Donegal Annual 2025 launched to great acclaim in Stranorlar

An enthusiastic crowd gathered in Kee’s Hotel, Stranorlar last Wednesday night to celebrate the launch of the Donegal Annual 2025, a publication that continues to shine as a beacon of local heritage and scholarship.

The event was formally opened by Retired Colonel Declan O’Carroll, setting a fittingly respectful and celebratory tone for what was a memorable evening.

Now in its remarkable 77th year, the Donegal Annual, edited by Culdaff historian Sean Beattie, remains a cornerstone of County Donegal’s cultural and historical landscape.

Published by the County Donegal Historical Society, the 2025 edition is packed with 21 fascinating articles and over 70 photographs, covering everything from the ancient churches of Inishdooey to industrial sites like the Glentown Slate Quarry in St Johnston.

Founded in 1946 by the late JCT MacDonagh, the Society has for nearly eight decades played a pivotal role in preserving Donegal’s history. Its mission to “record and preserve the county’s past” continues to bring together people of all backgrounds and traditions in a shared celebration of heritage. Through its many activities – field days, lectures, seminars, school competitions, and more – the Society has awakened a growing public interest in local studies and created an invaluable platform for academic and community collaboration.

At the launch, contributors and local historians gathered in celebration. Highlights included articles by Marianne O’Kane Boal on the Drumkeelan mines, Dr. Peter Childs on Ramelton’s chemical works, and John Holmes’ history of Glentown Slate Quarry. Lulu Chesnutt moved many with her piece From Kilcar to China: A Mission Journey, telling the remarkable story of her great-aunt, Dr Eleanor Chesnutt.

Contributions also delved into literary heritage, including Helen Meehan’s exploration of the unpublished poems of Ethna Carbery, and Anthony Begley’s tribute to Ballyshannon’s beloved poet William Allingham on the 200th anniversary of his birth.

This year’s edition also brings attention to maritime history, with articles from Patrick O’Donovan and Vincent Breslin on the tragic sinking of the HMS Wasp off Tory Island.

The editor, Dr Seán Beattie, offers a particularly evocative study of the ancient church at Malin Well, while other academic highlights include Dr Peter Wilson’s research on Ordnance Survey huts on Sliabh Sneacht and Tom Cannon’s deep dive into medieval Donegal.

Several contributors, including Dr Megan McAuley, Dr Brian Lacey, Dr Matthew Potter, and Dr Joachim Fischer, offer engaging perspectives ranging from children’s folklore to medieval ecclesiastical architecture, and even a rare translated travel account of Donegal from 1853, which sheds new light on the legacy of Lord George Hill.

The Annual also includes a full Bibliography of Donegal publications from 2024, carefully compiled by Úna Mathewson and her team at Donegal County Library, making the edition an essential academic resource.

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Whether you’re a lifelong resident of Donegal, a member of the diaspora looking to reconnect with your roots, or a scholar of Irish history, the Donegal Annual offers something unique and enduring. It is not just a journal, it is a vital cultural document that brings to life the voices, stories, and landscapes of Donegal.

Copies of the Donegal Annual 2025 are available now in local bookshops and online through the Society’s website, www.donegalhistory.ie, priced at €25.