Stranorlar

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Stranorlar (Srath an Urláir in Irish) is a small town in County Donegal which forms one of the "twin towns" of Stranorlar/Ballybofey on either side of the River Finn.

For nearly 100 years, Stranorlar was the headquarters of the County Donegal Railway system (originally, the Finn Valley Railway), with services to Derry and Letterkenny via Strabane (near Castlefin), to Ballyshannon and Killybegs via Donegal, and to Glenties. At its peak the railway had 130 employees. The last train ran from Stranorlar in 1961.

Stranorlar is home to Stranorlar Vocational School and St. Columbas College, both highly rated secondary schools. There is an interesting old Church of Ireland church, the Catholic church of St Mary's, and there are 2 Presbyterian churches. Finn Valley Athletics Club has its track in the town. There is an excellent 18 hole golf course and fine game fishing in the river Finn, and nearby is the Lough Alann bird sanctuary.

There is an old rhyme which goes "Belmafey for drinkin' tae, Stranorlar for drinking brandy."