General

Location

Buncrana is situated on the west of the very scenic Inishowen Peninsula, in County Donegal, with spectacular panoramic views of Lough Swilly. The name Buncrana, (or Bun Cranncha in Irish), translates to the bottom of the Crana , the river adjacent to the town.

Buncrana or the Gateway to Inishowen , is on the R238 Regional Road, which is connected to both Derry and Letterkenny via the N13 National Primary road.

Buncrana is in close proximity to other urban centres as Table 1 below outlines. Its proximity to Derry City, which is the fourth largest city in Ireland, at just 14 miles, ensures access to an unlimited range of commercial, retail and transport services there. Letterkenny, County Donegal s largest town is located at a distance of just 27 miles from Buncrana.

Source: http://www.theaa.com/

Population

Source: CSO, Census of Population 2002

As Table 2 above displays, Buncrana is the second largest town in County Donegal, with the population increasing from 4805 to 5271 persons, illustrating a significant growth rate of 9.7%, over the period 1996 - 2002.

Table 3 below displays the population for both Buncrana Town and Buncrana Environs, with the latters population increasing more since 1996. The population figures indicate that there are no significant variations in relation to gender in both the town and its environs.

Source: CSO, Census of Population 2002

Both Buncrana town and its environs have a relatively young population. An analysis of the age structure, as depicted in Table 4 above, shows that both Buncrana town and its environs, have significant concentrations in the 0 - 14 year and 25 - 44 year categories. 38% in Buncrana town are under 24 years, while 44% in the environs are under 24 years.

The lowest percentage category is in older age bracket of 65+ years. Only 12.9% in the town and 7% in the environs of Buncrana are over 65.

Table 5 below depicts the percentages in each Socio-economic group in Buncrana town and its environs. The largest percentages of the population are involved in Manual skilled , Employers and Manager , Non-Manual and All others gainfully occupied and unknown groups; 12.1%, 14.8%, 15.0% and 21.4% respectively. The lowest percentages are in Agricultural , Farmers and Higher Professional .

Council / Other Government offices

Buncrana Urban District Council Offices are located on StSt Oran s Road, Buncrana.

As part of Donegal County Councils decentralisation programme, five Public Service Centres have been established in County Donegal to date, one of which is located in Carndonagh, which serves the Inishowen Electoral Area. The full range of Council facilities are delivered there, some 18 miles away from Buncrana.

There is a FÁS placement services clinic in Buncrana.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs has a Social Welfare Local Office in Castle Avenue, Buncrana.

Council / Other Government offices

Buncrana Urban District Council Offices are located on StSt Oran s Road, Buncrana.

As part of Donegal County Councils decentralisation programme, five Public Service Centres have been established in County Donegal to date, one of which is located in Carndonagh, which serves the Inishowen Electoral Area. The full range of Council facilities are delivered there, some 18 miles away from Buncrana.

There is a FÁS placement services clinic in Buncrana.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs has a Social Welfare Local Office in Castle Avenue, Buncrana.

Education

Primary Schools

The Buncrana area is well serviced by quality primary educational facilities, all of which are listed below. StSt Orans, StSt Muras and Scoil Iosagain are all located in the town, while StSt Josephs is situated just a few miles away.

In addition, Buncrana is the location for one of the four Gaelscoileanna in County Donegal, a provision that is becoming of increased importance in the primary educational structure of the County. Gaelscoileanna Bhun Chrannacha has forty students and two teachers.

Source: Department of Education and Science

Secondary Schools

Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, is the larger of the two secondary schools in Buncrana, with a student population of 760. The school has 58 teachers and offers the entire range of second level courses (i.e.) Junior Certificate, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational Award. The school is particularly well reputed in sport with participation in soccer, basketball and gaeilge football encouraged for all ages. There is also an active debating team and musicals are held within the school every two years.

Crana College is a vocational school with 346 students, (179 boys, 167 girls) and 30 teachers. The school offers the Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate and the Leaving Certificate Vocational Award. Crana College is also active in the sporting arena in rugby, GAA, golf, athletics.

Source: Donegal County Profile 2002

Third Level Facilities

Buncrana is conveniently located close to a number of colleges offering a wide variety of certificate, diploma and degree courses to both full and part time students.

Letterkenny Institute of Technology (www.lyit.ie)
LYIT offers a wide range of courses in Business, Computing, Design, Engineering, Nursing and Science disciplines. The college has an ambitious development programme and has invested heavily in new facilities and teaching resources in recent years, including a new Nursing Teaching Block, a Multi Purpose Centre and an Art and Design Centre. The new halls of residence, which are located within walking distance of the campus, are currently being constructed.

University of Ulster (www.ulst.ac.uk)
The University of Ulster comprises of four campuses, has in excess of 21,000 students and approximately 3000 staff, making it one of Northern Irelands most influential institutions. The Magee Campus, situated in Derry has approximately 2000 full time students enrolled and offers programmes, in both part and full time capacities, in Informatics, Multimedia, International Business, Software Development, Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Policy and Administration, Sociology, Social Work and Community Development, Psychology, Performing Arts, Celtic Studies, Nursing and Law.

The North West Institute of Further and Higher Education (www.nwifhe.ac.uk)
Located in Derry, the North West Institute has in excess of 3,000 full time students and 20,000 involved in part time courses and evening classes. The college works in close collaborations with the University of Ulster and the Queens University in Belfast. Its departments include Business Services, Caring and Social Education, Continuing Education and the Arts and Technology.

Destinations of Third Level Students from County Donegal

In addition, the majority of students from County Donegal attend the following colleges:

• University of Ulster (Coleraine, Jordanstown and Belfast Campuses)
• Trinity College, Dublin
• Queens University Belfast
• National University of Ireland (Galway, Dublin, Maynooth and Cork)
• Institute of Technology (Sligo and Dundalk)
• University of Limerick

Transport

Road Network

Buncrana s access infrastructure consists of two regional roads, the R238 and the R239, both of which connect to the National Primary road, the N13.

Under Donegal County Councils 2000 - 2006 Roads Investment Plan, improvements are on-going to the R238 from Buncrana to Bridgend, (a 9 mile route) enhancing the towns accessibility to the two population centres of Derry and Letterkenny.

Construction of the inner relief road around Buncrana has significantly improved accessibility and traffic flows in and around the town.

Air

Just 20 minutes from Buncrana lies the City of Derry airport (http://www.cityofderryairport.com/). This airport has undergone multi million pound improvements in recent years, providing a domestic service to Dublin daily, connections to Glasgow, London, Birmingham and Manchester and indirect flights to Europe, at competitive prices.

In addition, airport facilities are provided at four locations at just under two hours drive, from Buncrana town.

Carrickfin airport (http://www.donegalairport.ie/), located in west Donegal offers a twicedaily service to Dublin, seven days a week, with AerArann.

Sligo airport (http://www.sligoairport.com/) offers regular routes to Dublin with AerArann also.

Both Belfast City Airport (http://www.belfastcityairport.com/) and Belfast International Airport (http://www.bial.co.uk/) offer flights to the UK and Europe.

Rail

A railway service to Belfast, with onward connections to Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin are within easy access via Derry City, some 20 minutes drive from Buncrana (http://www.translink.co.uk/).

A mainline train service to Dublin is also offered at Sligo, with Iarnród Éireann (http://www.irishrail.ie/).

Bus

Buncrana also benefits from a number of privately run bus services.

• North West Busways is a local coach service, which offers a range of services linking Derry, Letterkenny and the Inishowen Peninsula, three times daily.
• Lough Swilly Buses offers a daily service to Letterkenny, eleven services to Derry and four services to Carndonagh daily.
• John McGinley Coaches offers a daily service to Dublin.

The Ulster Bus (http://www.ulsterbus.co.uk/) service operates from Derry, connecting Belfast and Dublin to County Donegal.

Taxi

There are numerous taxi and hackney firms located in Buncrana, offering day and night time services including:

• Buncrana Cabs (074) 9363900
• Hugh McMonagle (074) 9361283
• Town Clock Taxis (074) 9363322
• West End Taxis (074) 9362198 

Ferry

A new Car ferry service connecting Buncrana to Rathmullan will be operational in June 2004, giving easy access to West Donegal.

Healthcare

The North Western Health Board, which is one of the most progressive in the country, is the administrative body responsible for hospitals and health services in the county.

Letterkenny General Hospital

Located just 27 miles from Buncrana, is Letterkenny General Hospital which has approximately 280 general in-patient beds, in addition to providing a full range of services for Accident & Emergency, Renal Dialysis, Outpatient and Day Surgery patients.

Visiting consultants provide services such as Oral surgery, Ear Nose & Throat, Rheumatology, Ophthalmology and Dermatology on an on-going basis. The General hospital also incorporates a 50 bed acute Psychiatric Unit on site. Recent developments include the construction of a specialised oncology unit.

The range of Nursing areas include General Medicine; Elderly Care; Coronary Care; Renal Dialysis; General Surgery; Orthopedics; Intensive Care, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Maternity Services; Neo-natal Unit; Paediatrics; Gynaecology; Accident & Emergency; Day Services; Out-Patients General and Orthopedic Theatres.

Buncrana Community Based Hospital

Buncrana Community Based Hospital has 30 beds provided for elderly people and day care services also. Other services include Respite care, Convalescence, Rehabilitation, Palliative care, short term continuing care, Mental Health services, Physiotherapy, and Chiropody services.

Buncrana Health Clinic

Buncrana Health Clinic offers Dental, Speech and Language Therapy, Public Health Nursing, Psychology and Social Workers services.

Buncrana Medical Centre

There are five General Practitioners in Buncrana and three Practice Nurses, all of which can be contacted at the Medical Centre, Maginn Avenue, Buncrana, (074) 9363611. The following is a list of those GPs:

Those requiring medical attention in the Buncrana area can also avail of Altnagelvin Hospital located in Derry, just 14 miles away.

Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry

The hospital offers 488 inpatient beds and 54-day care beds providing acute hospital services. In addition to a range of general medical and surgical services, other services include Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Cardiology, ENT, Urology, Ophthalmology, Oral Surgery and Dermatology services.

Altnagelvin is one of Northern Irelands five Cancer Units and many of its specialties are area-wide services that continue to thrive and develop to meet the health needs of the expanding population.

A number of regional services are provided in Altnagelvin by visiting consultants. These include Paediatric, Cardiology and Neurology, Oncology services in lung, breast and bowel cancers, Neurosurgery and Plastic surgery, and Renal services.

Shops and Shopping Centres

Shopping facilities in the area include three large supermarkets:

• Eurospar
• Supervalu
• Lidl
• Aldi

Other smaller specialty stores are available on the Main Street. Clothes stores boast the more famous fashion labels and in addition there are a numbers of DIY/Hardware stores, gift and craft shops, pharmacies, optometrist, hairdresser and barbers, sports and shoe shops in the town.

Derry City Shopping

Buncranas proximity to Derry City ensures access to a more extensive range of shopping facilities. The two main shopping centres, the Richmond Centre (www.richmondcentre.co.uk) and the Foyleside Shopping Centre (www.foyleside.co.uk) are located in the city centre, with adequate parking facilities, at a distance of not more than 20 minutes from Buncrana. Both centres house many of the top High Street names there, including Next, Debenhams, Boots, Easons, Virgin Megastore, Barratts, H Samuel, Burtons and Marks and Spencer.

Additionally, some of the larger supermarkets, including Sainsburys, Tescos, Dunnes Stores and Iceland are located in the city.

Banking

Building Societies

Insurance Brokers

Eating Out

Whatever your tastes, Buncrana has eating establishments to suit all, boasting a great selection from fast food outlets to high quality dinner menus.

Restaurants

For lunch in Buncrana, there is a wide selection of lunchtime specials at the Cranberry Cafè or, for more substantial fare, the more upmarket Ubiquitous restaurant, also on Main Street. The Town Clock Restaurant on Upper Main Street offers everything from breakfasts to evening meals.

The Drift Inn, Railway Road, is a popular choice for pub lunches, and Dorrians, Main Street, is another good choice.

Oriental food is served in the Wing Tai Restaurant, which also offers fast food services.

The Fishermans Wharf on the shore road is a coffee and sandwich bar providing breakfast, lunch, tea or coffee.

Hotels

The Peninsula Bar in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, provides hot lunches, evening meals and snacks throughout the day while its Peninsula Restaurant offers an extensive a la carte and table dhôte menu where the emphasis is placed on top quality market produce.

The Lake of Shadows hotel offers daily lunchtime food in the Griannan Bistro, while its restaurant provides superb quality food in both a la carte or five set course dinner menus.

The Harbour Inn also provides fine food.

Entertainment

Donegal town boasts a lively entertainment scene, with an endless choice of venues. The many pubs, clubs, and hotels are the settings for ceilís, concerts, traditional sessions and live music, throughout the year.

Bars

There are fifteen licensed premises in Buncrana, most of which offer live entertainment at the weekends

Nightclubs

Traditional Music

Buncrana is renowned for its contribution to the traditional music industry, having been host to four All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoils in the eighties. A plethora of local artists hail from the area such as Altans Ciaran Tourish, Dinny McLaughlin Internationally recognised fiddle player, Liz Doherty of Bumblebees fame and Kevin Doherty of Four Men and A dog to name but a few.

Arts/Culture

There are a number of artistic groups and networks operating in the town, including:

Artlink is a community based visual artists group specialising in art programmes in painting, ceramics, drawing and photography, which is based in the restored 19th century Tullyarvan Mill. Artlink works with children, adults and special needs groups, womens groups and cross-border / cross community organisations and has achieved national recognition.

Crana Artists Network, also located at Tullyarvan Mill, promotes current visual culture.

The cultural life of the town is further enhanced through Buncranas proximity to both Letterkenny and the city of Derry, on average 30 minutes drive, providing access to a wide selection of;

• Bowling Alleys - Brunswick Superbowl, Pennyburn Industrial Estate, Derry
• Cinema Complexes - Strand Multiplex Cinema, Quayside Derry, Century Cinemas, Letteekenny (www.letterkennycinema.net)
• Theatres - An Grianan Theatre, located in Letterkenny, offers a varied entertainment programme from both a national and international level with regular productions throughout the year. (www.angrianan.com)
• Authentic Restaurants - Absolutely Thai, China Tower and Indian House, in Letterkenny, the Mandarin Palace, McGilloways Seafood Restaurant in Derry city.

Festivals

The Buncrana Music Festival takes place from the 18th - 25th of July 2004. Since its inception in 1992, the festival has gone from strength to strength, playing host to leading acts and offering many day time activities for both adults and children alike (www.buncranamusicfestival.com).

The festival has not run since 2005 due to lack of support from the community.

Natural Environment

The Inishowen Peninsula has been referred to as Ireland in miniature with beautiful, deserted sandy beaches dappled along its rugged coastline and breathtaking scenery amidst its unspoiled natural environment. The scenic mountain ranges and rambling hills offer boundless routes for hill walkers and hikers, while the beaches provide excellent facilities for sailing, swimming, water sports and fishing.

Buncrana, which is the principal town on the peninsula, provides a rich variety of culture, amenities and outdoor activities to create a high quality of life in County Donegal.

Beaches

There are three main beaches in close proximity to Buncrana:

Lisfannon beach, which has blue flag status, is a long sandy beach stretching for 5km and has views of Lough Swilly, Inch Island and Buncrana town and the surrounding landscape. It is a very popular beach in the summer months, offering facilities for swimming, sailing and various watersports.

Culdaff beach, just over 20 miles away, is another of Inishowens blue flag beaches. It is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland and is popular with local surfers.

Stroove beach, near Moville is approx. 30 miles away from Buncrana and has blue flag status also. It is a very popular beach with breathtaking walks as far as the cliffs.

Walking

The lonely rugged hills, hidden glens and miles of trails are a must for the walker. There is something for everyone in Inishowen, to suit all levels of physical fitness. For those who like to test their endurance, try the Urris Hills or Raghtin More, Bulbin, Slieve Sneacht or Crunlieve. For leisure, follow the network of bog roads.

In Buncrana itself, Swan Park is located just to the north of the town. The park is opened all year round and provides a peaceful setting for scenic walks and picnicing. Additionally, a scenic four mile trail from Neds Point Fort, over Castle Bridge, along Buncrana bay and along the shore and provides an excellent facility for an avid walker or cyclist.

Angling

Inishowen offers unique opportunities in game angling, rock and shore fishing and sea angling. Whether its casting from a boat, off the beach and rocks, or from the banks of a river, a whole spectrum is available, in some of the most beautiful settings in Ireland. The Inishowen Boating Company offers a wide range of angling trips and can be contacted on (074) 9370605.

The Buncrana Anglers Centre (074) 9363733, own and operate the Crana River, which yields good numbers of salmon and sea trout from May onwards and the Pollan Dam, which provides for trout fishing. Buncrana Pier is where mackerel and pollack are caught.

Wildlife & Birdlife

Inishowen Peninsula boasts a diverse range of habital high rocky cliffs, fine sandy beaches, upland heath and bog, rich agricultural farmlands and wetland areas, thus providing a mecca for ornithologists and wildlife enthusiasts alike.

The large sea loughs of Lough Swilly and Foyle, provide rich feeding habitats for a diverse range of bird species, while the cliffs, sea stacks and islands of Inishowen offer sanctuary to nesting seabirds, including Gulls, Doves and Cormorants.

Irelands most northerly point, is an ideal vantage point from which to view the autumn movement of seabirds such as Albatross, Gannets, and Shear water on their southward migration flights. It is also a good spot for greeting the arrival of flocks of Redwing, Fieldfare, Finches, Snow Bunting and many species of land birds which winter in Ireland.

Heritage

The area around Buncrana is also steeped in rich heritage with:

Tullyarvan Mill

Located on the outskirts of Buncana town, was once a corn mill in the 19th century. Newly renovated, it is now a museum dedicated to depicting the textile industry that has long been associated with the town. It houses a craft shop, exhibition area, a cafè and a conference venue and regularly hosts concerts, music and visual arts workshops and summer schools.

Fort Dunree

Fort Dunree is perched majestically on a rocky outcrop with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Built in the 18th century by the British as protection against invasion from the French, the site now contains a military museum.

Neds Point Fort

Just to the north of Buncrana town is Neds Point Fort. In 1812, the forts was built by the British to defend the area from invasion. Almost completely destroyed, the local council has restored it to its former condition and is a popular tourist attraction today.

Community and Sporting Facilities

Sport is a way of life in Buncrana with:

Buncrana Leisure Centre

Buncranas award winning leisure centre consists of a 25 metre heated indoor swimming pool, saunas, weight room and jacuzzi. All weather facilities including a 300-metre running track, tennis courts and basketball courts are all available and are accessible to the disabled. Regular classes including swimming, aerobics, yoga, circuit training, boxercise and step classes are provided there.

In addition, one of the local hotels boasts a modern leisure centre, open to affordable membership, complete with gym, pool and beauty spa.

Golfing / Pitch & Putt

Situated on the White Strand overlooking Lough Swilly, the Buncrana Golf Club, a 9 hole links course offers enjoyment to the high handicapper and a challenge to the lowest handicaps.

The North West Golf Club, situated just 2 miles away in Fahan, is an 18 hole links course of Championship standard.

Ballyliffen Golf Club, some 12 miles away, which recently expanded to 36 holes. hosted the European Tours North West Championship 2002.

Pollan Pitch and Putt is a challenging 9-hole par situated on part of the old golf links, which provides a great activity for all the family.

Horseriding

Equestrian enthusiasts can enjoy a leisurely trek at Inch Island Stables. Facilities include a cross-country course, trail riding, liveries, tuition by qualified instructors and trekking. The surrounding countryside and beaches are aptly suited to horse riding.

GAA/Rugby/Football Clubs

Sporting facilities abound in the area and are on par with the best in the country. The newly developed Buncrana GAA complex at The Scarvery entails top of range pitch and a practice pitch of similar standard and a new clubhouse, incorporating both Gaelic and Hurling.

Inishowen Rugby Club, based in Moss Road, Carndonagh, some 18 mile away, welcomes new players to its under age and senior levels.

The Buncrana Youth Complex consists of two five aside astro turf all weather playing pitches for the keen soccer players.

Boating

Lough Swilly Yacht Club at Fahan, three miles from Buncrana, has a widely varied programme of events throughout the season which will suit both the beginners and the more experienced sailor who will enjoy the ever changing challenge presented by Lough Swilly. A Marina is being developed at Fahan and with 350 berths available.

Churches and Places of Worship

Buncrana has Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Churches, the contact details of which are contained in Table 12 below:

Others Churches and places of worship, which are within commuting distance of Buncrana are as follows: