North West Ireland Tourism
Visitor Guide to Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan & Monaghan
Visitor Guide to Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan & Monaghan
Ramelton
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Ramelton
Ramelton is a very picturesque Heritage Town at the mouth of the River Lennon where it enters a bay on Lough Swilly. Lovely riverside walks, an ancient stone bridge and handsome houses will encourage you to stop. It is a planned village of 17th century origins. Reverend Francis Makemie, the founder of the first Presbyterian church in Virginia U.S.A., preached in the old Meeting House in the village. Now restored, it contains a library and a genealogical centre.
Ramelton is often referred to as “The Jewel in Donegal’s Crown”, and for good reason too! It is a delightful Bord Fáilte designated Heritage Town, and the perfect base from which to explore Donegal. Located where the River Lennon enters a bay on Lough Swilly, it offers lovely riverside walks, an ancient stone bridge and handsome houses will encourage you to stop. Ramelton has always had a unique and slightly quirky character of its own. You’ll find a warm atmosphere here, wonderfully friendly people, lovely pubs and a wealth of living history.
During the 18th and the 19th centuries Ramelton was an important trading port, and it ships reached far out into the New World trading linen and other produce, and bringing great wealth back to its home port. Three and four masted ships prepared for their voyages on Ramelton’s diminutive quayside in preparation for crossing the oceans to New York or Kingston Jamaica, just two of their regular routes. And it was at this time that Ramelton’s stone quayside warehouses were built, and they brought to the town a character which was very much its own, and indeed remains so to this day.
The name Ramelton derives from the Irish name “Ráth Mealtain”, which means “The fort of Mealtain”. Archaeological evidences have shown, that in the Ramelton area has been settled since the early Stone Age. From the 12th century the area had been the homeland of the O’Donnell’s, the ruling clan of Donegal. In the 15th Century the heir to the chieftaincy, Calvagh O’Donnell, resided in his stronghold at Rossreagh, which was on an island, now the site of the present quay. The castle was burnt down in the 1640’s during the Irish rebellion. Today there are no visible remains of the old castle. In the early 16th century, the Killydonnell Friary, situated above Lough Swilly, was also built by Calvagh O’Donnell as a Franciscan Friary. It is suspected that there was an earlier church here, which possibly dated back to the 10th century. The Friary was closed down at the time of the Plantation. Since then it has been a burial ground for the local community. In 1610, during the plantation of Ulster, William Stewart, originally from Wigtownshire in Scotland, came to Ramelton and got 1000 acres of this area from the English King. After he was knighted, he built the first town and lived in the O’Donnell castle for a short time. He built a fort on the Lough Swilly shore and the first Reformation church, which still stands. He brought in families from Scotland to live in the new town. The Stewarts continued as resident landlords into the 20st century.
Early in the 20th century, Ramelton had 8 churches, 6 of them in use, and it earned the name: “The Holy City”. At the start of the 21st century 6 of them stand but only 3 are still used for worship, St. Paul’s, St. Mary’s and Wallace Memorial church.
Between 1714 and 1830, Ramelton grew and prospered and was at the height of its prestige. The old Plantation Houses were replaced or transformed by Georgian Houses. Fortunes had been made from linen, because Ramelton had Donegal’s biggest linen bleaching works. Ships from the Caribbean anchored in Lough Swilly and unloaded exotic cargoes at Ramelton in exchange for linen, corn, meat and fish. Reverend Francis Makemie, the founder of the first Presbyterian church in Virginia U.S.A., preached in the old Meeting House in the village. Now restored, it contains a library and a genealogical centre.
In the late 19th and early 20th, Ramelton rivaled Letterkenny to be the most important town in the north of the county. The rivalry came to end in 1909 when the railway came to Letterkenny but not to Ramelton. Nevertheless, Ramelton, with its beautiful surroundings, and its extremely friendly inhabitants will always be “The Jewel in Donegal’s Crown.
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Ramelton is often referred to as “The Jewel in Donegal’s Crown”, and for good reason too! It is a delightful Bord Fáilte designated Heritage Town, and the perfect base from which to explore Donegal. Located where the River Lennon enters a bay on Lough Swilly, it offers lovely riverside walks, an ancient stone bridge and handsome houses will encourage you to stop. Ramelton has always had a unique and slightly quirky character of its own. You’ll find a warm atmosphere here, wonderfully friendly people, lovely pubs and a wealth of living history.
During the 18th and the 19th centuries Ramelton was an important trading port, and it ships reached far out into the New World trading linen and other produce, and bringing great wealth back to its home port. Three and four masted ships prepared for their voyages on Ramelton’s diminutive quayside in preparation for crossing the oceans to New York or Kingston Jamaica, just two of their regular routes. And it was at this time that Ramelton’s stone quayside warehouses were built, and they brought to the town a character which was very much its own, and indeed remains so to this day.
The name Ramelton derives from the Irish name “Ráth Mealtain”, which means “The fort of Mealtain”. Archaeological evidences have shown, that in the Ramelton area has been settled since the early Stone Age. From the 12th century the area had been the homeland of the O’Donnell’s, the ruling clan of Donegal. In the 15th Century the heir to the chieftaincy, Calvagh O’Donnell, resided in his stronghold at Rossreagh, which was on an island, now the site of the present quay. The castle was burnt down in the 1640’s during the Irish rebellion. Today there are no visible remains of the old castle. In the early 16th century, the Killydonnell Friary, situated above Lough Swilly, was also built by Calvagh O’Donnell as a Franciscan Friary. It is suspected that there was an earlier church here, which possibly dated back to the 10th century. The Friary was closed down at the time of the Plantation. Since then it has been a burial ground for the local community. In 1610, during the plantation of Ulster, William Stewart, originally from Wigtownshire in Scotland, came to Ramelton and got 1000 acres of this area from the English King. After he was knighted, he built the first town and lived in the O’Donnell castle for a short time. He built a fort on the Lough Swilly shore and the first Reformation church, which still stands. He brought in families from Scotland to live in the new town. The Stewarts continued as resident landlords into the 20st century.
Early in the 20th century, Ramelton had 8 churches, 6 of them in use, and it earned the name: “The Holy City”. At the start of the 21st century 6 of them stand but only 3 are still used for worship, St. Paul’s, St. Mary’s and Wallace Memorial church.
Between 1714 and 1830, Ramelton grew and prospered and was at the height of its prestige. The old Plantation Houses were replaced or transformed by Georgian Houses. Fortunes had been made from linen, because Ramelton had Donegal’s biggest linen bleaching works. Ships from the Caribbean anchored in Lough Swilly and unloaded exotic cargoes at Ramelton in exchange for linen, corn, meat and fish. Reverend Francis Makemie, the founder of the first Presbyterian church in Virginia U.S.A., preached in the old Meeting House in the village. Now restored, it contains a library and a genealogical centre.
In the late 19th and early 20th, Ramelton rivaled Letterkenny to be the most important town in the north of the county. The rivalry came to end in 1909 when the railway came to Letterkenny but not to Ramelton. Nevertheless, Ramelton, with its beautiful surroundings, and its extremely friendly inhabitants will always be “The Jewel in Donegal’s Crown.
How to get to Ramelton
By car. Follow the R245 from Letterkenny to Ramelton.Where to stay near Ramelton
Ramelton has lots of good places to stay nearby including hotels, self-catering holiday homes, guesthouses and B&B's.Book Ramelton Accommodation
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Ramelton is surrounded by beautiful coastal towns. Don't miss Letterkenny and Fahan if you are travelling east, and Rathmullan and Portsalon if you are travelling west.Things to do in Ramelton
- Call into the “Donegal Ancestry Family Research & Heritage Centre” in one of the restored riverside warehouses, which has an exhibition on the history of Rathmelton. The centre also undertakes genealogical research at a cost of €15 for an initial consultation. You’ld never know what you will discover.
- The Ramelton Country Market takes place every Saturday from 11am – 12pm at Ramelton Town Hall. Stalls include, specialised crafts, handmade crafts, fashionable knitwear, organic food, craft items, specialised photography etc.
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