Buncrana

Seaside resort in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland; population (2002) 3,400. It is situated on the eastern shore of Lough Swilly, about 23 km/14 mi northwest of the city of Londonderry. Industries include the manufacture of clothing and textiles.

Grianán of Aileach, a circular stone fort, is situated on Greenan Mountain (245 m/803 ft) 18 km/11 mi south of Buncrana. Construction dates differ between 1700 BC and 5 BC. The site of a 7th-century AD monastery containing St Mura's Cross, embellished with Celtic art and now a national monument is situated at Fahan, 7 km/5 mi from Buncrana. Other remains from the monastery, including a bell and a staff, are in museum collections in Dublin and London, England. In the 18th century the town was an English garrison. During the 1798 rising, Wolfe Tone was brought to Buncrana after he was captured from the French ship Hoche during a naval battle in Lough Swilly.

Buncrana was the largest centre of textile and clothing manufacture in Donegal and is now home to the Irish National Knitting Centre. There is a vintage-car museum and, at nearby Fort Dunree, a coastal-defence battery has been restored as a naval and military museum. The three-mile-long Lisfannon Strand beach extends to the south of Buncranna.