Crolly
Croithlí | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 | |
  Croithlí Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates:55°01′09″N8°18′44″W/ 55.01919°N 8.312101°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Baronies | KilmacrenanandBoylagh |
| Government | |
| •Dáil Éireann | Donegal |
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+0(WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1(IST(WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | B808187 |
| Croithlíis the only official name. The anglicised spelling Crolly, which is still widely used, no longer has any official status. | |
CroithlíorCroichshlí(anglicised asCrolly)[2]is a village in theGaeltachtparishes and traditional districts ofGweedore(Gaoth Dobhair) andThe Rosses(Na Rossan) in the west ofCounty DonegalinUlster,the northernprovincein Ireland. The two 'districts' are separated by the Crolly River (also known as the Gweedore River). It has one convenience shop/restaurant and petrol station and onepublic house,Páidí Óg's.[3]Crolly is located in twobaronies:the Gweedore part of the village is in the Barony ofKilmacrenan,while The Rosses part of the village is in the Barony ofBoylagh,the Crolly River being the boundary between the two baronies.[4][5]
Etymology
[edit]The official name of the village isCroithlí.This is taken to come from theOld IrishCraithlidh,meaning shaking bog orquagmire.[6]Croichshlí,the less used spelling, means the hanging or crooked way. This most likely refers to how the road twists around the hills.[7]
Features
[edit]The village sits at the base of several large hills, among themÁn Grógan MórandCnoc na bhFaircheach.These hills are remote and sparsely populated. They extend deep intoThe Rosses.
The Crolly Stone (known in Irish asCloch Mhór Léim An tSionnaigh,or the Large Rock Of The Foxes Leap), anerraticleft during theIce Age,is reputed to be the largest boulder in Ireland.[6]
The Crolly River, which flows fromLoughanureto an estuary known locally asAn Ghaoth,is known for its fishing.[8]The Crolly Waterfall is also nearby. Crolly Bridge also indicates the point where the two parishes, and the two traditional districts, meet.
Irish language
[edit]As the village is located on the border ofThe RossesandGaoth Dobhair,both districts within the West DonegalGaeltacht,theIrish languageis to be heard and most residents arebilingual.During the summer students stay in the village to learn Irish.[citation needed]
Amenities
[edit]There is one petrol station/shop known locally as Stephen Anns. In the village there is one pub, Páidí Ógs. The famousLeo's Tavernis a short walk from the village in the neighbouringtownlandof Meenaleck, with another pub, Teach Tessie, opposite the tavern. The local garage is McDonaghs' Tyre Centre. There is a caravan park behind Páidí Ógs, and another in Meenaleck, Sleepy Hollow Campsite. There are alsoglampingpods (Meenaleck Glamping) near Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck.[9]
Since 2018 there has been a local whiskey distillery called "Croithlí Distillery" located in the former Crolly factory.[10][11]There's oneCatholicchurch, known locally as 'the Chapel', for the area located in Meenaweel. As there is no school in the village, children usually attendScoil Phadraig Dobhair,in thetownlandof Dobhar, orScoil Naomh DuighinAnagaire.[citation needed]
Crolly Dolls
[edit]The Crolly Factory opened in 1939, and started making the renowned Crolly Dolls.[citation needed]The early dolls were handmade with a soft-filled body, a strong head and arms and legs. Their clothes were made from local fabrics and knitted vestments. Soft toys for boys, like teddy bears, were also made at the factory.
The original factory closed in the 1970s. This was a major blow to the local economy. However, in 1993, the popularity of the dolls was recognised and a smaller company was reopened. The Crolly Doll is sold all over the world.[12]
Folklore
[edit]Most of the townland's folklore refers toCloch Mhór Léim An tSionnaigh.[citation needed]The boulder's origin is attributed toFionn Mac Cumhaill.He is reputed to have thrown it atDiarmuid and Grainneduring his pursuit of them. In some versions they are sleeping by the Crolly Waterfall and he misses, in others they are on top ofErrigaland the Stone bounces off the tip of the mountain.
One story about the Stone suggests that when the most beautiful (or sometimesreddest) girl in Ireland passes under its shadow, it will topple.
Today it is said that if one can successfully throw three stones on top of it, they are granted a wish.[citation needed]
Monuments
[edit]In 2016, a 1916 monument was erected beside Paddy Ógs in Crolly by the Crolly Commemoration Committee commemorating both the1916 Easter Risingand those who died during theWar of Independence.[13]
There is also a monument erected beside Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck for part-time resident andProvisional IRAVolunteer Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh, who was killed during theMilltown cemetery attackby loyalistMichael Stoneon the1988 Gibraltar Threefuneral atMilltown cemeteryinWest Belfast.[14]
See also
[edit]- List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland
- List of populated places in the Republic of Ireland
- List of towns and villages in Northern Ireland
- Crolly railway station
References
[edit]- ^"Maps, Weather, and Airports for Annagary, Ireland".fallingrain.
- ^Placenames (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) Order 2004.
- ^"Tidy Towns Competition 2005 - Adjudication Report"(PDF).tidytowns.ie.
- ^Townlands.ie: Barony of Kilmacrenan, Co. Donegal.https:// townlands.ie/donegal/kilmacrenan3/
- ^Townlands.ie: Barony of Boylagh, Co. Donegal.https:// townlands.ie/donegal/boylagh/
- ^ab"Croithlí/Crolly".logainm.ie.Retrieved4 January2016.
- ^"Logainmneacha Ghaoth Dobhair, Tír Chonaill, Éire".bealoideas.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved4 January2016.
- ^"River Crolly (Gweedore)".salmonireland.Retrieved4 January2016.
- ^"Meenaleck Glamping".meenaleck-glamping.business.site.Retrieved17 August2023.
- ^"Crolly Distillery – Whiskey Distillery | Donegal | Ireland".thecrollydistillery.Retrieved1 December2022.
- ^"The Crolly Irish Whiskey Distillery in Donegal, Ireland".18 September 2017.Retrieved1 December2022.
- ^"Crolly Dolls".askaboutireland.ie.
- ^Maguire, Stephen (22 April 2016)."BIDDY DOHERTY (100) TO UNVEIL MONUMENT FOR 1916 RISING COMMEMORATION IN CROLLY".Donegal Daily.Retrieved20 August2023.
- ^"Donegal commemoration this Sunday: Caoimhín Mac Brádaigh (1957 to 1988) | An Phoblacht".anphoblacht.Retrieved20 August2023.
