Bay View Hotel,
Killybegs
Regrettably, the Bay View Hotel has been closed until further notice.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call on 074 97 31950
Regrettably, the Bay View Hotel has been closed until further notice.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call on 074 97 31950
When visiting Donegal and the Bay View Hotel & Leisure Centre there are many attractions within walking distance of Killybegs town centre. The best way to discover the town of Killybegs is to park the car and venture out by foot.
The Bay View Hotel is located in the heat of Killybegs and directly opposite the old harbour area. A short walk will take you to the pier area where you can watch the boats come and go and the fishermen land their ctatch. The views of Donegal Bay are spectacular especially in the early morning or as the evening sun is setting.
Above the harbour area is the old Donegal Carpet Factory building where the world famous hand crafted Donegal Carpets were manufactured. Today the building is home to the Killybegs Maritime & Heritage Centre.
For more information on tourism attractions in Donegal please contact the Bay View Hotel or call into our local Visitor Information Office.
Killybegs in Irish is ‘Na Cealla Beaga’ which means little cells due to its association with an early monastic settlement.
The area around the deep fjord-like inlet of Killybegs has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and there is evidence of as many as twenty ring forts, most of them near the shore. The town was named in early Christian times, the name Na Cealla Beaga referring to a group of monastic cells. Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly in a region not short of native saints, the town’s patron saint is St. Catherine of Alexandria. St. Catherine is the patron of seafarers and the association with Killybegs is thought to be from the 15th Century which confirms that Killybeg’s tradition of seafaring is very old indeed.
In 1588 Killybegs was the port of call for the remains of the Spanish Armada which struggled into the harbour. Three ships made it as far as the bay, most notably the ‘Girona’.
Killybegs existence as a fishing port is not recent. When the O’Donnell chieftains were known as the "best lord(s) of fish in Ireland" in the sixteenth century, Killybegs was the chief port of Tír Chonaill.
The 6th Century was a lively time in Killybegs. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, the town was ransacked by the notorious Irish pirates the O’Malley’s in 1513 while its men folk were off fighting.
Fishing provided much employment in the past and is still a chief source employment. Another major employer in Killybegs, was Donegal Carpets. At its peak the hand knotted carpet factory employed as many as 80 workers the majority were women. Carpets were made here for Buckingham Palace, the White House, Aras an Uachtarain, and many other prestigious buildings around the world. Today the building houses the Maritime & Heritage Museum.
The Coastguard Station
The Murray School
St Mary’s Church (Catholic)
The McSwyne Grave Slab
St John’s Church (C of I)
The Foresters’ Hall
The Corn Store
Robertson School House
Bruach Na Mara (Sea Bank Cottage)
Killybegs Tourism College
St Catherine’s Old Church & Burial Ground
St Catherine’s Well Kit’s Castle
Killybegs Maritime & Heritage Centre Historical Background
As the largest fishing port in Ireland, Killybegs developedaround its splendid natural harbour. Christianity arrived in theregion in the 6th century with the arrival of St Colmcille.In the early Christian era the people of Killybegs embraced St. Catherine ofAlexandria as their Patron Saint and dedicated a well in her honour. The localruling family, McSwynes, named the old Franciscan church after her.In 1355, Bishop McMonagle built the tower of ‘Kit’s Castle’ on the hill abovethe well. This building later became the residence of many Bishops of Raphoe.By 14th century the Irish/Scottish McSwyne clan became establishedin Killybegs.O’Malley raiders attacked Killybegs in 1513 but the day was saved by thedivine intervention of St Catherine whose town they had tried to plunder.In 1588 the Spanish Armada ship, Girona, came into the harbour and wasrepaired, but was later wrecked on the Antrim coast.In 1615, Killybegs was established as a borough town by King James VI at thePlantation of Ulster.Apart from what is outlined above, most of the town buildings date from19th and 20th centuries.Directions: from the Diamond in the centre of the town, proceed out theDonegal Road for about half a mile to begin the Trail.
Coastguard StationThe large cut stone military style building looking out over the harbour is theformer Coastguard Station. E. Trevor Jones designed this building and it was erected in 1875 as modern accommodation block and look-out for the Coastguards. The landlord, H.G. Murray Stewart, provided the site to the Admiral Commissioners.Killybegs was the head of a Coastguard District from Donegal Town to the Gweebarra River. The Station and the Tower House accommodated the chief boatman and ordinary coastguards. In addition to their normal duties of chasing smugglers, the Coastguards often came to the rescue of local fishermen and seafarers in bad weather.The Coastguards kept their boat at the ready in a special boathouse which stands on the water’s edge below the Station. It is now a private dwelling which has been preserved intact. The Coastguards left Killybegs in 1922 at Independence.
The Murray SchoolProceed walking back towards the town, and immediately past the Vocational School on your right you will come to the Murray School. This building was erected in 1860 as Male and Female schools to replace theearlier Lady Anne Murray’s Charity School for girls built in 1842. Lady Ann was the wife of Alexander Murray, then landlord of Killybegs.It was erected at a cost of £1,500 at the expense of Horatio Granville Murray Stewart, the main landlord of Killybegs at that time.The Murray school was the main school in Killybegs town until the the Niall Mor National School was established in 1879 by Monsignor Stephens, P.P. The coming of Independence in 1922 marked the end of the Murray schools.
Continue back towards the town untile to St MarysSt Mary’s Church (Catholic) The foundation stone of this church was laid on 2ndFebruary 1842. The firstMass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1843. The church was not finally complete until 1854. The formal dedication by His Grace the Most Rev Dr Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin, was postponed until 6th August 1854 on account of the Great Famine. Alexander Murray, landlord of that catholic Church Niall Mor or his father Owen who founded the Ballysaggart Friary.The descendants of this clan are now usually called Sweeney. The slab is of 16th century character. Part of Killybegs, had St Mary’s designed by his architect John Buonarotti Papworth. Murray also provided the site, and gave the single largest donation of IR£100. The church was built by the Very RevWilliam Drummond, P.P. As a Catholic church it is unique in Ireland and stillretains some of its original simplicity of design and character.The present bell in the tower was hung in 1950, being donated by the late Charles McIntyre of New Row.
The McSwyne Grave Slab This carved stone was brought from the Friary at Ballysaggart, St John’s Point.Monsignor Stephens PP transported it to Killybegs in 1868 and set it against an interior wall. It was erected in its present position in 1953 when the church was re-plastered. The Slab is connected to the McSwyne clan, whose ruinedCastle stands at Rahan Near on the west side of St John’s Point. The figure in the upper left-hand panel is said to represent Niall Mor McSwyne, Chieftain of his clan who died in his castle at Rahan on 14th December 1524. The figure at the top right-hand panel is the representation of a gallowglass warrior in chain mail, holding a sword, possibly an image of Niall Mor or his father Owen whofounded the Ballysaggart Friary. The descendants of this clan are now usually called Sweeney. The slab is of 16th century character
St John’s Church (C of I) The building of St John’s church commenced in1825, and it was consecrated and dedicated to St John on 6th June 1828 by William, Bishop of Raphoe. The design of the church is described as ‘plain, two bay rendered hall, Y tracery timber windows, west porch supports a bellcote spire’. The building was a straightforward rectangular church until 1860 when the polygonal chancel, designed by Welland and Gillespie, was added. When this was complete the church held 200 persons.
The Foresters’ Hall The Foresters were founded in England in post-medieval times and were known as the Ancient Order of Foresters. The word ‘Foresters’ conjures up visions of Robin Hood the poor man’s friend, the protector of the oppressed, and that is precisely the reason the Foresters came into being. It was, and still is a mutual aid society, helping fellow Foresters in times of distress or death – very important when there were no State or welfare benefits. This started a world-wide Foresters’ Organisation, spreading to America, Canada, Australia and Ireland. When the Order came to Ireland, it became the Irish National Foresters and their motto is the same as the parent organisation – ‘Unity,Nationality and Benevolence’. It is non-political, nonsectarian, and does not support, encourage or discriminate against any creed or class.The Killybegs branch was formed on Sunday 19th August 1906, and wascalled the Niall Mor Branch. At that time there was no hall, and the branchrented rooms on Bridge Street. The present site was purchased in 1909 for £11.00 and the hall opened for the first time on Monday 1st August 1910. The entertainment for the evening was by J. Dowds’s band and the charge was 5 shillings. From that time it became the centre of entertainment for the area. Today it still runs as a community centre and a meeting place for many organisations.
The Corn Store This building was originally a corn and grain store, dating from late 18th century. It was possibly erected by the Nesbitt family, prominent Killybegs planters, and was in the ownership of the merchant Blain family for most ofthe 19th century. It fronted onto a small river dividing Killybegs town, and ships delivered cargoes of grain directly to the store at high tide. This happened before the present Main Street bridge was built. The old bridge behind the Corn Store was built in 1757, after which the street was named (at the cost of £9 pounds!).The store was used by the Government Commissariat to hold Indian meal for distribution during the Great Famine. Up until 1933 it was in the ownership of the Spillers & Bakers firm who stored flour to supply the main bakers in the town. The building was originally a storey higher.
Robertson School House This former schoolhouse is located on St Catherine’s Road, and is one of the few 19th century buildings in Killybegs which has retained it’s original appearance. It was erected in 1819 as the first formal school in Killybegs, and served as the only school for that part of the town until 1842. It was established by the Church of Ireland authorities with grant aid from Bible Societies and the Robertson Fund. The school is to a standard design,having the schoolroom on the first floor which is accessed by a stone staircase on the gable, and living accommodation below for the teacher and family. The garden surrounding the school provided vegetables for the table. It was laterused as Methodist Meeting House. Today it is in private ownership.
Bruach Na Mara The much altered Philadelphia town house is the headquarters of Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), one of the most powerful grouping offishermen in the country. The building was once the retirement home of bishop John Bernard MacGinley of Killybegs. He was a son of Thomas ColinMacGinley, schoolteacher and author, whose wife’s family, the Sinnotts, had erected Bruach Na Mara in the early 1900’s
