August 25, 2012

Convoy

Finn Valley

The Finn Valley near Convoy. Convoy, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Conmhaigh, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

Raphoe Castle

Raphoe Castle

Raphoe Castle is a ruined 17th-century castle near Raphoe, County Donegal. The castle was built in 1636 by the Bishop of Raphoe, John Leslie from stone from a ruined round tower. Leslie was laid siege to within the castle during the Irish Rebellion of 1641, until he was relieved by the Lagganeer army. Leslie was laid siege again during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland, with the castle surrendering in 1650, and was damaged by supporters of King James II in 1689 during the Williamite War. A century later, in 1798, the castle was attacked again, this time by the United Irishmen, three of whom were killed during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The castle was destroyed in an accidental fire in 1838. Raphoe, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Ráth Bhoth, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/9, 1/320 second, ISO 200.

Swan Park

Lough Swilly

The River Crana as it empties into Lough Swilly at Buncrana. Buncrana, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Bun Cranncha, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/10, 1/400 second, ISO 200.

River Crana

The River Crana in Swan Park. Buncrana, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Bun Cranncha, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/7.1, 1/200 second, ISO 200.

Peat Stained Water

One of the fascinating things to me was the color of the water in Ireland's rivers. They all originate in the highland peat bogs and the water is stained a rich reddish brown by the peat. The water of the River Crana reminds one of a "cuppa" as it pours over a rock, or maybe a "pint" as it foams below. As an aside, Ireland has, for a long time, been one of the biggest per-capita consumers of tea in the world. The national average is four cups per person per day, with many people drinking six cups or more. Buncrana, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Bun Cranncha, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/5.6, 1/500 second, ISO 280.

River Crana

The River Crana. Buncrana, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Bun Cranncha, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/9, 1/320 second, ISO 200.

Buncrana Castle Bawn

The remnants of the Buncrana Castle bawn adjacent to the River Crana. Buncrana, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Bun Cranncha, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

"Saturday Stroll on the Castle Bridge"

On the northern bank of the River Crana as it enters Lough Swilly sits the three-story O'Doherty's Keep, which is the only surviving part of an original 14th century Norman castle. The first two levels of the keep were built after 1333. The keep was burned by the English in 1608 in reprisal for the rebellion of Cahir O'Doherty who sacked and razed the city of Derry. After Cahir O'Doherty was killed and his land seized, the keep was granted to Sir Arthur Chichester, who then leased it to Englishman Henry Vaughan, were it was repaired and lived in by the Vaughan family until 1718. In 1718, Buncrana Castle was built by George Vaughan, it was one of the first big manor houses built in Inishowen, and stone was taken from the bawn, or defensive wall, surrounding O'Doherty's Keep to build it. It was erected on the original site of Buncrana, which had grown up in the shadow of the keep. Vaughan moved the town to its present location, where he founded the current main street and built the Castle Bridge (a six-arched stone single lane bridge) across the River Crana leading to his Castle. Buncrana, County Donegal, Ulster, Republic of Ireland, (Bun Cranncha, Contae Dhún na nGall, Ulaidh, Éire), August 25, 2012. f/6.3, 1/160 second, ISO 200.