109
Townlands
11,636
Census Records
1,896
Households
2
Census Years
- People
- 5,715
- Households
- 897
- People
- 5,921 +3.6%
- Households
- 999 +11.4%
About
Conwal is a parish located in County Donegal in the northwest of Ireland, situated in the historical barony of Raphoe. The parish lies in a region characterized by the undulating terrain typical of central Donegal, with a landscape shaped by glacial activity and dotted with small lakes and streams. The area is primarily rural, with scattered farmsteads and small settlements dispersed throughout the parish. The terrain includes a mix of agricultural land, bog, and moorland, reflecting the broader geographical character of inland Donegal where the landscape gradually transitions between the more elevated areas to the north and west and the lower-lying regions to the south and east.
The parish has deep historical roots extending back to medieval times, with its ecclesiastical significance evident in the presence of its church and the association with early Christian settlement patterns in Donegal. Like many Irish parishes, Conwal's boundaries and administrative structure were shaped by both ecclesiastical organization and later civil divisions. The parish forms part of the broader cultural and historical heritage of the Raphoe area, which has played an important role in the religious and social development of County Donegal over centuries.
Conwal remains primarily a rural agricultural community, with the parish serving as an important focal point for local residents. The parish church continues to serve as a center for community gatherings and spiritual life, maintaining the traditional role that parish structures have held in Irish rural society. The landscape and settlement patterns reflect the historical relationship between the local population and the land, with farming remaining a significant part of the local economy and way of life.
The parish of Conwal represents a typical example of rural parish organization in County Donegal, where these administrative and ecclesiastical divisions continue to structure community identity and local governance. While not widely known outside the region, Conwal remains significant to those who live within it and to those with family connections to the area, serving as both a practical administrative unit and a cultural reference point for the local community.
Source: AI generated
No photo added yet
- County
-
Barony
Kilmacrenan
-
Irish Name
Conbháil
-
Townlands
109 townlands
- Logainm
Annals of the Four Masters
Historical references from O'Donovan's edition (1848–51)
The Annals of the Four Masters record Conwal (Irish: Congbhail-Glinne-Suiighe) in 34 entries between AD 913 and AD 1540.
Viking & Pre-Norman
Medieval
Early Modern
Source: Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, ed. John O'Donovan (1848–51). Public domain.
Griffith's Valuation
National Archives of Ireland (c. 1830s-1850s)
308 occupiers recorded in Griffith's Valuation across 38 townlands (1830s-1850s).
Top Surnames
Source: Valuation Office Books, National Archives of Ireland. Public records.
Parish Location
Details
- English
- Conwal
- Irish
- Conbháil
- Barony
- Kilmacrenan
- County
- Donegal
No comments yet. Be the first to share your research!