|
|
When the fashionistas
flocked to Moville...
20.08.08
MOVILLE'S importance as
a fashionable tourist destination in Victorian times
has been highlighted in a series of brochures
marking the heritage towns of Donegal, which were
launched at the weekend.
Among some of the heritage sites highlighted in the
brochure are the Bath Green and Montgomery Terrace
areas of Moville while the Customs Houses and
Coastguard Station have also been highlighted.
The brochures were produced by the County Donegal
Heritage Office of Donegal County Council to raise
awareness of the architectural and archaeological
heritage of the county’s ‘Heritage Towns,’ which
also include Ardara, Ballyshannon, Ramelton and
Raphoe. |
 |
“The ‘Heritage Town’
concept is based on the principle that a number of
towns with a strong physical character and built
heritage would be developed as being representative
of the heritage of Ireland,” said Joseph Gallagher,
County Donegal Heritage Officer.
“It was intended that the designation of ‘Heritage
Towns’ |
would have the dual
effect of helping to conserve the built environment
of these towns and of promoting these towns.”
Speaking on behalf of Donegal County Council, Cllr.
Sean McEniff highlighted the need to conserve the
historic built environment of the ‘Heritage Towns’.
“One of the greatest challenges facing us is the
conservation of heritage resources,” he said.
“Development pressures and streetscape changes in
our towns and villages in recent years have placed
aspects of our architectural and built heritage
under threat.”
Cllr. McEniff noted that there were less than 80
Protected Structures in total in all five of the
‘Heritage Towns’ and stressed that Donegal County
Council was committed to giving the county’s
architectural heritage the recognition and statutory
protection it deserves.
The series of bilingual brochures on the ‘Heritage
Towns of County Donegal’ include an individual
brochure on each of the five ‘Heritage Towns’ and a
general brochure. The brochures set out a heritage
trail for each of the ‘Heritage Towns’ with a
selection of built and cultural heritage sites along
it.
The Moville ‘Heritage Town’ brochure highlights the
emigration theme as Moville was a regular point of
departure for ships en route from Derry to America,
Canada and Scotland.
Among some of the heritage sites highlighted in the
brochure are the Bath Green and Montgomery Terrace
which emphasise the importance of Moville as a
fashionable tourist destination in Victorian times
and the Customs Houses and Coastguard Station that
highlight the built maritime heritage of the town.
The brochures also profile some of the architectural
and ecclesiastical structures in Moville and notes
that Moville in Woodbury County, Iowa, U.S.A. was
named after its Donegal ancestor.
The Heritage Officer highlighted the important
contribution of local people (especially local
historians and heritage groups) and of his
colleagues in the County Archives, County Library
and County Museum to the preparation of the
brochures. If you would like copies of the ‘Heritage
Towns of County Donegal’ brochures, they are
available free-of-charge from the County Donegal
Heritage Office on (074) 917 2576 or by e-mail at
heritage@donegalcoco.ie . The brochures will
also be available in local libraries, museums and
heritage centres within the next two weeks. (Story:
Inishowen Independent) |
|
