Geography
Dromahair lies in the hilly north west of Leitrim amid some stunning unspoiled natural landscapes. The "Sleeping Giant" mountain formation (comprising Keelogyboy, Leean and Benbo) is visible on approaches to the village, as isHistory
The village takes its name from the ridge of high ground on which it is located above the Bonet River. The ridge was the site of the important early church site of Drumlease, a Patrician foundation of the fifth century AD. The name in Irish is ''Droim Dhá Ethiar'', meaning apparently the "Ridge of Two (Air) Demons". During the medieval period, Dromahair was the capital of Breifne - a Gaelic confederation that stretched from Kells inHe stood among a crowd at DromahairHis heart hung all upon a silken dressAnd he had known at last some tendernessBefore earth took him to her stony care... The historic Abbey Manor hotel, refurbished and re-opened in 2004 byCharlie McCreevy Charles McCreevy (born 30 September 1949) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2004 to 2010, Minister for Finance from 1997 to 2004, Minister for Tourism and Trade f ..., the then finance minister, was abruptly closed in 2009 and abandoned to the elements. The owners went into hiding and attempts by various concerned groups and individuals to track them down have so far (2015) proved unsuccessful. The building has been subject to vandalism and theft since its closure, the lead has been removed from the roof, and the valuable paintings stolen. After an attempt was made to burn the building down, a Section 59 notice (notice to require works to be carried out by the owners) was put into effect on the hotel in July 2015. Through at least the 19th and 20th centuries, four annual fairs were held at Dromahair on- 1 January, 15 June, 21 July, and 31 October (or 1 November).
Local amenities and attractions
Dromahair has severalpub A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...s and restaurants. It also contains a post office, hotel and public library, a fewconvenience store A convenience store, convenience shop, corner store or corner shop is a small retail business that stocks a range of everyday items such as coffee, groceries, snack foods, confectionery, soft drinks, ice creams, tobacco products, lottery tic ...s and general shops, hairdressers, butchers, garage, national school, two historic churches ( Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland) as well as a health centre. Tourist attractions include Creevelea Abbey, the Tour De Humbert Cycling Trail (which passes through the village), Ard Nahoo Health Farm,Parke's Castle Parke's Castle (also known as Newtown Castle and O'Rourke's CastleTom Condit, Gabriel Cooney, Claire Foley and Colm Donnelly, ''Archaeology Ireland Heritage Guide No. 62: Parke's Castle, Co. Leitrim'', p. 1–2. ''Archaeology Ireland'', Dublin, ...situated beside Lough Gill on the Sligo-Dromahair road (R286, 5 km (3 mi) NW of the village) and the Wild Rose Waterbus which offers tours of Lough Gill between Sligo andParke's Castle Parke's Castle (also known as Newtown Castle and O'Rourke's CastleTom Condit, Gabriel Cooney, Claire Foley and Colm Donnelly, ''Archaeology Ireland Heritage Guide No. 62: Parke's Castle, Co. Leitrim'', p. 1–2. ''Archaeology Ireland'', Dublin, ....
Sports
Dromahair has both men's and ladies' GAA clubs. In 2009, the men's club competed in RTÉ's ''Celebrity Bainisteoir ''Celebrity Bainisteoir'' was a prime-time reality programme created by Fiona Looney and first broadcast in 2008 by RTÉ. It involved a number of celebrities competing against each other as a Gaelic football team coach. The title derived from ...'' competition under comedianKatherine Lynch Katherine Lynch (born 1967) is an Irish television personality from County Leitrim. She has had several television series broadcast on RTÉ Two, with titles like ''Working Girls'', ''Wonderwomen'' and ''Single Ladies''. Lynch also participated ..., getting to the final of the competition.
Transport
The R287 road links Dromahair west toSligo Sligo ( ; ga, Sligeach , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of approximately 20,000 in 2016, it is the largest urban cent ...town andCollooney Collooney or Coloony () is a town in County Sligo, Ireland. Toponymy Collooney is thought to derive from . Reverend Terrence O'Rorke has previously also suggested ''Culmaine'', as Collooney is designated this way in such works as '' the anna ..., or east toManorhamilton Manorhamilton () is the second-largest town in County Leitrim, Ireland. It is located on the N16 from Sligo and from Enniskillen. History Before the Plantations of Ireland, the settlement was known, and continues to be known in the Iris ...via the R280. The R288 is an alternative route to Sligo, north ofLough Gill Lough Gill () is a freshwater lough ( lake) mainly situated in County Sligo, but partly in County Leitrim, in Ireland. Lough Gill provides the setting for William Butler Yeats' poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree". Location and environment Loug ...via the R286.Bus Éireann Bus Éireann (; "Irish Bus") is a state-owned bus and coach operator providing services throughout Ireland, with the exception of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area, where bus services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. It is a subsidia ...routes serving Dromahair include the 462, 469 and 470 which link with Sligo,Drumkeeran Drumkeeran () is a village in County Leitrim, Ireland located at the junction of the R280 and R200 roads. It is situated in drumlin hills at the foot of Corry Mountain, just north of Lough Allen. History Throughout at least the 19th and 20th ..., Manorhamilton,Carrick on Shannon Carrick-on-Shannon () is the county town of County Leitrim in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county of Leitrim. A smaller part of the town lies in County Roscommon. The population of the town was 4,062 in 2016. It is situated on a strat ...andLongford Longford () is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 10,008 according to the 2016 census. It is the biggest town in the county and about one third of the county's population lives there. Longford lies at the meet .... The nearest station isSligo railway station Sligo Mac Diarmada station, also known as Sligo railway station, is a mainline railway station which serves the town of Sligo in County Sligo, Ireland. It is a terminal station which now has two platforms and an intermediate carriage siding. ....
Schools
Drumlease National School is approximately two miles fromLough Gill Lough Gill () is a freshwater lough ( lake) mainly situated in County Sligo, but partly in County Leitrim, in Ireland. Lough Gill provides the setting for William Butler Yeats' poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree". Location and environment Loug .... The school is under the patronage of the CatholicBishop of Kilmore The Bishop of Kilmore is an episcopal title which takes its name after the parish of Kilmore, County Cavan in Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishop ..., and it underwent a Whole School Evaluation by the inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills in 2013. The Old "Drumlease National School" in the townland of the same name was found to be unsuitable for the children of Dromahair by Rev. Cormac McSharry and it was replaced by him in 1901. In 1959, a Western plot was approved as an extension to the school site, which was opened in 1969.
See also
* List of towns and villages in Ireland *Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway The Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (SL&NCR) was a railway in counties Cavan, Fermanagh, Leitrim and Sligo in north-west Ireland. It consisted of one main line, with no branch lines and remained privately owned until its closure. ...* Breifne *Lough Gill Lough Gill () is a freshwater lough ( lake) mainly situated in County Sligo, but partly in County Leitrim, in Ireland. Lough Gill provides the setting for William Butler Yeats' poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree". Location and environment Loug ...
References
Primary sources
Secondary sources
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External links
Dromahair Heritage Website
{{County Leitrim Towns and villages in County Leitrim