RAPHOE TOWN

Raphoe town circa 1930. This is a reproduction of a postcard of Raphoe, taken in the early twentieth century, which is in the archive collection.

Location
Raphoe was built as a Plantation Town in the 18th Century. The town is built around the central Diamond with many fine Georgian buildings. The Cathedral at one corner of the Diamond gives Raphoe a traditional claim to being a city. A monastery was built in the 6th century where the Cathedral now stands and earlier settlement is indicated by the nearby Beltany Stone Circle which may be older than Stonehenge. Overall Raphoe has a long history of settlement and of religion. The town is situated close to the border off the main road between Lifford and Letterkenny in Co. Donegal in North West Ireland. It is surrounded by some of the best agricultural land in the county with many farms over 200 acres. It is the commercial and banking centre of the Laggan.