geophysical Survey Results at Carndonagh
Located in the field opposite Donagh Church in Carndonagh Jack Pennie and Geoff Taylor from the BSG carried out a geophysical survey. The survey identified a double ditched boundary that captures within it the stunning Marigold High Cross. You can see the type of geophysical survey work called Magnetometry carried out below. Magnetometry is a technique used to measure and map patterns of magnetism in the soil. As you can see below this is a non intrusive technique.
A Celebration of Heritage: The Lands of Eogain Festival
The Lands of Eogain Group was established in 2015 with the aim to develop heritage in Inishowen by collaborating with local and international heritage groups. 2016 marked the second successful Lands of Eogain Festival. The event drew academics from Ireland, England and Scotland to Inishowen to discuss the strong links between the peninsula to other ecclesiastical sites in the above areas. As you can see below the festival generated a lot of interest and support from local archaeologists, historians and communities throughout the Inishowen Peninsula.
More to Discover!
Each year the BSG, in a voluntary capacity, have made significant discoveries, despite a lack of funds available to carry out archaeological research. Due to the efforts of, the BSG, The Lands of Eogain Group and continued support of local communities, I have no doubt this will be the first of many articles relating to new archaeological finds in the peninsula.
Mabel Remington Colhoun, pictured above, was a pioneering female involved with archaeology at the turn of the 20th Century, who spent over fifty years of her life devoted to researching, recording and surveying heritage in the Inishowen landscape. Her life's work in the area is best illustrated in "The Heritage of Inishowen: Its Archaeology, History and Folklore" published in 1995 following her death. What is so significant about Mabel's work is it was the first of its kind in the region and to date her research has been a guide to many who wanted to expand on the current knowledge of heritage in the peninsula.
The Inishowen Connection
Mabel's ancestral home originated in the area of Knocklglass Malin, Inishowen, pictured above. Her grandfather was a farmer from that region and her father later moved from Inishowen to Derry City where he set up a successful building company called the Colhoun Bros. Mabel herself was born at North Lodge Derry/Londonderry in 1902. With this in mind Mabel was born and raised in the city, but from an early age had spent many childhood summers in Inishowen with her family.
On the Road to Archaeology
Mabel, pictured above on the right with her mother Lizzie Gordon, was raised in a household passionate about history, archaeology, built heritage and nature.With this in mind it is no surprise that Mabel herself would become heavily involved in these areas. Mabel acquired her initial training in archaeological field work in the 1930s & 40s on digs across Northern Ireland. As you can see below Mabel documented photographically the progress of excavations at Dungiven and Tamnyrankin, Co. Derry/Londonderry. Using the skills Mabel gained on these digs and from the persuasion of experts in the field; Esytn Evans and Oliver Davies, Mabel would begin her own survey of the Inishowen Peninsula in 1940.
During the war years, when their was a petrol shortage in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Mabel would travel to archaeological sites by bicycle. This would mean a distance, of in some cases, 32 miles to travel from her home in Deanfield, Derry/Londonderry to sites in Malin Head, Inishowen. A staggering distance considering Mabel would have had to carry survey equipment, notebooks and maps. You can see from the image below that Mabel was dedicated to learning as much as possible from heritage sites in Inishowen. The image is taken from the "Skull House" as it is described locally at Cooley Graveyard in Moville, Inishowen.
Tell us What You Think Add any comments or questions below!
More to Come!
This is part one of a series that will explore the life of this unique lady and by following in Mabel's footsteps we will explore and learn about archaeology, history, local folklore and myth in Inishowen. Using Mabel's archive, that is cared for by the Tower Museum in Derry/Londonderry, we will explore the wealth of documents, artefacts and photographs to find out more about the work carried out by Mabel in Inishowen. A special thanks to the Tower Museum for facilitating my research!
By Denise Henry, Marketing Assistant, Inishowen Tourism
At Moville Pottery you have the opportunity to get hands on and be creative. A particular example is the "Paint Your Own Pot" activity which takes place in the workshop adjacent to the shop. You have the option to chose the design and type of pot you will paint and an added bonus is you get to view the process of pot making happen right beside you.
Lowry Wasson and Brian McLaughlin, owner, director and potter at Moville Pottery, invited me to their pottery workshop to see how and where their pottery range is hand crafted and created. In the above, behind the scenes shot, a selection of mugs are being air dried before they are given the first of two firings in the kilns pictured below on the left hand side.
The Creative Process: How to Make Pottery at Moville Pottery
Having never made pottery before, Lowry steps me through the process. Pictured above on the right hand side is a pug mill where clay is passed through to get rid of any air or lumps.
The Art of Throwing Clay in Inishowen
The clay is carefully measured into individual balls, pictured above & hand thrown on the potter's wheel. You can see Lowry below giving a demonstration of this artistic process. Lowry was trained by some of the best "Throwers" in the World, training in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Europe. You will notice Lowry makes it look very easy!
After the handcrafted pots have half dried, they are put back on the wheel and additions, like the handles for the mugs can be added. After the first firing, the pots are skillfully hand glazed & decorated. The last stage is for the pots to be packed into the kiln and fired to 1220 degrees Celsius, which Lowry explains "creates a shiny effect" on the pottery and "being fired to this temperature allows the pottery pieces to be microwaved and placed in the oven without cracking"
The artistic and creative process is then complete and the pots are cooled and ready to be shipped, collected by the customer or placed on display for you to view or purchase in the shop, pictured above.
Stars go Potty for Moville Pottery
Moville Pottery is not only popular with locals and visitors, but also with famous movie stars. Lowry & Brian, "were delighted to place an order for iconic movie stars like Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp and local star Art Parkinson, who played Rickon Stark in Game of Thrones.". Recently the team had a stand of Moville Pottery in a scene shot during the popular TV production "Jack Taylor". Whether you visit to view Moville Potterys range of pottery and local craft on display in the shop or to get hands on in the workshop, you will leave with an appreciation of the skill and artistic craft involved in making pottery.
By Denise Henry, Marketing Assistant, Inishowen Tourism
Florian Wagner, an adventure photographer from a small town in the Bavarian Alps, and his team, have been making headlines all over Ireland during the past two months. Their epic journey would take them from Mizen Head, Cork, all the way to Malin Head, in the Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal. Florian said that"After having completed a similar trek in Germany one of my sponsors suggested Ireland as our next destination, since I had always wanted to explore Ireland, I jumped at the opportunity"
This was no ordinary road trip, the team would complete over 800 miles on horseback, capturing the diverse and beautiful Irish landscape along the way. You can see the team above, at the iconic, Wild Atlantic Way signature point; "Banbas Crown", a Napoleonic Tower, which marked the end of their long journey.
Florian noted that"Irish people have really proven their hospitality big time from the very start, the first friendly person we met was a truck driver on the ferry over". Through word of mouth and an eagerness, as found by Florian "within the Irish horse community, who all seem to know each other" people throughout the country "offered to stable the horses" and put them up for the night.
Meeting Florian and the Team at Malin Stables, Inishowen
Myself and Sally Toland, from Inishowen Tourism, reached out to the team when we heard of their journey to Malin Head. On arrival at Malin Stables we welcomed the group, pictured above, and were on hand to assist with their itinerary. The teams itinerary in Inishowen, Donegal, included; visiting the Doagh Famine Village located on the Isle of Doagh, traveling on horseback through varied terrain and picturesque beaches at Shroove,Pollan Bay, Trawbreaga Bay and Malin Head itself.
The crew enjoyed the hospitality of the Malin Hotel, The Seaview Tavern Bar and Restaurant and as you can see above, the team enjoyed a few drinks and some traditional music in Farrens Bar, Ireland's most northerly bar.
The team expressed gratitude to Malin Equestrian Centre, who stabled their horses and who were on hand to guide them along trails. A highlight for Florian and the team during their stay was a trek guided by Kane Gurney from Malin Stables, which took them "along the beautiful east coast of Inishowen from where we could see Scotland".
Highlights and Challenges on the Journey to Malin Head
Florian said that "Some of the most epic moments were at the Slieve League Cliffs, Donegal, Achill island off the West Coast of Mayo and Malin Head. "I just thought Malin
Head was some place at the end of the world, some magazines say there are hardly any roads and no-one lives
there but we found it the total opposite. It is remote in that it's not over populated but
there are a lot of people and they're very nice and there are fantastic stable facilities at Malin Stables"
The main challenge for the team was a lack of sleep "We were working very hard before we left Germany so we were tired even before we started. We soon got into the rhythm of fighting through long days". With a jam packed schedule it was hard for Florian and the team to see and do everything that they wanted to in Inishowen. Florian wants to return "to ride along the sea when the tide is out which I haven't done here in Inishowen and so I would have loved to do that and I really want to come back"
Find out more about Florian and the Teams Journey!
