An area of outstanding natural beauty that is also steeped in history - from ancient Gaelic Ireland, through the Victorian era of landlordism, and into the present day.
Visitors to the area are often surprised by how much heritage sits in
plain sight - in field corners, at the end of farm lanes, and along the shore.
Prehistory
Ancient Sites
Standing stones, ringforts and souterrains scattered across the townlands around the bay, most of them unmarked and unfenced, sitting in working farmland.
Early Christian
Holy Wells
Wells still visited on their pattern days, with rounds walked and rags tied to the thorn. St Colmcille's and St Davaddog's are among the best known in Fanad.
Gaelic Ireland
Moross Castle
The remains of a MacSweeney stronghold on the west shore, reached by a short walk off the Cranford road.
16th century
Doe Castle
A MacSweeney na dTuath tower house on a spit in Sheephaven Bay, moated on three sides by the sea and one by a rock-cut ditch.
Victorian era
The Earls of Leitrim
The Clements family shaped Milford, Carrigart and much of the shoreline - and the third Earl's assassination at Cratlagh Wood in 1878 made news across Europe.
1917
SS Laurentic
An armed merchant cruiser lost to mines off Fanad Head with gold bullion aboard. Much was recovered; the wreck is now a landmark dive.
Penal times
Mass rocks
Mass rocks - open-air altars used when Catholic worship was outlawed under the Penal Laws - survive in hidden hollows around the bay. Local memory kept their locations long after they stopped being needed.
Several sites around Mulroy Bay are still known and pointed out locally, and the
holy wells nearby have kept their pattern days into living memory.
Visiting heritage sites responsibly
Many of these sites sit on private, working farmland. Ask permission where there is
someone to ask, close gates behind you, keep dogs on leads, and take nothing but photographs.
Ancient monuments are legally protected - please do not climb on or disturb them.
History, and somewhere to sleep after it
The heritage sites are spread right around the bay. Base yourself anywhere on the loop.
