tury. by the O~Sgingins, hereditary historians of Tir Chonaill. The property passed by marriage to the O'Cle!"y family and Michael O'C:cary, chief of the Four Masters, was born there aLout 1580. Two miles north of Rossnowlagh on the main road is the old church of Ki1barron. The original Church of St. Barron was founded about A.D. s.15, but the present ruin dates probably, from the 13th or 14th century. BALLINTRA Seven mGes along the main Ballyshannon-Donegal road lies Ballintra (Baile an tSratha, the Town of the Ho:m) nestling in a valley surrounded by low rounded hills denoting to the geologist that it is typical "drumlin" country. There are three churches. St. Brigid's Catholic Church was built in 1845. It has been much improved in recent years by renovation to the ceiling and walls of the sanch.ary a~d the fitting of new windows to the entire building wnh the stretch of beautiful strand. 6n. the in:and side of Ballintra to the south and east are numerous lakes of much interest to the angler. "Tlie PuJans," a short distance from the village, is a wel~-known beauty spot. There 1s an undere-round river of petrify.. ing qualities and several large eaves. The surrounding woods contain many grand old trees. The residence in the grounds, B:-ownhall, has been occupied by the Hamiltons since 16B7. The river (the Blackwater), which flows through the demense forms a pretty watedall in a leafy ho:- low at Aghadu1lagh old mill, 300 yards east of the village. Close by the rive1~ courses tom of a remarkab:e ft. deep. at the botchasm, 60 Antiquities - A r d Fothadh (also McGonigle's Fort), is a remarkable ancient fort lying 2 miles from Bal~intra. A sepulchre discovered is believed to be the burial place of Hugh Mac Ainmire a Gth century high king of Ir~land. Drumholme Church of which on:y the east wall is exception of the tower. · still .standing is situated at the The present Protestant Church base of Mullinacross Hill, 2 miles was built in 1793 and the tower from the vi~lage. Rath Cunga was added in 180-l. The Method· !now known as Racoo) half a ist Church dates from 1897 and ~ile south of Ballintra, is the ~eplaces - an older and smaller site of a monastery founded by one, now t!ie, meeting place of the St. Patrick about the year 440. local ha<iminton c:ub, immed- On the west slope -0f Lurgan iatelv behind it. Carn ( 492 ft.) three miles from A much-needed new hall was Bal:intra, a~e the remains of a added to the village in 1937. Here wedge-shaped megalithic tomb. the bi-month:y 'District Court There is a an extensive view sits and dances and parochial f;,"om the top of the hill. Another concerts are held. megalithic tomb may be seen in The coast is two miles away nt ]\.furvagh, where the wnters Ballymagroarty Scotch townland. of Donegal B:lv flow in on a long one mile from the village. 345.
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