Ardara, County Donegal

History

The Donegal County Directory for 1862 shows the administrative positions that were held in the county in that year, including several in Ardara. There is a photograph of Brendan Behan in Ardara with a glass of tomato juice while visiting Gildea's (now The Beehive) in 1960.

The town's name derives from an ancient earthen ring-fort that sits atop a hill northeast of the town. Christianity was introduced to Ardara in the 6th century by Saint Conall Caol, a direct descendant of Saint Colmcille. From the mid-17th to the late 19th century, the Nesbitt family of Woodhill played a significant role in Ardara's commercial development.

Ardara (pronounced as Arr-drahh) has a long-standing association with the tweed and knitwear industries. Since the 1870s, this trade has been a cottage industry, with locals producing hand-spun and hand-dyed woollen and tweed garments. The Ardara Heritage Centre, formerly the town's courthouse, provides insights into the evolution of the tweed industry. Today, several shops in Ardara continue to sell local tweed and knitwear.

Stained-glass artist Evie Hone's 'Rose Window' can be seen in the Church of the Holy Family (known locally as 'the Chapel'), the Catholic church in Ardara.

Outdoor activities

The Owenea River has salmon and trout fishing. There is pony trekking and surfing on local beaches. The nearby Narin and Portnoo links offers golfing.

Festivals

Ardara's numerous festivals include the Cupan Tae Festival, Johnny Doherty Festival, Bluegrass Festival, Matchmaking Festival, Wild Atlantic Festival, Country & Western Festival, Walking Festival, Ardara Show Day and Melting Pot Festival.

Notable people

• Bibi Baskin, television personality
• Damian Diver, Gaelic footballer
• John Doherty, musician
• Senator Eileen Flynn, politician and Traveller activist from Ballyfermot in Dublin who now lives in Ardara
• Martin Gavigan, Gaelic footballer
• Paddy McGrath, Gaelic footballer
• Anthony Molloy, captained Donegal in their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title-winning season in 1992
• Pat Shovelin, Donegal goalkeeping coach in their second All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title-winning season in 2012

References

References

1. "Census Interactive Map – Towns: Ardara". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland).
2. [https://www.fallingrain.com/world/EI/06/Ardara.html Maps, Weather, and Airports for Ardara, Ireland] {{webarchive. link. (27 March 2009)
3. "Ard an Rátha/Ardara". [[Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
4. (Apr 2012). "Population Classified by Area". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)]].
5. (18 June 2012). "'Best place is where you and your family flourish'". [[The Irish Times]].
6. "Heritage Towns of Donegal".
7. "Donegal County Directory, 1862".
8. MacSuibhne, Breandan. (2 August 2020). "The summer Brendan Behan staycationed in Donegal". [[Sunday Independent (Ireland).
9. "Woodhill House and the Nesbitts".
10. "Donegal Tweed – Ardara".
11. "Evie Hone - Rose Window, Ardara Church, Co. Donegal". [[Trinity College Dublin]].
12. "Owenea River". [[Inland Fisheries Ireland]].
13. "Golf Course". Narin and Portnoo Links.
14. "Ardara Festivals". Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel.
15. Ingle, Róisín. (2021-07-10). "Bibi Baskin: 'I would like to meet more than four people in the next 12 months'". [[The Irish Times]].
16. McNulty, Chris. (27 September 2013). "Meet the new backroom boys". [[Donegal News]].
17. "Johnny Doherty (1900-1980)". [[Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann]].
18. McLaughlin, Rachel. (2020-06-28). "Ardara woman makes history as first female Traveller in Oireachtas".
19. (2012-09-21). "Walking in the giant footsteps of Molloy and Gavigan".
20. (2019-04-05). "GAA stars gather in Ardara to celebrate life of Pat Shovelin". [[Ocean FM (Ireland).