TEMPLECROAN, a parish, in the barony of BOYLAGH,
county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER;
containing, with the post-town of Dungloe and the
islands of Arranmore and Rutland (which are separately
described), 8198 inhabitants. The parish is
situated on the north-western coast, and is bounded on
the north by the Gwidore river; it comprises, according
to the Ordnance survey, 52,921 statute acres, of
which 989½ are in the tideway of the Gwidore, and
2896 in lakes. Within its limits is the greater part of
the district called "the Rosses," consisting of a dreary
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wilderness of rugged mountain wastes and heaths
broken on the west into abrupt rocky heights, and including
many islands separated by inlets of the sea.
Some of these islands are thinly covered on the summits
with moss and heath, and a few present specimens
of verdure produced by cultivation; Arranmore,
the largest, forms a shelter for the rest and a barrier
against the western ocean. On the shores of Cruit grows
a kind of long and broad-leaved grass having a saline
taste, which the cattle readily feed on at ebb tide. The
district is unfavourable either for grazing or tillage;
the produce raised is inconsiderable and there is often
a scarcity of food. Throughout the parish agriculture
is in a very backward condition, the greater portion of
the land consisting of sands, mountain rocks, and bog:
the mountain of Crovehy rises 1033 feet above the level
of the sea. Indications of iron ore may be observed in
the precipitous face of the mountains. Petty sessions
are held at Dungloe, at which place there is a constabulary
police station. The living is a rectory and vicarage,
in the diocese of Raphoe, and in the patronage of
the Marquess of Conyngham; the tithes amount to
£235. The glebe-house was erected by aid of a gift of
£100, in 1763, from the late Board of First Fruits;
the glebe comprises 815 acres, valued at £152.16.3.
per ann. The church is a small plain building, erected
in 176O by aid of a gift of £400 from the same Board.
In the R. C. divisions this parish forms part of the
union or district of Lettermacward, and is partly a district
in itself: it contains three good, plain, slated
chapels, one at Dungloe belonging to Lettermacward;
the others in Arranmore and Kincaslagh, belonging to
Templecroan. There are two parochial schools, situated
at Dungloe and Carrenbuoy, aided by annual donations
from Col. Robertson's fund and from the rector, who
also contributes to the support of two schools at Maghera
and Dungloe: in these schools are about 160
children. There are also six private schools, in which
are about 120 children. A dispensary is supported at
Dungloe. Here are the ruins of the ancient castle of
Dungloe, near which have been brought up out of the
sea several brass cannon, bearing the Spanish arms,
said to have belonged to the Armada.