Doolough

Doolough is a place in County Mayo, in the west of Ireland. It is close to the sea. It is in the area called the Gaeltacht, where people speak the Irish language. Doolough is about 2,493 acres in size, or 10.89 km2

 People 

 In the year 1841, about 600 people lived in Doolough.
 In 2011, it was down to 121 people.

 History 
A long time ago, families from England and Normandy came to Doolough. One of these families was the Barrett family. In 1585, a man named Sir Edmund Barrett lived in Doolough. He was called the Baron of Irrus. He had a castle near the village. In 1605, the King of England gave him more land. He also gave him permission to have a market every week. Later, the Barrett family lost the land. Soldiers took it during a war. By 1619, another man, Michael Cormuck, owned the castle. After more wars, other families like Shaen, Carter, and Bingham took over the land.

During the Great Famine, people were paid by food to build a road to the village. 

In 1899, a group called the Congested Districts Board bought the land from the landlords. The land was then shared with the local farmers.

In the 1950s, strong wind blew sand away from the beach. People found bones of small children. These children died during the famine. The bones were moved to a graveyard.alt=Map showing the Irish County of Mayo, where the townland of Doolough is located, highlighted in green and extracted to a magnified version|left|thumb|County Mayo, where Doolough is
 Ships 
The sea near Doolough is not safe. Many ships sank there, like the Thompson, Mitchell, and Lee. A coal ship called Thelma hit the rocks in the 1940s. People still find small pieces of coal on the beach today.

 Doolough Races 
Every year, there are races on the beach at Doolough. People race horses and dogs. There are also other fun events like fishing and games for families.

 Doolough Castle 
alt=Three grassy mounds, at the location of the former Castle known as the 'Gates of Erris', home to the Barons of Irrus|thumb|Doolough (Glencastle) Fortress Hills
Old records say there was a castle in Doolough. It was the home of the Barrett family and Sir Edmund Barrett, and the Barons of Irrus. The castle was taken over for a time by stranded Spanish sailors.

Even though the castle is called “Doolough Castle,” it was probably the same as a place called Dun Donnel. This was in Glencastle, near the main road into Erris.

Today, three grassy mounds are still there. Long ago, this place was known as the “Gates of Erris.”

References

Category:County Mayo