The Rosses (officially known by its

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, ''Na Rosa''; in the genitive case ''Na Rosann'') is a geographical and social region in the west 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, with a population of over 7,000 centred on the town of

Dungloe ''An Clochán Liath'', known in English as Dungloe or Dunglow ( ), is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in The Rosses and the largest in the Donegal ''Gaeltacht''. Dungloe developed as a town in the middle of the 18th century ...

, which acts as the educational, shopping and civic centre for the area. Defined by physical boundaries in the form of rivers, as well as history and language use, the area has a distinctive identity, separate from the rest of Donegal. The extensive region lies between the parish of

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 ...

to the north and the town of

Glenties Glenties () is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is situated where two glens meet, north-west of the Bluestack Mountains, near the confluence of two rivers. Glenties is the largest centre of population in the parish of Iniskeel. Glenties has ...

to the south. A large part of the Rosses is in the

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 ...

, which means that

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

is the spoken language. The Rosses,

Cloughaneely Cloughaneely (official name: ) is a district in the west of County Donegal, Ireland. This is a mainly coastal area with a population of over 4,000 centred on the towns of Falcarragh () and Gortahork (). It is a Gaeltacht area, meaning the Irish ...

and

, known locally as "''the three parishes''" with 16,000 Irish speakers, together form a social and cultural region different from the rest of the county, with Gweedore serving as the main centre for socialising and industry.

Gaeltacht an Láir Gaeltacht an Láir is an Irish-speaking area in central County Donegal, Ireland. It centres on the village of Baile na Finne and stretches south to Gleann Colm Cille and north to Fanad and Rosguill. There are nearly 7,000 people living in the ...

is another Irish-speaking area.

Irish language

The following is a list of electoral divisions in the area with the percentage that speak Irish: #

An Clochán Liath ''An Clochán Liath'', known in English as Dungloe or Dunglow ( ), is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in The Rosses and the largest in the Donegal ''Gaeltacht''. Dungloe developed as a town in the middle of the 18th century ...

(1,785) (15%) #

Anagaire ''Anagaire'' (anglicised as Annagry) is a village in The Rosses district of County Donegal, Ireland. , the population was 236. Name The Irish and official name for Annagry is ''Anagaire'', which in turn derives from ''Áth na gCoire'' meaning "fo ...

(2,138) (55%) # Arainn Mhor (529) (62%) # Inis Mhic an Doirn (1,410) (9%) # An Duchoraidh (78) (34%) # Leitir Mhic an Bhaird (650) (19%) # An Machaire (615) (15%) # Cro Bheithe (170) (60%)

Culture

Once a predominantly

-speaking area, over recent generations English has become increasingly common. Irish is still used extensively in some areas including parts of the island of

Arranmore ''Árainn Mhór'' (English name: Arranmore) is an island off the west coast of County Donegal, Ireland. Arranmore is the largest inhabited island of County Donegal, with a population of 469 in 2016, but has had a gradually falling native popula ...

, the townland of

Ranafast Ranafast or Rinnafarset, officially only known by its Irish language, Irish name Rann na Feirste () is a Gaeltacht village and townland in the Rosses region of northwest County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Name Ranafast, or sometimes ...

and the village of

Annagry ''Anagaire'' (anglicised as Annagry) is a village in The Rosses district of County Donegal, Ireland. , the population was 236. Name The Irish and official name for Annagry is ''Anagaire'', which in turn derives from ''Áth na gCoire'' meaning "fo ...

. In some areas, like the hills around

, around Loughanure and in pockets of Doochary and Lettermacaward, the Irish language is predominant. The local people are said to have a preference for

Gaelic football Gaelic football ( ga, Peil Ghaelach; short name '), commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA or Football is an Irish team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kic ...

over football, which is often the case in rural areas of the country. The area fields a number of football teams, both in football and Gaelic football. Keadue Rovers from the lower Rosses have traditionally been the area's strongest football team, and there are also teams in

(Arranmore United F.C.) and in Maghery (Strand Rovers F.C.).

have traditionally been the strongest in Gaelic football, winning seven County Championships between 1930 and 1958. There are also teams in Mullaghderg ( Naomh Muire), and in

Lettermacaward Leitir Mhic an Bhaird or Leitir Mhic a' Bhaird (anglicised as Lettermacaward) is a Gaeltacht village in the Rosses region of County Donegal, Ireland. The village, known colloquially as ''Leitir'' (pronounced ''letcher''), is between the larger ...

( Na Rossa). There is a strong tradition of songwriting in the area, Seán McBride (1906–1996) from

Cruit Island Cruit Island ( or ''Oileán na Cruite'') is a small inhabited island in the Rosses region of County Donegal, Ireland. It is linked to the mainland by bridge. Culture Cruit Island has a strong musical heritage. Local musician Seán McBride wrote ...

wrote the popular song "

The Homes of Donegal ''The Homes of Donegal'' is an Irish ballad written by songwriter Seán McBride in 1955. It has been performed by a number of singers, including by Paul Brady. McBride was a native of Cruit Island which is in The Rosses area of north-west County ...

". There are connections between the people of the Rosses and

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, Glasgow in particular, due to the economic need for emigration in the past and the strong ties forged over the generations as a result. Many people from the Rosses, in common with people from other parts of County Donegal, have also settled in the City of Derry, especially since the late 1840s. Preparing to land at Donegal Carrickfin Airport - geograph

Preparing to land at Donegal Carrickfin Airport - geograph

Geography

The area is bounded by the

River Gweebarra The River Gweebarra ( ga, Abhainn Ghaoth Beara) is a river in north County Donegal, Ireland. Course Streams enter Lough Barra from Crockfadda and Moylenanav. From there the River Gweebarra flows southwestwards between the Derryveagh Mountai ...

to the south, the Gweedore River to the north, the

Derryveagh Mountains The Derryveagh Mountains () are the major mountain range in County Donegal, Ireland. It makes up much of the landmass of the county and is the area of Ireland with the lowest population density. The mountains separate the coastal parts of the count ...

and the Gweebarra River (Doochary Bridge) to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The name comes from "Ros", the Irish word for headland. The area presents a rocky barren landscape, studded with a myriad of lakes and inlets of the sea. Lakes include Lough Anure,

Lough Craghy Lough Craghy (), also locally known as Tully Lake, is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in north County Donegal in the Rosses fishery. Geography and hydrology Lough Craghy is east of Dungloe. The lake drains westwar ...

Dunglow Lough Dunglow Lough (), also known as Dungloe Lough, is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in north County Donegal in the Rosses fishery. Geography Dunglow Lough is east of Dungloe. It measures about long and wide. The l ...

and Lough Meela. Mullach Dearg

Donegal Carrickfin Airport - Terminal entrance - geograph

Transport

The Rosses boasts Donegal's only airport at Carrickfinn. Various coach companies serve the area.

History

The Rosses has been inhabited since time immemorial, and the ancient church of St Crona in Termon near Dungloe has been dated to the 6th century AD. It was the site of a monastery founded by St. Crona, a cousin of the Royal Saint called

Columcille Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...

, founder of the monastic settlement at

Iona Iona (; gd, Ì Chaluim Chille (IPA: �iːˈxaɫ̪ɯimˈçiʎə, sometimes simply ''Ì''; sco, Iona) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there ...

, and was the centre of the parish of Templecrone. Mouth of the Gweebarra Estuary - geograph

In the 16th century, a number of ships from the

Spanish Armada The Spanish Armada (a.k.a. the Enterprise of England, es, Grande y Felicísima Armada, links=no, lit=Great and Most Fortunate Navy) was a Spanish fleet that sailed from Lisbon in late May 1588, commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, an aris ...

sank off or landed off its coast.

Economy

Historically the Rosses has relied heavily on hospitality, tourism and the fishing industry as the mainstays of its economy. The area has its own indigenous supermarket chain called

The Cope The Cope, or the Templecrone Agricultural Co-operative Society ( ga, Comharchumann Talmhaíochta agus Sóisialta Theampall Cróine), is a co-operative retail chain indigenous to The Rosses area of County Donegal in Ireland. Founded in 1906, it ...

which has been quite successful. There is very little manufacturing industry in the Rosses apart from a few companies located in

Tourism

The area claims a large proportion of Donegal's tourist income, due to its renowned scenery and its many festivals, including the Mary From Dungloe International Festival. There is a very strong tradition of

marching band A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who perform while marching, often for entertainment or competition. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Most marching bands wear a uniform, ofte ...

s emanating from the region; the area boasts many All-Ireland championship bands in all grades and disciplines.

Notable people

Declan Bonner Declan Bonner (born 11 August 1965) is an Irish Gaelic footballer and manager. He played at senior level for the Donegal county team, winning an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1992. He later managed the Donegal county team for tw ...

, member of 1992 All-Ireland winning

Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Ulster * Donegal (town), a town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland * Donegal Bay, an inlet in the northwest of Ireland b ...

team *

Packie Bonner Patrick Joseph Bonner (born 24 May 1960) is an Irish retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper and spent his entire career at Celtic. He earned a total of 80 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team after making his debut on h ...

, former Ireland and

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...

goalkeeper * Tony Boyle, 1992 All Star and member of 1992 All-Ireland winning

team * Joseph Duffy,

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...

Pat "the Cope" Gallagher Pat "the Cope" Gallagher ( ir, Pádraig Ó Gallchóir; born 10 March 1948) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2016 to 2020 and as a Minister of State from 1987 to 1994 and from 20 ...

, former TD and former MEP *

Goats Don't Shave Goats Don't Shave are an Irish folk rock band formed in 1990. Formed in Dungloe, County Donegal, the group was fronted by singer-songwriter Pat Gallagher and backed by musicians, Charlie Logue (keyboards), Declan Quinn (whistle), Gerry Coyle (ba ...

, folk band *

Adrian Hanlon Adrian Hanlon (born 1980s) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for West London GAA club St Clarets and also, formerly, for the Donegal county football team, Donegal county team. He was a panel member when Donegal won the 2012 All-Ireland Se ...

, member of 2012 All-Ireland winning

panel *

Niall Ó Dónaill Niall Ó Dónaill (27 August 1908 – 10 February 1995) was an Irish language lexicographer from Ailt an Eidhinn, Loughanure, County Donegal. He was the oldest of the six children of Tarlach Ó Dónaill and Éilis Nic Ruairí from Grial, Loug ...

, lexicographer *

Daniel O'Donnell Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell, MBE (born 12 December 1961) is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. After rising to public attention in 1983, he has since become a household name in Ireland and Britain; he has also had cons ...

, singer *

Peadar O'Donnell Peadar O'Donnell ( ga, Peadar Ó Domhnaill; 22 February 1893 – 13 May 1986) was one of the foremost radicals of 20th-century Ireland. O'Donnell became prominent as an Irish republican, socialist activist, politician and writer. Early life Pe ...

, socialist and author *

Margo *** People * Margo (actress) (1917–1985), Mexican-American actress and dancer * Margo (magician), American magic performer and actress * Margo (singer), Irish singer * Margo (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name ...

, singer *

Seosamh Mac Grianna Seosamh Mac Grianna (20 August 1900 – 11 June 1990) was a writer from County Donegal. He was born into a family of poets and storytellers, which included his brothers Séamus Ó Grianna and Seán Bán Mac Grianna, in Rann na Feirste, County ...

, author *

Carl McHugh Carl Gerard McHugh (born 5 February 1993) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan. Primarily a central defender, McHugh can also play as a left-back, and even as a defensive midfielder. Club ca ...

, footballer for

Motherwell Motherwell ( sco, Mitherwall, gd, Tobar na Màthar) is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, south east of Glasgow. It has a population of around 32,120. Historically in the parish of Dalziel and part of Lanarks ...

Séamus Ó Grianna Séamus Ó Grianna (; 17 November 1889 – 27 November 1969; locally known also as Jimí Fheilimí) was an Irish writer, who used the pen name Máire. Biography Born to Feidhlimidh Mac Grianna and Máire Eibhlín Néillín Ní Dhomhnaill i ...

, author *

Skara Brae Skara Brae is a stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland. Consisting of ten clustered houses, made of flagstones, in earthen dams t ...

, folk band *

Adrian Sweeney Adrian Sweeney is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for CLG An Clochán Liath, An Clochán Liath and the Donegal county football team, Donegal county team. Considered one of the finest forwards of his generation, he often played alon ...

, 2003 All Star footballer

Townlands

* Acres *

(''Anagaire'') * Arlands * Belcruit * Braade (''An Bhráid'') *

Burtonport or (English name: Burtonport) is a fishing village about northwest of Dungloe in The Rosses district of County Donegal, Ireland. The main employers in the village were the Burtonport Fishermen's Co-op and the ''Bord Iascaigh Mhara Bord ...

(''Ailt an Chorráin'') * Carrickfinn (''Carraig Fhinne'' or ''Carraig Fhinn'') * Cloughlass * Crickamore *

Crolly ''Croithlí'' or ''Croichshlí'' (anglicised as Crolly) is a village in the ''Gaeltacht'' parishes of Gweedore (''Gaoth Dobhair'') and The Rosses (''Na Rossan'') in the west of County Donegal, Ireland. The two parishes are separated by the Crolly ...

(''Croithlí'')(half of which is situated in Gweedore) * Derrynamansher (''Doire na Mainséar'') * Doochary (''An Dúchoraidh'') * Drumnacart Mountain Pasture *

(''An Clochán Liath'') *

Keadue Keadue, officially Keadew (), is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is on the R284 and R285 regional roads close to the borders of County Leitrim and County Sligo. Keadue is the burial place of the great Irish harper, Turlough O'Car ...

(''Céideadh'') * Kerrytown *

Kincasslagh Cionn Caslach (anglicized as Kincasslagh) is a small Gaeltacht seaside village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland. Despite only having a population of just over 40 people, the village has attracted much international attention due to t ...

(''Cionn Caslach'') * Lackenagh *

/Leitir (''Leitir Mhic an Bhaird'') * Loughanure (''Loch an Iúir'') * Maghery (''An Mhachaire'') * Meenagowan (''Min A Ghabhann'') * Meenaleck * Meenbanad *

Mullaghduff Mullaghduff may refer to: * Mullaghduff, County Cavan Mullaghduff (Irish: ''Mullach Dubh'') is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. Etymology The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic pl ...

(''Mullach Dubh'') *

(''Rann na Feirste'') * Roshine * Tullyillion

Islands

(''Árainn Mhór'') *

Cruit The Celtic harp is a triangular frame harp traditional to the Celtic nations of northwest Europe. It is known as in Irish, in Scottish Gaelic, in Breton and in Welsh. In Ireland and Scotland, it was a wire-strung instrument requiring gre ...

(''An Chruit'') * Eighter (''An tÍochtar'') * Inishal (''Inis Saille'') * Inishcoo (''Inis Cú'') *

Inishfree Inishfree ( ga, Inis Fraoigh, ) refers to two small islands off the coast of County Donegal in the north of Ireland. Inishfree Upper is the larger of the two at around . It is often known simply as "Inishfree". Inishfree Upper In the 4th or 5th ...

(''Inis Fraoigh'') * Inishkeeragh (''Inis Caorach'') * Owey (''Oileán Uaighe'') *

Rutland Rutland () is a ceremonial county and unitary authority in the East Midlands, England. The county is bounded to the west and north by Leicestershire, to the northeast by Lincolnshire and the southeast by Northamptonshire. Its greatest len ...

(''Inis Mhic an Doirn'')

References

External links

Gaeltacht Irish language use 2007
{{Coord, 54, 59, 04, N, 8, 24, 33, W, region:IE_type:city_source:kolossus-nlwiki, display=title Gaeltacht places in County Donegal Geography of County Donegal