Ardara ( ; ) is a small town in

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...

, Ireland. It is located on the N56 and R261 roads. The population as of the 2022 census was 785. The population of 731 at the 2011 Census represented an increase of about 30% since 2006. In 2012, ''

The Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...

'' named it the best village in which to live in Ireland. Ardara, one of Donegal’s five designated heritage towns, is located in the southwest of the county. The town is near the Owenea River, known for salmon and trout fishing. Just beyond Ardara lies the Glengesh Pass, a scenic route leading to Glencolumbkille.

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 Brendan Francis Aidan Behan (christened Francis Behan) ( ; ; 9 February 1923 – 20 March 1964) was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, playwright, and Irish Republican, an activist who wrote in both English and Irish. His widely ackno ...

in Ardara with a glass of

tomato juice Tomato juice is a juice made from tomatoes, usually used as a beverage, either plain or in cocktails such as a Bloody Mary (cocktail), Bloody Mary, a Caesar (cocktail), Caesar, or Michelada. Production Many commercial manufacturers of tomato ju ...

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 has a long-standing association with the tweed and knitwear industries. Since the 1870s, this trade has been a

cottage industry The putting-out system is a means of subcontracting work, like a tailor. Historically, it was also known as the workshop system and the domestic system. In putting-out, work is contracted by a central agent to subcontractors who complete the p ...

, 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 Ardara's Holy Family Church.

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 Olive "Bibi" Baskin (born 19 May 1952) is an Irish radio presenter, hotelier and former television presenter for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). She has been described as "RTÉ's legendary redhead". She has also worked as a magazine and ...

, television personality * Damian Diver, Gaelic footballer * John Doherty, musician * Eileen Flynn, Traveller activist and

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

from

Ballyfermot Ballyfermot () is a suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located west of the city centre, south of Phoenix Park. It is bordered by Chapelizod on the north, by Bluebell, Dublin, Bluebell on the south, by Inchicore on the east, ...

in Dublin, lives in Ardara * Martin Gavigan, Gaelic footballer *

Paddy McGrath Paddy McGrath (born 2 February 1989) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for CLG Ard an Rátha, Ard an Rátha and also, formerly, for the Donegal county football team, Donegal county team. Though not from a footballing family, McGrath woul ...

, 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

External links