Chapter 67 : Ballyshannon, Ireland’s Oldest Town

Barry Sweeny is a local artist and was recently elected to Donegal County Council. When we got to Ballyshannon, everybody we met said that Barry was the man to show us around the town and tell us about it's history which dates back further than the pyramids!
And we weren't disappointed. Barry told us about the first settlers, the poet William Allingham and one of the World's most renowned guitarists Rory Gallagher. He also took us to the famine grave where more than 1,000 people are buried And told us about that sad chapter in the town's history. He continued with the Battle of Ballyshannon where the Irish, aided by survivors of the Spanish Armada drove the British Army from the town.
Finalily he told us about the fascinating connection that the town has with Dracula and Frankenstein!!

[@elizaphe58]

Rory Gallagher brilliant artist! I saw him in Manchester back in 1974!

[@carolineflanagan6855]

My mother was from Falcarragh Donegal beautiful place, warm and friendly people, great memories from 60s and 70s every summer

[@daviemcf]

Nice wee video Barry....thanks very much.

[@eamonndawson5329]

Great video and history 👍

[@fritzburbank935]

Great video. I just discovered thru ancestry DNA a cousin from there who reached out to me in the USA. Hope to visit someday.

[@trevorhoward2505]

good job...i enjoyed that

[@tonymcguinness4262]

Hi from South Africa. I was there back in 2004, delightful place.

[@carolineflanagan6855]

fascinating

[@josephinediplacito2700]

Visited with Maguires from Rathglass near Bundoran. Happy memories of holidays in Bundoran and spending time with my relations the Maguires

[@geraldgallagher6581]

My dad comes from ballyshannon I've never been there I'd love to go my dad's name was Joseph gallagaher

[@luffyRTS]

Every time I’m in Bally Shannon it’s to get jr’s which is a takeaway

[@Spiky2306]

My great X a lot grandad William Conolly is from there he apparently bought the town in his time and was born there would love to go

[@carolineainenibhreithimh7652]

My partner played him during a history walk 😂

[@jailnurse]

I am in the process of buying a house in Ballyshannon.

[@gallowglass2630]

A settkement is not necessarily a town,the oldest town is waterford

[@carolineflanagan6855]

such suffering so tragic to happen to good honest people was it genocide?

[@Fuzzywuzzywasawoman]

Really,I thought mountsandel in colraine northern Ireland,was the first settlers in Ireland,🤔

[@galoglaich3281]

Donegal claiming sligo people .Mona Mc Sharry is from sligo

[@stookiebhoy]

He didn't say she was from Ballyshannon he said she trains in the pool in Ballyshannon cloth ears

[@user-pd9rx4pk9p]

2023 Another invasion. and your playing ball strong men.