History Trail

Click here to download your FREE history trail booklet! or call in to Pettigo Tourist Office to collect a printed copy

	Sir Sydney Barton 1876 - 1946. Sidney Barton was a particularly brilliant student and became a diplomat. He took part in the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900 and was awarded the China Medal. He compiled a ... Read on 01 Nov 2007
	Robert Childers Barton (1881-1975) Robert C. Barton was an Irish lawyer, statesman and farmer who participated in the negotiations leading up to the signature of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. He was a cousin of Robert Erskine ... Read on 31 Oct 2007
	Bishop Miler Mc Grath & Mc Grath’s Castle. Born at Altruadin, near Pettigo, Miler McGrath became a Franciscan Friar and later journeyed to Rome and was made Roman Catholic bishop of Down and Connor. Later he became the first Church ... Read on 30 Oct 2007
	John Kells Ingram John Kells Ingram - Author of “Who fears to speak of ’98.” 1823 - 1907 Born in Aghnahoo, Pettigo, where his father was the local Church of Ireland curate, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, John Kells Ingram received his BA degree in 1843. He Read on 29 Oct 2007
	Fr. Neal Ryan and “The Quiet Man” film. Reverend Neal Ryan died October 4th 1877 aged 82 years. Was ordained in Maynooth in June 1822 appointed Parish Priest of Pettigo in March 1827 and continued so to his death. Read on 28 Oct 2007
	Fr. Lorcan O’Cieran Author of the political phrase, “Sinn Fein.” 1863-1945. The death of Fr. Lorcan O’Ciarain P.P., Pettigo occurred in the Shiel Hospital, Ballyshannon. A native of Threemilehouse, Co. ... Read on 27 Oct 2007
	Rev. Philip Skelton, 1707-1787. Writer and Philanthropist Rev. Philip Skelton was born near Lisburn in 1707. He was a scholar and prolific writer on religious matters. Between 1750 and 1759 he was Church of Ireland ... Read on 26 Oct 2007
	Andrew Barton “Banjo” Patterson Andrew Barton Patterson, poet, journalist, lawyer, jockey, soldier and farmer is one of the best-loved figures of Australian literature. He wrote “Waltzing Matilda”, “The Man from Snowy ... Read on 25 Oct 2007
	Irish War of Independence Memorial. This memorial was erected in 1953 to commemorate four men who died in the invasion of Pettigo on June 4th, 1922. The names on the Memorial are Patrick Flood (Pettigo), William Kearney and ... Read on 24 Oct 2007
	Anna Marie Leavy nee Moss (Painter) Anna Marie was born in Pettigo, Co. Donegal in 1939. She was awarded a scholarship to the National College of Art, Dublin. When she was expecting her first child Anna Marie had to hang up ... Read on 23 Oct 2007
	Pamela (Pam) Barton Open Golf Champion 1917-1943. Pam Barton who was descended from the Waterfoot branch of the Barton family of Pettigo was a famous golfer in the interwar years as also was her sister Mervyn. She was the daughter of ... Read on 22 Oct 2007
	John Reade 1837-1919 Although born in Ballyshannon, John Reade’s parents, Joseph Reade and Mary Smyth came from Pettigo. He emigrated to Canada in 1856 where he became one of the best known Canadian poets of ... Read on 21 Oct 2007
	“French” Tom Barton Famous Wine Merchant. ”French Tom” Barton was born on the 21st of December 1695 at his father’s house at Curraghmore, Pettigo, and was sent to school in Ballyshannon. He emigrated to France and worked as a wine ... Read on 20 Oct 2007
	Pettigo Railway Station and Market Yard. The Great Northern Railway branch line from Bundoran Junction near Kilskeery, Co. Tyrone to Bundoran, Co. Donegal opened in 1866 with the ultimate intention of going on to Sligo. Bundoran ... Read on 19 Oct 2007
	Moya Doherty- Producer of Riverdance. The worldwide Irish dance phenomenon Riverdance had half its origins in Pettigo. Moya Doherty was born in Mill Street, Pettigo, the daughter of Master Doherty the local headmaster of ... Read on 18 Oct 2007
	Pettigo Mill Pettigo owes a great deal of its existence and economic importance to Pettigo Mill. The waterfall to drive a mill was probably the reason why the village grew here rather than at Mc ... Read on 17 Oct 2007
	H. J. Robinson Editor of the Irish Petty Sessions Journal. The Irish Petty Sessions Journal was a monthly paper printed by John Robinson, Pettigo, and published by H. J. Robinson who was clerk of ... Read on 16 Oct 2007
	The Crimean War Tree. The Crimean War Tree was planted by W. F. Barton Esq. J.P., Clonelly in commemoration of the taking of Sebastopol in 1856. The parapet was erected by his son H. Barton Esq. J.P. in 1895. Read on 15 Oct 2007
	Rev. Charles Elliott, D.D 1792- 1869 In 1810 a youthful parochial schoolmaster in Pettigo, Charles Elliott from Ardara, acquired a friendship here which had important repercussions for American Methodism. Read on 14 Oct 2007
	The Termon River. The Termon River rises near Scraghy in Co. Tyrone and flows into Lough Erne at the Waterfoot, about two miles from Pettigo, a total distance of c10 miles. The Erne then flows into the ... Read on 13 Oct 2007
	Basil McIvor - 1928-2004 Basil McIvor (17 June 1928 - 5 November 2004), the son of a Methodist clergyman is seen as a pioneer of integrated education in Northern Ireland. Read on 12 Oct 2007
	Armstrong Family. Pettigo Mr. James Armstrong of Pettigo was a pioneer of the Illawara, New South Wales, Australia, near Sydney - known with affection as “Bedad.” He was a tailor by trade but after arriving in NSW ... Read on 11 Oct 2007
	Pettigo Presbyterian Church On June 3rd, 1852 a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Cooke in Pettigo Presbyterian Church, to aid in liquidating the debt incurred in the erection of their new house of worship. Dr. ... Read on 10 Oct 2007
	Prionsias Dubh Mc Hugh, Highwayman Prionsias Dubh was a gentleman highwayman who flourished in the second half of the 18th century. He is buried here in Carne Graveyard, near Pettigo, the oldest local cemetery. Read on 09 Oct 2007
	John Caldwell Calhoun The Rev. Alexander Calhoun was Vicar of Templecarne Parish, Pettigo from 1698 to 1717 and may be buried in Carne Graveyard. His great grandson, John Caldwell Calhoun was born in South ... Read on 08 Oct 2007
	Templecarne Graveyard Often shortened to Carne this graveyard and former church is one of the most ancient Christian centers in Donegal. A church existed here for hundreds of years and it is recorded on the ... Read on 07 Oct 2007
	Drumawark Millennium Cross This cross was erected to mark the closing of the last Millennium on June 21st 1999 – the longest day of the last year of the Millennium. It replaces an earlier cross which marked the way ... Read on 06 Oct 2007
	The Children of Termon Mount - A Sister’s Love. A famous story from the Pettigo area featured in the school reading books of Ireland for decades. It concerned the death from exposure of two Mc Grath children on Carrigaholten Mountain ... Read on 05 Oct 2007
	Dean Acheson Dean Acheson, descendant of the Achesons of Grouse Lodge, near Pettigo, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. He went to Yale University and Harvard Law School. President Franklin D. ... Read on 04 Oct 2007
	Lettercran National School. Various schools served the Lettercran area until this present building (now a community hall) was opened in 1939. Read on 03 Oct 2007