Horn Head facts for kids
Horn Head (in Irish: Corrán Binne) is a beautiful peninsula. It means "Hollow in the Hills." You can find it in Donegal, in the North West of Ireland. It is very close to a town called Dunfanaghy. This area is also part of Sheephaven Bay.
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Exploring Horn Head's Ancient Past
Horn Head is a special place with many old remains. These show us how people lived long, long ago. You can find Neolithic stone circles here. These are circles made of large stones. There are also different kinds of ancient tombs. These include court tombs and passage tombs. These were used for burials in prehistoric times. You can also see very old field boundaries. These show where people farmed thousands of years ago.
Horn Head: A Home for Amazing Seabirds
The cliffs at Horn Head are very tall. They rise straight out of the ocean. They are about 180 meters (600 feet) high. These cliffs are a super important home for many seabirds. These birds come here to lay their eggs and raise their young. Some of the birds you might see are the European shag and the razorbill. Because it's so important for nature, Horn Head is a special protected area. The Irish government has named it a Natural Heritage Area. It is also a safe place for animals, especially seabirds. It is called a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation.
McSwyne's Gun: A Natural Wonder
On the west side of Horn Head, there is a cool natural feature. It is called McSwyne's Gun. This is a blow hole. During big storms, ocean water used to shoot up very high. It could go up to 60 to 90 meters (200-300 feet)! The sound it made could be heard ten miles away. It was like a giant gun firing. It still works today, but it is not as dramatic as it used to be. It is important to be careful near blow holes. Sadly, some people have gotten too close and fallen in.
Horn Head House: A Historic Building
Horn Head House is a very old building. Locals sometimes call it the Landlord's House. It stands on the side of Horn Head that faces Sheephaven Bay. A man named Captain Charles Stewart bought the land in 1700. He fought in a famous battle called the Battle of the Boyne. He asked William Wray to build the house in 1701. At that time, it was the biggest house in the Dunfanaghy area. Captain Stewart was an important person. He was the High Sheriff of Donegal in 1707 and 1708. The Stewart family lived in Horn Head House until 1935. Many members of the family were also High Sheriffs. The house has been empty since 1935.
Lookout Towers: Watching the Coast
Horn Head has the remains of two old lookout towers. One tower is from the time of the Napoleonic Wars. The other is from World War II. These towers were used to watch the sea. From them, you can see the huge Atlantic Ocean. You can also see Tory Island in the distance. They were important for protecting the coast.
