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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 Tyrcon ...
, Ireland, with a population of over 7,000 centred on the town of Dungloe, 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 coast of County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland. Gweedore stretches some from Glasserchoo in the north to Croll ...
to the north and the town of Glenties 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 reco ...
, which means that Irish is the spoken language. The Rosses, Cloughaneely and
Gweedore Gweedore ( ; officially known by its Irish language name, ) is an Irish-speaking district and parish located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal in the north-west of Ireland. Gweedore stretches some from Glasserchoo in the north to Croll ...
, 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 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 centur ...
(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 "f ...
(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 Irish-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, 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. In some areas, like the hills around Dungloe, 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 ki ...
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 (Arranmore United F.C.) and in Maghery (Strand Rovers F.C.).
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 centur ...
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 wrot ...
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 ...
, 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.


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 Mounta ...
to the south, the Gweedore River to the north, the Derryveagh Mountains 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, Dunglow Lough and
Lough Meela Lough Meela () is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in The Rosses area of County Donegal. Geography Lough Meela is located about northwest of Dungloe and southeast of Burtonport, on the R259 road. It measures abou ...
.


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, 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 ther ...
, and was the centre of the parish of Templecrone. 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 ar ...
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 which has been quite successful. There is very little manufacturing industry in the Rosses apart from a few companies located in Dungloe.


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, o ...
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 Foo ...
goalkeeper * Tony Boyle, 1992 All Star and 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 * Joseph Duffy, UFC
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, incorpo ...
*
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, 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 team. He was a panel member when Donegal won the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. ...
, member of 2012 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 ...
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, Lou ...
, lexicographer * Daniel O'Donnell, singer * Peadar O'Donnell, socialist and author * Margo, singer * Seosamh Mac Grianna, author * Carl McHugh, 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 Lana ...
* Séamus Ó Grianna, 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 dam ...
, folk band *
Adrian Sweeney Adrian Sweeney is an Irish former Gaelic footballer who played for An Clochán Liath and the Donegal county team. Considered one of the finest forwards of his generation, he often played alongside Brendan Devenney for Donegal. Sweeney playe ...
, 2003 All Star footballer


Townlands

* Acres * Annagry (''Anagaire'') * Arlands * Belcruit * Braade (''An Bhráid'') * Burtonport (''Ailt an Chorráin'') * Carrickfinn (''Carraig Fhinne'' or ''Carraig Fhinn'') * Cloughlass * Crickamore * Crolly (''Croithlí'')(half of which is situated in Gweedore) * Derrynamansher (''Doire na Mainséar'') * Doochary (''An Dúchoraidh'') * Drumnacart Mountain Pasture * Dungloe (''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'') * Lackenagh *
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 ...
/Leitir (''Leitir Mhic an Bhaird'') * Loughanure (''Loch an Iúir'') * Maghery (''An Mhachaire'') * Meenagowan (''Min A Ghabhann'') * Meenaleck * Meenbanad * Mullaghduff (''Mullach Dubh'') *
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 ...
(''Rann na Feirste'') * Roshine * Tullyillion


Islands

* Arranmore (''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 (''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'')


See also

County Galway * Galway City Gaeltacht * Gaeltacht Cois Fharraige * Conamara Theas *
Aran Islands The Aran Islands ( ; gle, Oileáin Árann, ) or The Arans (''na hÁrainneacha'' ) are a group of three islands at the mouth of Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland, with a total area around . They constitute the historic barony of Aran i ...
*
Joyce Country Joyce Country ( ga, Dúiche Sheoighe) is a cultural region in counties Galway and Mayo in Ireland. It is sometimes called Partry, after the former tribal territory of the '' Partraige'', which it largely matches. Part of it falls within the Con ...
County Donegal * Gaoth Dobhair * Cloch Cheann Fhaola * Gaeltacht an Láir County Kerry * Gaeltacht Corca Dhuibhne County Mayo * Gaeltacht Iorrais agus Acaill County Londonderry * Carn Tóchair County Antrim * An Cheathrú Gaeltachta, Béal Feirste


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