Note: there is a slideshow of photographs of the Bog Hotel at the end of this post.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: THE BOG HOTEL

Before I begin, a little about the Bog Hotel for those not familiar with the story behind it. 

Donegal man, Patsy Brogan, has for over four years been entertaining friends and members of the public in the comfort of his shed, welcoming them to his home and provding them with refreshments both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.  His generosity and hospitality has become widespreadly known and as a result he has attracted many visitors, both local and from further afield.

His noteriety eventually lead to his prosecution by Donegal County Council for breach of planning laws and the case came before the District Court in Donegal Town on the 3rd of March 2010 when the Council argued that Mr. Brogan required planning permission for change of use of his shed to a 'bar or lounge'.  However, on hearing the evidence, or lack of evidence, the Judge found that there was no case to answer and added that the situation was "most unusual" but that in recent times it was not uncommon for people to have a bar or lounge in their homes.

So, our trip to the Bog Hotel.
​
After wanting to visit the Bog Hotel for some years, we finally got to visit it yesterday (Sunday, 16th May 2010) after an extensive search for it through the hills of Donegal.  We knew only that it was located somewhere near the village of Frosses in south Donegal.  So we drove into Frosses and took a side road there which led us on a wild goose chase in what turned out to be the totally wrong direction.  Back into Frosses village and out the Glenties road.

I had seen photos of the place in newspapers and so I thought I might spot it as my husband drove along.  After about 5 or so minutes driving, we stopped a lady out walking and asked for directions.  She said to drive for another 10 or 15 minutes and we'd see the lane on our left and we'd find it there.  Well we saw lots of lanes and even drove up a few of them but still couldn't find the Bog Hotel.  Eventually, after an hour or so of driving back and forth and up and down dead end lanes, we decided to head to Glenties to see if anyone could give directions.
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Of course I took the opportunity to get a few photos of this pretty village and it was lucky I did because during taking these photos my camera battery died which would have been extremely frustrating had it happened when we eventually found the Bog Hotel.  Yes, I do carry other cameras but that one is my favourite and I wanted it for the big occasion.

We were getting a tad exasperated, tired and hungry at this stage so, noticing a sign on the wall of the Highlands Hotel advertising fresh chowder, in we went to enjoy some food and a rest and our friendly waitress allowed me to plug in my camera battery charger.

Chowder eaten, camera battery and our batteries recharged, off we set again.  Ouside the hotel I spotted a man smoking and asked him for directions.  He knew the place he said and gave us directions (you can see the directions from Glenties at the end of this post).  His directions were good but probably best if you were familiar with the area.  For us, they worked in that they lead us very close to the Bog Hotel, a nearby farm where the man there told us it was at the end of the the next lane to the right along the road.  I'm nearly sure I heard choirs of Angels singing Alleluija at that point.

We drove up the lane and eventually found the Bog Hotel.  Or what we assumed to be the Bog Hotel.  A shack standing alone at the end of a track.  It has to be said that the surrounds could certainly do with a bit of a tidy up and maybe even a lick of paint.  That said, the whole jumble of the exterior probably adds to the whole attraction of the Bog Hotel.

There were a few cars parked in a totally random fashion around the shed and we figured we at last might really be at the Bog Hotel.  But there were no signs so we couldn't be 100% sure.  We got out of the car and could hear voices coming from within the shed and so approached the door.  I didn't know whether to knock or just enter so I went with the latter.

You know when you step into a fairly dark building from bright sunshine outside?  You can't really see what's there for a few moments?  Well it was like that for a second and in suspended animation too as all conversation immediately ceased and lots of faces, barely seen in the relative darkness within, turned around to see who was coming in. 

I have watched a lot of horror films and have a rather fertile imagination and for a second that fertile imagination ran away with me, screaming into my brain 'hills, miles from anywhere, strange people, trapped, RUN!'. 

​But I got a grip of myself, not to mention a shove from my husband behind me to move on, and we entered the Bog Hotel.  To be greeted by a large German Shepherd dog.  But he just had a little investigation and moved back into the room leaving us free to enter.

Time started up again, conversations resumed and as our eyes adjusted to the dim light within and I could see the place was fairly packed with all manner of people ~ women with babies, kids running around, groups of men, groups of women, couples, you name it.  And everywhere flashes going off as people took photos on cameras and mobile phones, wanting a keepsake of their time in the Bog Hotel.

I recognised Patsy Brogan, the owner, from photographs I'd seen in newspapers and he greeted us in a friendly fashion before resuming his conversation with the people around one of the two large tables where he was holding court, surrounded by guests who were learning all about the history of the Bog Hotel.
At the far end of the room, around an 'L' shaped bar, another crowd of people were gathered, some sitting on high stools, others standing.  We made our way there and as with Patsy, I recognised Daria from the newspapers.  We were offered refreshments and asked for two glasses of Guinness.  I didn't really think it was a gin/tonic/ice with a slice sort of place and so ordered Guinness.  Unfortunately there was no Guinness either so after perusing the random selection on offer, we settled for two bottles of Carlsberg.

We managed to get a corner for ourselves near the bar and over the din of conversation and laughter I could hear an annoying tweeting going on and assumed it was one of those electronic things that make noises when people pass them.  Then it dawned on me the tweeting was real ~ there was actually a nest of baby birds up in the roof beside me.  You couldn't make it up!

The place is sensory overload, packed as it is with a totally eclectic collection of memorabilia, photographs, old tapes, dishes, glasses, furniture and so on.  On one table there was cigarettes, ashtrays, a tub of spread, salt, glasses, and books.  On a series of shelves packed with dishes, there was even a plate with an image of Pope John Paul II.  And a huge photo of Elvis dominated the wall behind me.

On a far wall, behind the stage, yes stage (with a piano and electric organ) was a huge poster of Manchester United.  The furnishing consisted of a random selection of chairs, armchairs, tables, sideboards and cupboards. 

The randomness of the contents goes on: I spotted an old till (firmly set at zero!), a karaoke machine, TVs, old coats, even a safety helmet (for what I have no idea).  Something else made me smile ~ a batch of aftershaves in a glass fronted cupboard with the famous Old Spice taking pride of place.  Yes, the Bog Hotel really is that random.

The atmosphere was better than many a public bar although it is not a public bar even though Patsy calls it 'the best bar in Ireland' and you're certainly made more than welcome.  The guests all chatting freely with total strangers, in a bar that isn't really a bar, a hotel that isn't really a hotel, in the middle of nowhere, and far from reality all bound together by our adventure into the unknown. 

​Even smoking, long banned in bars in Ireland, was allowed.  All around the place there were ashtrays and even, in the way of Donegal wakes of old, loose cigarettes in little piles on one of the tables I assumed for guests to smoke if they so wish. The 'no smoking ban' doesn't apply here in the Bog Hotel where such rules go out the door passing as they do the hoards of people flooding through it.

A word of warning: though the German Shepherd, Benji, is friendly there is another dog in the Bog Hotel, Coby.  Coby is rather elderly and sleeps on an armchair at the side of the bar.  He is cross.  Very cross.  Do not disturb him under any circumstances.  I nearly learned this the hard way when I leaned in too close to photograph him!

In the Bog Hotel even the opening hours defy the norm.  Patsy says guests are welcome there any time, day or night.  Now that said, I can't imagine having the nerve to roll up at 3am but I believe people do.  This man is 72 years of age and when I was speaking to him yesterday he told me that he and Daria had been in Sligo Friday night, Longford Saturday night and had arrived home at 7.30 that morning and hadn't been to bed and still he managed to look as fresh as a daisy and full of life!  He tells people he works 25 hours a day and when asked how he can do 25 hours a day replies 'I work my lunch break'.  I don't know what he's on but I think a lot of us could use some of it.

One thing that comes over across strongly is the huge support for what Patsy did in  and the success of his case.  His back must be red raw with all the claps his back receives not to mention his hearing which really must be affected by the shouts of his guest saying 'well done!'  'great place you have here', 'we love it!' and other such positive acolades.  Patsy is now standing for local election, fully convinced he will sweep the poll I might add.  And judging by the support he was receiving from his guests yesterday, he might just do it.

But before the election comes a much more important date for Patsy and Daria, the 1st of August next, Patsy's 73rd birthday, when they marry.  They met when she visited the Bog Hotel with a group of friends on a day off from her job as a waitress in the Mill Park Hotel in nearby Donegal Town.  Daria is Polish but their wedding will take place here in Donegal Town where not one but two hotels have been booked to accommodate the 2,000 guests expected to attend.
Well, 2000 and two, we now having been invited.
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FOOTNOTES:
1.  Patsy died November 2018 at the age of 82 and as far as I know, Daria and Patsy never married.
2.  I have removed the directions as I am pretty sure that 15 years later, the people who live there don't want people rocking up in search of it.

I stood above the stunning Silver Strand at Malinbeg one very, very hot day in, I think, 2009.  As far as I remember it was Easter time, possibly Easter Sunday.
I was taking photographs of the beautiful horseshoe shaped bay as people parked and walked down to the beach. 

As I stood admiring the view this little tot came into view.  The costume was very bright and drew my eye.  I thought it would make a fabulous photograph and I was far enough away that no-one’s privacy would be invaded.

The trouble was there were others around and I just wanted the little one and the sea and sand.

So I waited.  And waited.  The temperature was going up and I most certainly was not dressed for the hot weather being out on a photo-shoot and not ready for relaxing on the beach.

Each time I got just the wee one into my sights another person would run and land in the shot.  I know I could have photo-shopped anyone else out but I wanted to wait and see if I could get only the child.

Particularly so as there were the cutest little footprints left behind by the child.
My patience eventually paid off and I got the one shot where it was just the child, the sea, sand and the cute footprints.

Later I cropped it and made it into a large 6’ long print, cutting out much of the sea other than the little bit at the shoreline.

Now, possibly 14 years later, the child would be around 16 plus I imagine. 

​And I wondered if, with the power of social media, we could find the child, or the child’s parents to share the photograph with.

So, do YOU know who it is? 

I will be making a presentation of the large print to the child/parents if we find him or her. 

At Sliabh Liag, the highest accessible seacliffs in Europe, standing 1,972 feet, visitors must ALWAYS keep their dog on a lead.

Why?

Here's why.

The sheep there are free to wander the area and some of that area, by definition, is made up of steep cliff edges.  The above photograph shows how near to the edge they can wander.  Inches beyond where that young sheep is skipping along is a huge drop straight on to the rocks and ocean below.

Sheep are easily spooked and a dog running around, even when it is not chasing them, can cause panic.  

When sheep panic, they run. 

Panicking sheep will run.  Just one sheep panicking will set off the others who run scattering around the place.  Those in lamb may abort their lambs.  

All will run to escape their percieved fear of a dog. 

Some way too close to the edge.

And unfortuately some slip and fall almost 2,000 feet to their almost guaranteed death.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE WORST OF IT! ... 

The very worst of your dog being off-lead and spooking sheep at Sliabh Liag is the number of sheep and lambs that slip off the edge, not to their death, but who survive the fall and land on rocks below.

They are almost certainly in agony and will remain that way, abandoned on a cold rocky ground with no hope of resuce.

And there, after days of fear and agony, they will eventually die either from  their injuries or from starvation.

This blog post is by way of an apology to the relatives and friends of those who hailed from the stunning location of An Port on the western coast of County Donegal.

When we first heard about it we were told that there was a village with abandoned cottages and of course our interest was piqued.  Naturally we asked why it was abandoned and the man told us that he thought it was during an Gorta Mór (the Great Hunger or Irish Famine as some know it).

Once we got to it we were amazed and the beautiful old remains there and the stunning views out on to the wild Atlantic Ocean.  

It was added in good faith to our site under the name Famine/Ghost Village.  

And this name comes up first on page one of google for our site a lot of times so we take culpability in part for it becoming, wrongly, known as a 'Famine Village.

We removed this name once notified and after reading a lengthy facebook post from people who knew about the place first hand.

However the name as ascribed by our site was still coming up on page 1 No.1 slot of google so we have left the page name and directed visitors from there to the now updated page entitled AN PORT.​ (Click that link to go to it and view more photographs and information on An Port and directions to it).

Here are some of the comments we read on that facebook post (25th August 2023) which very clearly evidences the fact that An Port is not and never was abandoned during an Gorta Mór (aka The Famine).

“...it was never a famine village it was a thriving fishing community, lived in until at least late 50s. Younger generation just moved or emigrated. Sick and tired of this false image of ghost , famine village.”

“...My next door neighbour was from Port . She went every Sunday evening to visit her relations in Port and that was in the 1960s.”

“It's not a 'post famine village' ... there were fishing families living here in these houses until the 1950s.  People then began to emigrate to England and Scotland to seek work in the post war boom in construction there.”

“Not a "Famine Village", so can people please stop that nonsense. Emigration and the need to be closer to schools, jobs and public services meant that people left these remote townlands for villages like Cashel.”

“Port is not and never was a gost Famine village I visited there often in the fifties.”

“Not a famine village my grandmother lived there.”

To further make amends we have arranged to speak personally with a person who has a great knowledge of the old place and we will be posting about that in the near future.

In the meantime, our unreserved apologies to anyone we upset.

We have taken the information from both the Letterkenny Festival poster and the PRIDE Letterkenny poster and put it all together in day, date, and time order (and included the locations of each).

FRIDAY, 18th AUGUST - LETTERKENNY FESTIVAL BEGINS

GIG-RIG - At McGettigans Hotel, Main Street: STARTS 7.30pm
With:
My Generation
Bagatelle And Friends

SATURDAY 20th August – LETTERKENNY PRIDE DAY

FAMILY FUN & ENTERTAINMENT - 2.30pm
AN GRIANAN THEATRE, Port Road AND MARKET SQUARE
Including:  Fashion show, face painting, arts & crafts, Towards Inclusion Choir, John Ruddy’s “Manny Man”, Broadway Boogie and more.

PRIDE PARADE - Leaves An Grianan Theatre at 4.30pm travelling up the Port Road, along Main Street & finishing at Lower Main Street.

DRAG BINGO with Shania LaRue 6pm - Brewery Bar/The Shack, Market Square

“PRIDE” – 6.30pm - Screening of the film at Century Cinemas, Neil T. Blaney Road.

All evening into the night there is music in the following bars:

MCGINLEYS BAR, Lower Main Street
6pm – 6.30pm – Without Willow
6.40pm – 7.40pm – High Heeled Converse
7.45 pm – 8.45pm – Tanya McCole
8.50pm – 9.40pm – Moya Brennan

THE COTTAGE BAR, Main Street
7pm – 7.45pm – Millie Greene
7.50pm – 8.35pm – Rachel Craig
8.40pm – 9.25pm – Shauna McDaid
9.30pm – 10.15 pm – Larabel
10.20pm – 11.20pm – George Houston

THE BREWERY/THE SHACK, Market Square
9pm – 10pm – Boy M5
10.05pm – 10.55pm – Beni Mihai
11pm – 11.45pm – BANYAY

GIG-RIG (in conjunction with the Letterkenny Festival) – Lower Main Street (outside Library)
7.30pm – 8pm – Darren O’Halloran
8.10pm – 8.40pm – The Ephades
8.45pm – 9.05pm Richard Joke & Fierce Injection
9.15pm – 10pm – Arn
10.10pm – 10.55pm – Mundy
11.05pm – 11.50pm – String Empire
 
PRIDE AFTER PARTY – The Brewery Bar, Market Square – 11pm – late.
 
SUNDAY 21st August – LETTERKENNY FESTIVAL continues

2pm - An Grianan Theatre, Port Road
Face painting, arts & crafts, photo booth, games corner, toddlers corner, cartoon characters.

SOAP BOX DERBY – Starts 2.30pm sharp at the old Grill, Port Road 

PORT ROAD BALL RACE – Follows soap box derby

GIG-RIG: COUNTRY SUNDAY  – Starts 5.30pm Sister Sara’s, Port Road
With;
Hard to Beat
The Wild Rover
Mickey Joe Harte
Limelite
Kathy Durkin
Hugo Duncan
Sinead Black 

You can learn about this interesting Donegal man at the centre and read more about him HERE. 

COPYRIGHT

The worlds first case of copyright law involved Colmcille.

On hearing his old teacher, Finian of Movilla (County Down) had a acquired from Rome St. Jerome's copy of the Bible, Colmcille went there and secretly copied it.  When Finian found out he was furious and demanded Colmcille give it to him.  This was refused and they ended up seeking a decision from the High King of Tara, Diarmaid.  

Diarmaid ruled for Finian, famously saying:

THE LOCH NESS MONSTER

According to St. Adamnan, who wrote about the event some 100 years afterwards, Colmcille had been visiting a Pictish King in 565 AD.  The King lived near the mouth of the River Ness in Scotland. 

Word reached them that nearby a group of Picts were burying one of their own.  The man was said to have been killed by a monster who lived in the river bed there.  When Colmcille heard of this he went with some of his monks to the river and asked one of his monks to enter the water.

Upon entering it the monster appeared and Colmcille made the sign of the cross and banished it forevermore to the Loch.  

Click on any of the images below to enlarge.

Once you have finished inside the centre why not take a walk along the pathway that runs from the centre along the edge of Gartan Lake?  It is a lovely (short) walk with beautiful trees, wild flowers and grasses, and beautiful scenery. 

Up the road from the centre, is a woodland walk.  To get to it turn right when leaving the centre on to the public road, drive up the hill a little until you see a Coilte wood entrance gate (a low, metal gate painted yellow and black).  Inside the gate and to the right you will see a path which you can walk on through the woods.  Take care as there are drops and rough bits on the path. 
​
Another short walk can be accessed from further up the road.  Park at the chapel there and once again enter the low metal Coilte gate to the left of the chapel.  You can walk one of two paths and then reach the Gartan Lake again.

DETAILS

OPENING TIMES: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm (2023 Summertime)
​
Entry fee: Adults €3, Seniors & Students €2, Children €1. 
(Note: the centre is run by volunteers and there is a donation box which you are free to give to but there is absolutely no obligation nor expectation – simply a choice).
 
Your fee includes

• An (optional) information video which lasts around 20 minutes and is hugely informative and worth watching.  
• A tour of the centre is once again optional and take around 15 minutes.
• Wander at will around the exhibits taking as much time as you need.

  
Wheelchair access: Yes (and facilities)
(There is a small mezanine floor which is not accessible).

Parking: Yes (no charge).

Contact: Tel 00353 71 91 37 306

​

Read more and view lots of photographs from previous years:

2016 - https://www.welovedonegal.com/blog/sandras-run
2017 - https://www.welovedonegal.com/blog/sandras-run-2017
THE HOMECOMING https://www.welovedonegal.com/blog/sandras-run-the-homecoming
2020 MEMORIES COLLAGE
https://www.welovedonegal.com/blog/sanras-run-memories-collage
2022
https://www.welovedonegal.com/blog/sandras-run-2022 ​

~ Bundoran
~ Carrickfinn
~ Culdaff, Inishowen
~ Downings
~ Fintra, Killybegs
~ Killahoey (Dunfanaghy)
~ Marble Hill (Dunfanaghy)
~ Murvagh (nr. Donegal Town)
~ Naran (Narin)
~ Portsalon. Fanad
~ Rossnowlagh
~ Stroove (Shroove), Inishowen 

Donegal has been awarded two Blue Flag Marina Awards 2023:

~ Greencastle, Inishowen
~ Rathmullan.

CRITERIA: "The Blue Flag is an international environmental award made to beaches and marinas throughout the world that demonstrate good environmental standards and have good sanitary and safety facilities. The award is made by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an independent non-profit organisation."

Donegal has been awarded four Green Coast Awards 2023: 
​
~ Ballyheirnan, Fanad
~ Dooey, Lettermacaward
~ Drumnatinney, Ballyness Bay, Falcarragh
~ Magheroarty 

CRITERIA: "The Green Coast Award is to recognise beaches of high environmental quality. The award is for beaches which have excellent water quality, but which are also prized for their natural, unspoilt environment. Applicant sites must be managed in partnership with the local community to be considered for the Green Coast Award. The programme is supported by the Department of the Housing, Local Government and Heritage."

​(Click on any of the photographs to enlarge).

“The most distressing thing is that this should not have happened at all.”  The coroner, Dr. McGinley.

Earlier in the day the local garda sergeant had been informed but for some reason ignored advice all gardai were given at the time: "Whenever a report that an explosive article has been washed ashore is received by a Garda Station, the member in charge will immediately take such steps as are necessary to ensure that no-one approaches to within 500 yards of the article ...".  

His ignoring this advice resulted in the deaths of nineteen young men and teenagers that day.

People from the locale gathered on the shore to view the large bomb and eventually most wander off home leaving a small group there.  
 
Two of them, James Rogers and James Roarty, took fishermens ropes and waded out to it intending to pull it to a calmer area of sea where it would not be hitting roughly off rocks. 

They were not, as is often cited, having fun.  No, they were attempting to move it to a quieter area of the sea to stop it moving so roughly, dangerously hitting rocks.

They were trying to avoid the thing that then happened: a massive and deathly explosion.  An explosion so loud it is said it was heard as far away as Letterkenny, over 40 miles away.

A local man, Pat Gallagher, who was a child of 10 years at the time and who lost his father and two uncles in the explosion said “The group, who ranged in age from 14-34, were not a bunch of teens who didn’t know better, they were trying to move the device to an area where it would be less affected by the currents.”
Meaning Pat’s grandparents lost three sons that day and three other families lost two sons each.

Local historian, Paddy McGarvey, said “No-one ever thought that a tiny Donegal community would suffer the effects of WW2 in this terrible way.  It was one of the major tragedies of the war for a neutral country and the least documented.”  He went on to say “The sight of so many coffins lined up in the church is something that no-one would ever want to see again.  It was a devastating blow to the area and the communities affected to this day never fully recovered.”

A documentary about the disaster by Denis Harley "Ballymanus Mine Disaster May 10th 1943".

A song about the disaster "Caoineadh Baile Mhanai" by Paul Douglas.

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the beautiful city of Liverpool, England in May this year.  Ireland has won the contest seven times, the first being in1970 with Dana singing ‘All Kinds Of Everything’. 

There followed Johnny Logan in 1980 with ‘What’s Another Year’, Johnny Logan again in 1987 with ‘Hold Me Now’.  Next came Linda Martin in 1992 with ‘Why Me’ Niamh Kavanagh with ‘In Your Eyes’ in 1993, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan in 1994 with ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’ and the last time we won was in 1996 with Eimear Quinn singing ‘The Voice’.

2023 is the 67th Eurovision Song Contest and we in Donegal are hoping to see Ireland romp home as winners with a Donegal musician at the helm .

Six acts will compete on the Late, Late Show on RTE in February to represent Ireland this year and two of those acts are very talented Donegal musicians.

Leila Jane with her song ‘Wild’ is from New Mills just outside the town of Letterkenny and Andrew Carr, aka Agdy who will sing his song 'Too Good For Your Love', is from Bunbeg in Gweedore, Donegal.  Let’s get behind them and push for a Donegal act to not only represent Ireland but to bring the win to our own county of Donegal. 

We wish them each the very best of luck ~ and stay tuned … MORE UPDATES ON THIS VERY SOON.