Rathmullan

Rathmullan (Irish: Ráth Maoláin, meaning "Maoláin's ringfort") is a small seaside village on the Fanad Peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland. It is situated on the western shore of Lough Swilly, 11 km north-east of Ramelton and 12 km east of Milford. Rathmullan was the scene of the Flight of the Earls in 1607.

There are also the ruins of a medieval Carmelite Friary in Rathmullan which was built by Eoghan Rua MacSweeney in 1516. The Friary was sacked by the English garrison from Sligo in 1595. In 1607, Rathmullan was also said to have seen the last of the Gaelic Order, most notably the Ó Neills, during the Flight of the Earls to the continent. In 1617 the Friary was occupied by the Protestant Bishop of Raphoe, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Andrew Knox, who turned it into a stronghold during the colonisation of Donegal.

In the 18th century Rathmullan was the location of the capture of Wolfe Tone, a leader of the 1798 Rising. In the 19th century there was an English battery situated near the pier to defend Lough Swilly from a possible invasion of France during the Napoleonic Wars. This battery still stands and today serves as a heritage centre.

Lough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival

The sea is a large part of the lives of the people of Rathmullan and Lough Swilly Deep Sea Fishing Festival held in June is evidence of this. This years 2007 festival took place on Sat 2nd and Sun 3 June.

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Donegal)
• List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland
• List of towns in Northern Ireland