Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland. The Centre of County Donegal, where North meets South. It's an extraordinary sight whether you see it from Donegal Town or coming south from Ballybofey. The main Donegal to Ballybofey road, the N15, with the meandering Lowerymore River and the Old Railway Line running side by side through Barnesmore Gap.
Croaghonagh and Croaghconnellagh Mountains, Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal. IRELAND. Perfect Reflection in Lough Mourne.
Colours Of Dawn. Lough Mourne runs along the road between Ballybofey and Donegal Town.
Keadue Upper, Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland.
Lough Mourne, County Donegal, Ireland. A frozen Lough Mourne in Winter. The Old Railway Line can also be seen and Barnesmore Gap in the distance.
Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland. Sunset Reflections in Lough Mourne.
Lough Mourne County Donegal Ireland.
Croaghconnellagh and Croaghonagh, Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland. For centuries the Gap has been a strategic gateway between the Northern and southern parts of County Donegal. But Barnesmore was also, in other days, a place of sinister repute. Up to about 1800, it was the notorious haunt of brigands, highwaymen and raparees who waylaid, robbed and murdered travellers. It became so perilous that from the mid 1700's a garrison of Red Coats was stationed at the Ballybofey end of the Gap to ensure the safety of travellers. The authorities erected a gallows in the Gap to deter these people. The West Donegal Railway Company opened a Railway Line on 25th April 1882, the start of it's construction having been hampered by seven weeks of snowstorm. The line closed in 1959." (An extract from Biddys Website dated 2008)
Perfect Reflections. Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland.
Biddys O'Barnes Public House, Ardnawark, Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland.
Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland.
Colours of Dawn. Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. Ancient and formidable, the Blue Stack Mountains stretch from the heights of Barnesmore Gap west towards the sea. An infinity of contours, colours and shapes greet the eye, and to the north of Donegal Town these guardians dominate the landscape in presence and character. Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland.
Perfect Reflection Lough Mourne, Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland.
The meandering Lowerymore River at Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland.
The N15 runs alongside Lough Carn and Lough Mourne, County Donegal, Ireland.
Autumn colours at Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland.
Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland. Add a bit of snow and any photo looks great.
Biddys O'Barnes Public House, Ardnawark, Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland. Always beautiful but even more beautiful with a a 'dusting' of snow.
Croaghconnellagh Mountain, Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland. The excitement of the first train through Barnesmore Gap brought crowds from the surrounding localities to the top of Croagh Connellagh (Connells Mountain) to have a good view of the wonder as it was then thought to have been. This was on 25th April, 1882. many of the older people regarded the top of the mountains near enough to it as to feel safe.
The N15 from Ballybofey to Donegal Town runs alongside Lough Carn and Lough Mourne, with the old railway track on the left visible. Barnesmore, County Donegal, Ireland.
Barnesmore Gap as seen from Summerhill, just outside Donegal Town.
Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland. The Stupendous Mountains of Barnesmore Gap, remarkable for their perpendicular ascent and their beautifully varied rocks, form the Gap of the same name. Formed by the movement of massive glaciers millions of years ago, the moods of these two towering sentinels are as changeable as their appearance.
Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland. Reflections in Lough Mourne County Donegal. After the Ice Age the retreating glaciers created a huge gash in the mountain range to the NW of Donegal Town, called Barnesmore Gap. It states in the Annals of the Four Masters that Barnesmore was a refuge for robbers and rogues until Red Hugh banished them. The Gap was part of the route from Sligo to Derry and a great haunt for highwaymen who attacked the coaches.
