Donegal's First Lighthouse
Arranmore Island is a small, friendly, picturesque island where the craic never ends, located in the Republic of Ireland, County Donegal, about 3 miles from the mainland or a 20 minute ferry ride departing from the town of Burtonport.
Referred to in a Medieval Irish document Ará Uí Dhomhnaill (O'Donnell's Aran), the island was probably inhabited prior to the Plantation of Ulster (1609). During the middle of the 17th century, the greatest part of West Donegal became the property of the Conygham family who also built Slane Castle and were the ancestors of Lord Henry Mountcharles. During the middle of the 19th century John Stoupe Charley from Finaghey in Co. Antrim bought the island from Lord Conyngham under the terms of the Encumbered Estates Act. Subsequently, work was completed on the Glen House, which was to become their home in 1955. Mrs. Charley and her family continued living on the island after the death of her husband until 1893 when the estate was transferred to the Irish Land Commission under the Lands Acts in 1883.
A few facts...The island is 5.5 miles long and 3 miles wide, with 17 miles of beautiful coastline. The year-round population is approximately 700. St. Crone's Roman Catholic Church is the only church on the island.
There are four schools on the island: Leabgarrow Nation School (70 pupils), Athphort National School (30 pupils), Arranmore Vocational School (30 pupils), and Naonra Árainn Mhóir (12 pupils).
There are four islands between Arranmore Island and the coastal town of Burtonport: Inishcoo, Idirinis, Rutland and Iochtar. For more info check out www.arainnmhor.com
The Lighthouse
Located at Rinawros Point on Arranmore Island Donegal's first lighthouse was first built in 1798 and was rebuilt in 1865 and was manned by keepers until fully automated in 1976.
During periods of severe weather it has been known for waves to knock out the 3" glass windows on the lighthouse.
There are rock arches and sea caves nearby.
The coastguard station was built by the British and occupied during World War 1. It was burned down by the IRA during the Black & Tans war of 1920-21.
Just outside the lighthouse boundry wall there are 151 steps down to the sea which were used to transport goods to the lighthouse.
Beaver Island Memorial
En-route to the lighthouse you will pass the Beaver Island Memorial. Arranmore is twinned with Beaver Island, Michigan since October 2000. The initial connection came about when Charlie O'Donnell, his wife and their three young children emigrated to Beaver Island after being evicted from their Arranmore home in 1851. Charlie O'Donnell worked there on the construction of a new lighthouse. A number of Arranmore familes soon followed and by 1880 there were 128 Gallaghers, 114 O'Donnells and many Boyles and Wards living on Beaver.
Today Beaver has 200 inhabitants which, despite being four times larger than Arranmore, is one third of Arranmore's population.
The Beaver Island memorial constructed on Arranmore to commemorate the islands' joint history. The set of statues consist of a beaver (representing Beaver Island) and otter (representing Arranmore Island) and a fish representing the links between the two.
The Cache
The cache is a Traditional 1ltr Tablock Container with loads of room for swaps/coins etc.
PLEASE NOTE that the area is surrounded by very high cliffs which are un-fenced and un-marked. Please take care and especially of children.
Please take care on very windy days or on days of extreme weather.
For Ferry Timetables check out Arranmore Fast Ferry @ www.arranmorefastferry.com
PLEASE ONLY TRADE UP OR EVEN.
TBs MOVE BETWEEN CACHES AND REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF THE PERSON THAT RELEASED THEM. I DO NOT COUNT THEM AS TRADE ITEMS.
IF YOU WISH TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM THIS CACHE PLEASE DON'T LEAVE A TB IN IT'S PLACE. THANK YOU.