The Area
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
Dunfanaghy is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and there are many places to visit and activities to enjoy in the local area.
Dunfanaghy
How lovely is your dwelling place
O Lord Almighty.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
They are ever praising you.
Psalm 84
Horn Head
I lift my eyes to the hills
Where does my aid come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121
Glenveagh
He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
It flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field….
The birds of the air nest by the waters;
They sing among the branches….
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
And plants for man to cultivate.
Psalm 104
Ards Forest Park
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Let the sea resound and all that is in it;
Let the fields be jubilant and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest shall sing for joy;
Psalm 96
Doe Castle
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18
Muckish Mountain
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people
Both now and for evermore.
Psalm 125
The “Lonely Planet Guide” says “The towering headland of Horn Head has some of the Wild Atlantic Way’s most spectacular scenery, with dramatic quartzite cliffs, topped with bog and heather, rearing over 180m high.”
The centre of Dunfanaghy is a small square with a market house built in 1847 and a quay built in 1831 and formerly used to export corn. There are four churches: the early 17th-century Clondehorky Old Church (now ruined), Dunfanaghy Presbyterian Church, Holy Cross (Roman Catholic) and Holy Trinity Church of Ireland. A museum, situated in part of a former workhouse, describes the effects of the Irish Potato Famine on Dunfanaghy.
Just outside the village is a three-mile-long sandy beach known as Killahoey Strand. On 16 June 1942, a RAF Ferry Command Hudson aircraft was forced to land on a beach near Dunfanaghy. It was feared the rising tides would swallow the plane, but 200 locals came out to pull it to safety. The aircraft was refuelled and the crew of four accommodated nearby overnight. They departed the next day to continue their journey.
West of Dunfanaghy are New Lake and Tramore Strand, a two-mile-long beach. New Lake became a haven for seabirds and is now a Special Protection Area.
So whether it’s horse-riding, surfing, sailing, golfing, fishing, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, gift shops or a walk on the beach you prefer, we hope to see you soon in Dunfanaghy!