THE BRIDGE OF SORROWS, FALCARAGH Just outside the village of Falcragh there is a tiny bridge called The Bridge of Sorrows. This was where in the 19th and early 20th century local familes would walk with their loved ones who were leaving home to escape famine and terrible poverty to seek a better in life in America, Canada & Australia. In those days the chances of parents ever seeing their young again were almost non-existent as the journey was too long, arduous and expensive. Added to that, there was the knowledge that many of those who took the journey never made it, dying instead of sickness and disease on the ships transporting them in terrible conditions. Thousands of people passed this way on their way to Derry port in search of a better life. Many who bid farewell to their friends and relatives on this bridge would also eventually leave from this very spot a year or two later. The name, The Bridge of Sorrows, has come down through oral Irish folklore. In the local Falcarragh area it is known as The Crying Bridge. In Irish the name is Droichead Chaointe (Droichead meaning a bridge and Chaon, to cry) or Droichead na ndeor (na ndeor meaning, the tears). The Bridge of Sorrows, is a more recent translation for this bridge which lies on the main road from Falcarragh to Kilmacrenan and Letterkenny. There is parking space for people wanting to climb Muckish Mountain near the bridge.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 14:12:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015