''Dún Lúiche'', known in English as Dunlewey or Dunlewy, is a small ''

Gaeltacht ( , , ) are the districts of Ireland, individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home. The ''Gaeltacht'' districts were first officially recog ...

'' village in the

Gweedore Gweedore ( ; officially known by its Irish language name, ) is an Irish-speaking district and parish located on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland. Gweedore stretches some from Glasserchoo in the ...

area of

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

, Ireland. It sits in the

Poisoned Glen The Poisoned Glen () is a glen or valley located near Dunlewey in Gweedore, a district in the north-west of County Donegal, Ireland. It is located beside Errigal and extends beyond Glenveagh National Park, facing Loch Altan. The Poisoned Glen i ...

, at the foot of

Errigal Errigal () is a mountain near Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountains and the tallest peak in County Donegal. Errigal is also the most southern and the highest of the mountain chain called the ...

and on the shore of

Dunlewey Lough Dunlewey Lough, or Dunlewy Lough (), is a lake in County Donegal, Ireland. It lies at the foot of Errigal and beside the hamlet of Dunlewey (or Dunlewy). It is separated from the larger Lough Nacung Upper, to the west, by a narrow strip of la ...

. The

Cronaniv Burn The Cronaniv Burn (Irish language, Irish: ''Abhainn Chró Nimhe'', meaning 'Poisoned Glen River';''Discovery Series'' Sheet 1 (Fourth Edition). Ordnance Survey of Ireland (O.S.I.), Dublin, 2012.Patrick McKay, ''A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names ...

flows along the southern edge of the village. Dunlewey has a tourist centre, called the Lakeside Centre or ''Ionad Cois Locha'', which offers boat trips of the lake. To the west of the lake is a ruined church. The

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

name ''Dún Lúiche'' means "fort of

Lugh Lugh or Lug (; ga, label=Modern Irish, Lú ) is a figure in Irish mythology. A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of supernatural beings, Lugh is portrayed as a warrior, a king, a master craftsman and a savior.Olmsted, Garrett. ''The God ...

", an ancient Irish god. Near the Lakeside Centre is a modern wooden sculpture of the god. Folklore says that the Poisoned Glen is where Lugh slew

Balor In Irish mythology, Balor or Balar was a leader of the Fomorians, a group of malevolent supernatural beings. He is often described as a giant with a large eye that wreaks destruction when opened. Balor takes part in the Battle of Mag Tuired, a ...

, and that it is so named because poison seeped from Balor's 'evil eye'.Monaghan, Patricia. ''The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore''. Infobase Publishing, 2009. p.383 Dunlewey is the home of the Dunlewey

Connemara ponies The Connemara Pony (Irish: ''Capaillín Chonamara'') is a pony breed originating in Ireland. They are known for their athleticism, versatility and good disposition. The breed makes excellent show ponies. History The Connemara region in Cou ...

External links

Lake Side Centre

Dunlewey Connemara Ponies

References

Towns and villages in County Donegal Gaeltacht places in County Donegal Gaeltacht towns and villages Geography of Gweedore {{County Donegal