Ramelton

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Ramelton is a town in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Population (2002 Census), 1051.

Ramelton (Gaelic: Ráth Mealtain) is situated at the mouth of the River Lennon, 11km north of Letterkenny and 4km east of Milford on the western shores of Lough Swilly. The town is named from Ráth Mealtain, 'the fort of Mealtan', an early Irish chieftain. The fort is said to lie under the ruins of a medieval castle of the O'Donnells, the ruling family of West Donegal before their exile to Europe in 1607.

Ramelton was settled by English and Scots Planters during the Ulster Plantation of the 17th century and is the site of the oldest Presbyterian church in Ireland.

The town was the setting for the 1995 television program "The Hanging Gale", which told of the Potato Famine of the 19th century. The town has hosted the Lennon Festival since 1970. It is the birthplace of Francis Makemie, often referred to as the founder of Presbyterianism in the United States; the great Glasgow Celtic footballer Patsy Gallacher, and All Blacks captain Dave Gallaher.

Ramelton has a large number of public houses (many of ill repute); combining this with a chronic lack of intelligence has resulted in sporadic violence and many unwanted pregnancies.

Ramelton is a Bord Fáilte designated Heritage Town.