Convoy, County Donegal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Convoy
Conmhaigh
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Village
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Convoy's main street
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 Convoy
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Barony | Raphoe South |
| Dáil Éireann | Donegal |
| Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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1,702 |
| Irish Grid Reference | C216014 |
Convoy (in Irish: Conmhaigh, which means "plain of hounds") is a lovely village in the east of County Donegal, Ireland. It's located in the Finn Valley area. The village sits on a small river called the Burn Dale (also known as the Burn Deele). You can find Convoy on the R236 road that leads to Raphoe.
In 2022, about 1,702 people lived in Convoy. This village, like many nearby towns, started during the Plantation of Ulster. Convoy is special because it has a mix of different religious communities. This mix is seen in the schools and churches around the village.
Contents
Schools and Churches in Convoy
Convoy has both a Catholic primary school and a mixed primary school. For older students, there are no secondary schools in Convoy. Most local teenagers travel to nearby Raphoe or Stranorlar for their high school education.
The village is home to several churches. You'll find a Catholic church, often called 'the Chapel'. There's also a Church of Ireland church, a Presbyterian Church, a Reformed Presbyterian Church, and a Free Presbyterian Church. The Free Presbyterian Church was even opened by its founder, The Rev. Ian Paisley.
The Burn Dale River
The Burn Dale is a small river, also known as the Burn Deele. It flows along the southern edge of Convoy. A "burn" is just another word for a small stream or river, especially in Scotland and parts of Ireland.
History of Convoy
Convoy has an interesting past, especially with its old woollen mill and a historic house.
The Old Woollen Mill
Convoy used to have a busy woollen mill. It was built right next to the Burn Dale river. This mill provided many jobs for people in the village. However, it closed down in the early 1980s. This meant many people lost their jobs. Today, the old woollen mill building is used as a business area. It was helped by a former government body called FÁS.
Convoy House and the Montgomery Family
Convoy House has a long history with the Montgomery family. This family came from Scotland. Alexander Montgomery, who passed away around 1658, was brought to Ireland by his relative, George Montgomery. George became the first Protestant Bishop of Raphoe in 1604.
Later, in 1719, another Alexander Montgomery bought the Convoy estate. Boyton House, which is part of the estate, was first lived in by Robert Montgomery's family in 1807. Robert had inherited the estate from his cousin, Sandy Montgomery. Sandy was a well-known person who represented Donegal in Grattan's Parliament for many years.
Sandy Montgomery had a famous brother named Richard Montgomery. Richard was a general in George Washington's army during the American Revolution. He sadly passed away during the siege of Quebec in 1775. Convoy House once held a letter that George Washington wrote to the family after Richard's death. The house also had records showing how the Montgomery family bought large amounts of meat to give to people in Convoy during the Great Famine. The house later passed to the Boyton family through marriage in the 1800s.
Getting Around Convoy
Convoy is connected to other towns by bus and used to have a train station.
Bus and Train Services
You can catch Bus Éireann buses from Convoy. These buses go to places like Derry, Letterkenny, and Strabane. They run several times a day, but not on Sundays.
Convoy also had its own railway station. It opened on January 1, 1909. However, it closed down on January 1, 1960. Today, the closest working train station is in Derry. It's called Waterside Station. From there, you can travel to Coleraine, Belfast Lanyon Place, and Belfast Grand Central station.
Sports in Convoy
Sports are a big part of life in Convoy, with local clubs for Gaelic football and soccer.
Gaelic Games
Convoy is close to Donegal GAA's main training facility. This facility is known as the "centre of excellence" and is located at Milltown.
The local Gaelic football club is called Naomh Mhuire Conmhaigh. It was started in 1928. Players for this club come from Convoy, Drumkeen, and Raphoe. Their home pitch is right in Convoy. The club has won several junior titles over the years.
Soccer
Convoy also has a local amateur soccer team called Convoy Arsenal. This club has had a lot of success. They won the Donegal Junior League in 2003. The next year, in 2004, they won the Division One title. In 2005, they were runners-up in the premier division. After that, Convoy Arsenal joined the Ulster Senior League in 2005. They also have teams for younger players in the Donegal Saturday League.
See also
In Spanish: Convoy (Donegal) para niños
