Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. New Years Day Sunset 2019.
Biddys O'Barnes, Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal. Ireland. The original Biddy O’Callaghan was born in 1816 and died at the age of 93 handing the pub on to her son John in 1909. The bar later went to John’s sister Rose in 1937 who ran it for 40 years. After Rose’s death in 1977, her brother Joe, wife Katie and son Terence took over the pub for the following 13 years. In 1990 the O’Callaghan family relinquished ownership of Biddys which had been in their family for 185 years. John Slevin commenced trading on 1st August 1990. John’s wife died in 1993. He met Kate in 1994 and they got married in 2001. John sadly passed away suddenly in 2014. Kate continued to run the pub until Novemebr 2015. It is now run by Aaron Slevin.
Lough Mourne Co Donegal Ireland. Barnesmore Gap is an area of outstanding natural beauty which cuts through the Bluestack Mountains in the heart of Donegal. It is an important stretch of upgraded road, providing vital transportation and communications link for locals and visitors alike.
Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal, Ireland. No two sunsets are ever the same! An Bearnas Mór, in Irish, meaning "the big gap”. Lough Mourne overlooking Barnesmore Gap is located between Ballybofey and Donegal Town. County Donegal, Ireland. Taken on the shore of Lough Mourne overlooking the famous Barnesmore Gap Mountains in the distance. Famous area of Donegal because of its natural untouched beauty and the huge gap between the Bluestack Mountains. Old Irish tales say these mountains were separated by Giants. See other similar photos.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland and Lough Mourne. There are two loughs in Ireland called Lough Mourne. One in County Donegal and one in County Antrim. Lough Mourne, County Donegal runs along the road between Ballybofey and Donegal Town. The mountains either side of the road through the Gap are Croagh Connelagh (Connall's Mountain) and Croagh Honagh (Owen's Mountain). The lough is approx. 5km/3 miles from the mountains but the mountains still feature in the reflections on the lough.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. Croaghonagh, Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal. Approaching from Donegal Town, drive through Barnesmore Gap, once past the small carpark, take a gravel track on the right hand side of the road just before a right turn for Castlederg. Drive up this track for a quarter mile and park beside a quarry. The track to the summit starts at the gate to your right. The ascent is gradual to start, but steepens about half-way up. Its a 5km walk. And worth every step.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. Croaghonagh or Barnesmore Mountain Barnesmore County Donegal. Barnesmore Mountain has an elevation above sea level of 454 metres. The scenery here is spectacular, including mountains, river, waterfalls and hidden natural treasures which entices the traveller to explore.
Barnesmore Gap and Lough Mourne, County Donegal Ireland. This photo was taken from the old railway track. Folklore has it that the railway was responsible for reintroducing the beech tree to Donegal and the course of the railway line can be traced by picking out the beeches which were planted as lineside hedging. Retaining walls to support the track still remain also and are still visable on parts of the line through the Gap.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. The West Donegal Railway Company opened this line on 25th April 1882, the start of it's construction having been hampered by seven weeks of snowstorm. The line closed in 1959. The Railway ran alongside a ledge built into the hillside (Croaghonagh) for part of its route through the Gap. Much of the trackbed can still be traced today.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. Croaghconnellagh (Conells Mountain) Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal. For older folk who believed a lot in tradition and superstition, the first train through Barnesmore was hailed as the 'black pig' and the end of the world was not far off. Little did they know that the railway service would last 77 years. It ended on the 16th September 1959.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. All sorts of modes of transport. 5nhp Double crank compound road locomotive. No 1497. Built 1917. Reg No: IC 2089
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. The N15 runs along side Lough Carn and Lough Mourne.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. On the Old Railway Track in Barnesmore Gap stands a lone tree. After 77 years of the railway line, ending on the 16th September 1959, the sorrow which accompanied the last locomotive could only be compared to the excitement and wonder at the first steam engine train through the Gap.
Lough Mourne, Barnesmore, County Donegal Ireland After Sunset.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. The original telegraph poles on the old Railway Line are still visible today.
Lough Mourne Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. The “Big Gap” was created by a glacier which scooped all before it. Barnesmore is both the link and the dividing point between North and South Donegal. Local folklore suggests that the Gap was the home to groups of thieves and outlaws. It was noted that Barnesmore was the most dangerous in all of Ireland. An armed force was said to spend part of each summer cutting a path through the woods at the approaches to the Gap.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. A story by Enda Kelly, 7th April 1938. "There is a spot noted for its beautiful scenery situated midway between the town of Ballybofey and Donegal and it is known as Barnesmore Gap. One day a man was coming along the road at Barnes Gap and he had a bag of coppers and a bag of gold with him. As he was coming along he was held up by a robber who asked him for the bag of gold and if he did not give it to him he would shoot him. The man threw down the bag of coppers. When the Robber was lifting the money the other man jumped off his own bad horse to the robbers good horse and he got away with the bag of gold"
Biddys O'Barnes Public House Barnesmore County Donegal IRELAND. Kate's Green Boat parked at Biddys O'Barnes Pub County Donegal. Many Hen and Stag Parties were in this boat for their group photo which was then enlarged, framed and presented to the groom or bride to be as a 'thank you' to them for visiting the pub. All still hanging in the halls of the pub.
Lough Mourne Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. The Blue Stack Mountains, also called the Croaghgorms (In Irish, na Cruacha Gorma, meaning "the blue stacks"), are the major mountain range in the South of County Donegal, Ireland. They provide a barrier between the south of the county, such as Donegal Town and Ballyshannon, and the towns to the north and west such as Dungloe and Letterkenny. The road between the two parts of the county goes through the Barnesmore Gap.
Cashelnavean Barnesmore County Donegal Ireland. The River Derg flows into Lough Mourne.
Keadew Bridge Barnesmore County Donegal County Donegal. If there was no rain there would be no rainbows.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. Croaghconnellagh (Conells Mountain) Barnesmore Gap, County Donegal Ireland. On Fire After Sunset
Barnesmore County Donegal Ireland. The walk from Altnapaste to the top of Barnesmore. The scenery is varied and spectacular! Mountains, mist, rivers, waterfalls, old stone homes, walls and sheep.
Barnesmore Gap County Donegal Ireland. Lough Carn keeps company with Lough Mourne. The Croaghonagh Bog Special Area of conservation which supports some of the best examples of wet lowland blanket bog in the county is in the foreground. The site adjoins two good examples of oligotrophic lake habitat namely Lough Mourne and Lough Carn.
