
Main Street, Ballybofey.
'Ballybofey' is a town located in
Donegal,
Ireland.
Ballybofey (Bealach Féich - Fiach's Road) or alternatively Bailebo Fiach (bailebo -that area of land assessed for one cow as a yearly tax) and
Stranorlar (Srath an Urláir - the "valley of the floor" or flat bottomed valley. are situated on the south and north banks of the
River Finn respectively, and is sometimes referred to as the
Finn Valley. The towns grew rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries and are popular shopping and commercial centres for the people of the Finn Valley. Ballybofey also plays host to the Ballybofey festival which takes place annually. The centrepiece of the
festival is an incredible
parade on the Sunday. People come from miles around to see this parade. The last of these took place on
19th August 2007.
[1]
The woods around Drumboe are owned by
Coillte (the Irish forestry management service) where there is a woodland walk.
Buildings of note
★ Ballybofey Market House is a 3 bay 2 storey building built about
1820
★ The
River Finn passes next to the ruins of the historic
Drumboe Castle
★ There is an interesting large raised ringfort at Dunwiley
★ There is also a folly called the Steeple.
People
★ The 19th century poetess,
Frances Browne, was born in Stranorlar.
★ Her contemporary, the orator and founder of the
Home Government Party,
Isaac Butt, is buried in the Protestant graveyard in Stranorlar.
Sport
★ Ballybofey is home to
Finn Park where
eircom League side
Finn Harps (official website) play their home games
★ Sean
MacCumhail Park is also located in Ballybofey, where
Donegal GAA play their home games
★ The fishing rights are owned by the local angler's club.
See also
★
List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
★
List of Irish Towns with a Market House
External links
Official Website http://www.ballybofeystranorlar.com/
Local Art Group http://www.fiacharts.com/