Ardara, County Donegal Explained

Ardara
Settlement Type:	Town
Pushpin Map:	Ireland
Pushpin Label Position:	right
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location in Ireland
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Ireland
Subdivision Type1:	Province
Subdivision Name1:	Ulster
Subdivision Type3:	County
Subdivision Name3:	County Donegal
Leader Title1:	Dáil Éireann
Leader Name1:	Donegal
Unit Pref:	Metric
Population As Of:	2016
Population:	732
Population Density Km2:	auto
Population Footnotes:	^[1]
Coordinates:	54.7667°N -8.4°W
Elevation Footnotes:	^[2]
Elevation M:	45
Blank Name:	Irish Grid Reference

Ardara (; ^[3]) is a small town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located on the N56 and R261 roads. The population as of the 2016 census was 732.^[1] The population of 731 at the 2011 Census represented an increase of about 30% since 2006.^[4] In 2012, The Irish Times named it the best village in which to live in Ireland.^[5]

History

The Donegal County Directory for 1862 shows the administrative positions that were held in the county in that year, including several in Ardara.^[6] There is a photograph of Brendan Behan in Ardara with a glass of tomato juice while visiting Gildea's (now the Beehive) in 1960.^[7]

Notable people

• Bibi Baskin, television personality^[8]
• Damian Diver, Gaelic footballer^[9]
• John Doherty, musician^[10]
• Eileen Flynn, Traveller activist and Senator^[11]
• Martin Gavigan, Gaelic footballer^[12]
• Paddy McGrath, Gaelic footballer
• Anthony Molloy, captained Donegal in their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title-winning season in 1992
• Pat Shovelin, Donegal goalkeeping coach in their second All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title-winning season in 2012^[13]

See also

• List of populated places in Ireland
• Market Houses in the Republic of Ireland

External links

• Local news and information on Ardara

Notes and References

1. Web site: Census 2016 Sapmap Area: Settlements Ardara . . 4 January 2020.
2. https://www.fallingrain.com/world/EI/06/Ardara.html Maps, Weather, and Airports for Ardara, Ireland
3. Web site: Ard an Rátha/Ardara . Placenames Database of Ireland . . 6 March 2017.
4. Web site: Population Classified by Area . 53 . . Apr 2012 . 6 March 2017.
5. News: 'Best place is where you and your family flourish'. 3 March 2018. The Irish Times. 18 June 2012.
6. Web site: Donegal County Directory, 1862.
7. News: Breandan. MacSuibhne. The summer Brendan Behan staycationed in Donegal. Sunday Independent. 2 August 2020. 2 August 2020.
8. News: Ingle . Róisín . 2021-07-10 . Bibi Baskin: ‘I would like to meet more than four people in the next 12 months’ . 2024-05-14 . Irish Times.
9. News: Chris. McNulty. Meet the new backroom boys. Donegal News. 27 September 2013. 27 September 2013. McGuinness had hoped to bring him in as a defensive coach, but the Ardara native ultimately couldn't commit at the time..
10. Web site: Johnny Doherty (1900-1980) . 2024-05-14 . Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann . en-GB.
11. Web site: McLaughlin . Rachel . 2020-06-28 . Ardara woman makes history as first female Traveller in Oireachtas . 2024-05-14 . Donegal Daily . en-US.
12. Web site: 2012-09-21 . Walking in the giant footsteps of Molloy and Gavigan . 2024-05-14 . www.donegallive.ie . en.
13. Web site: 2019-04-05 . GAA stars gather in Ardara to celebrate life of Pat Shovelin . 2024-05-14 . Ocean FM . en-US.