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Rossnowlagh is a seaside resort located in County Donegal, in the north-west of Ireland. It is situated about 8km north of Ballyshannon and 16km south of Donegal Town. The extensive beach is very popular with families and is frequented by walkers, surfers, wind-surfers, kite-surfers and swimmers, and there are lifeguards on duty during the summer months. There is about 4km of a good quality sand beach.
Rossnowlagh is one of Ireland's - and Europe's - best Blue flag, surfing beaches. As it faces westward into the Atlantic Ocean, and the fact that Donegal Bay's funnel shape can increase the size of the rollers, especially in winter, some huge waves are generated and it has been known to have rollers up to 20ft high. Rossnowlagh has good facilities, a fine-sand beach and excellent water quality.
The Sandhouse Hotel is located adjacent to the beach, with a Surfers Bar attached. Overlooking the cliff is the Smuggler's Creek Inn restaurant and bar, and there are several shops in the area, along with a post-office/shop near the Franciscan friary and a thatched coffee shop nearby. A modern 20th century-built Franciscan friary is located up from the southern end of the beach. To the south-west further along the cliffs in the distance stands the ruined Kilbarron Castle.
A soil erosion study of the beach at Rossnowlagh, known officially as Belalt strand, has been made. The area consists mainly of sandy beach, but also rocky shore platform, sand dunes, grassland, boulder clay cliffs and rock cliffs. Over the last 60 years it has been determined that the central section of the dune front has been eroding at rates up to 0.6m per year, with the highest erosion rate between 1951 and 1977. Starting in 1972, short lengths of rock armour were constructed at first in front of the Sandhouse Hotel and with further additions along the shore-line; this stopped the erosion but the dune front has a ragged appearance with up to 35m of erosion where half of the sandy shoreline has no protection.
There had been 500 years of Franciscan history in Donegal but the link had been broken in the mid-19th century. The Franciscans re-established themselves in County Donegal when new friary buildings were built in Rossnowlagh in the early 1950s. The friary has a visitors centre and the Donegal Historical Society Museum which houses a small collection including stone age flints and old Irish musical instruments. There are beautiful gardens which are open to visitors.
Rossnowlagh has a lot of visitors during the summer months and is very popular as most of the beach is accessible by car which is suitable for young and old alike. Drivers are cautioned however to be aware of soft sand areas where cars can get stuck and to be aware of any incoming tides which can move in rapidly and be high depending on the lunar cycle. There is a Beach Warden on duty and information about full and low tides may be displayed. Drivers on the beach are required to drive very slowly at 15 km/h and to be on the lookout for children and other users of the beach.
The main annual Orange Order parade in the Republic of Ireland is at Rossnowlagh, an event which has been free from trouble and controversy. It is held on the Saturday before The Twelfth.
References
- http://www.donegalbay.com/rossnowlagh/activities.html
- http://www.raphoediocese.com/rossnowlagh.htm
- http://copranet.projects.eucc-d.de/files/000126_EUROSION_Rossnowlagh.pdf LIFE Project 1999 and LIFE Project 2000
- http://www.geocities.com/friaryrossnowlagh/friaryhistory.htm