Oldtown, Letterkenny


Oldtown is a district of Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, located in the parish of Conwal and Leck to the south of the River Swilly. As its name suggests, it is the oldest part of Letterkenny and was the starting point of the area's development, though it existed before Letterkenny itself.
Oldtown is bordered by Creeve to the west and by Lismonaghan to the south. It may be entered from central Letterkenny on its northern flank via the Oldtown Bridge or Devlin Way. The Rail Bridge is currently disused, and the only remaining evidence of Oldtown railway station.
Oldtown has a weak range of essential services with the area being limited to green spaces within housing developments; facilities serving the area are primarily located in the town centre rather than in the Oldtown neighbourhood itself.

History

Oldtown existed as a Native Irish settlement before the plantation of Ulster, which saw Patrick Crawford develop the market town on the other side of the Swilly at the Oldtown Bridge. The early inhabitants of the Oldtown spoke Gaelic and their main food source came from fishing the Swilly estuary which flowed up to Conwal Cemetery; they also raised livestock on the hillside where Leck Graveyard is today.
Oldtown railway station was located on the Letterkenny & Burtonport Extension line. It opened on 9 March 1903 before finally closing for passengers and goods on 6 January 1947. There is no evidence of the station in existence today, a hotel occupies the site. However, an old rail bridge may be seen spanning the River Swilly.
The stone bridge which allows residents passage to the town is appropriately old, but also crumbling.

Administration

Resident representation

The residents' association has a prominence.

Local and national government

resided in the area during his time as a Senator representing the Labour Party. Other politicians with links to the area include Mayors Victor Fisher and Dessie Larkin of Fianna Fáil, as well as Larkin's father James, founder of Independent Fianna Fáil.

Policing and crime

Recorded crime is consistent in Oldtown, notably violent crime and other means have risen. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, assaults by locals on paramedics and hospital workers were reported. Illegal dumping by locals is also a problem.

Demography

Oldtown suffers from overpopulation issues.

Amenities and business

Residents may purchase their bread, milk and toiletries at Oldtown Stores. Old Dunnes, the nearest department store to the area, is located on the opposite side of the Oldtown Bridge.
Former industries in the Oldtown include the Model Bakery, where the local children would gather to be fed free buns. There was also the Gaeltex Factory. Charlie Devlin had a mobile shop. Current employers in the area include Dunnes Stores, NowDoc, Jungle King and The Hide Out Bar, which was established in the 19th century. The pub was redeveloped in 2008 and was awarded the most improved public house by the then Minister for the Environment, John Gormley. However, its new owner John G. Larkin, had ties with Dessie Larkin, the Fianna Fáil mayor and councillor. The pub was later renamed The Snug.
A fire occurred at the Model Bakery in April 2020.

Religious institutions

Old Leck Church is situated in Oldtown, as is the adjacent Old Leck Graveyard. The nearby New Leck Graveyard, which alongside Conwal Cemetery houses the town's dead, is also located within Oldtown.

Education

The nearest primary school is Scoil Colmcille. Secondary education for young men is provided by St Eunan's College, girls are sent to the nuns at the local convent and a "vocational school" is also available, though each is a significant walking distance from the area. Some residents have also taken posts as teachers in the local primary and secondary schools.

Notable people

Clubs

;Soccer
;GAA
The nearest Gaelic football club to Oldtown is St Eunan's.
;Golf
Golfing facilities opened in 1913 on a 47-acre nine-hole course at Crievesmith. The course was sold in 1965 for £3000 and the club moved to its current home at Barnhill. Due to the area's growing population the land was developed into housing at the turn of the 21st century.

Localities and housing

The area contains approximately 600 residential properties.
Residential areas include Brookcourt, Luí Na Gréine and Ros Suilighe.
The Jim Larkin Court and Gaeltex Drive blocks of flats are regarded as having a serious lack of facilities. They have no play area for children and families run the risk of having one of their children seriously injured or killed by a passing car.
McNeely Villas, developed by Con Harvey and named in honour of the then recently deceased Bishop of Raphoe William MacNeely, was built in 1969 and opened the following year. Originally comprising 40 houses, four others were later added. One resident, Margaret Doherty, was renowned for pursuing the local council to "make sure things were done right". At its fiftieth anniversary in 2020, one third of the original residents still lived there.