As the village is in a Gaeltacht district, its official name is Na Dúnaibh, its name in the Irish language. The name probably means 'The Forts', referring to the wealth of hill forts in the area.[6] The full original Irish name seems to have been (hi ccrannóicc) na nDuini.[6] Or the name could be a hibernicisation of the English name, to describe the sandy dunes connecting the peninsula to the County Donegal mainland.[citation needed]
Economy
Fishermen on Downings pier, around 1910
Downings used to be a significant fishing port with a substantial herring fleet. Today, the economy survives on partly tourism. Na Dúnaibh is home to the famous McNutt of Donegal tweed factory and shop. It is also home to McBride Fishing who operate three crab fishing boats and the highly regarded online fishing industry news platform The Fishing Daily. Downings also boasts Meevagh Boatyard on Mulroy Bay which was established in the early 1900s by the Congested District Board to build fishing boats for local fishermen during the herring boom. Situated as it is on Sheephaven Bay, Downings is one of the safest anchorages on the north coast of Ireland, and is a must for an overnight stay for anyone sailing along the Donegal coast
History
In 2007 local divers recovered a gun from the wreck of HMS Laurentic at the mouth of Lough Swilly. The gun is now mounted beside Downings Pier.[7][8]
Recreation
The dunes that link the Rosguill peninsula to the mainland are also home to the RosapennaLinks course designed by Old Tom Morris, and although the original hotel and clubhouse that was patronised by the likes of John Wayne and Errol Flynn burnt down in the sixties, the new buildings seek to emulate the charm of the originals.[citation needed]
Downings is the start and finish of the Atlantic Drive, one of the most dramatic scenic routes in Ireland.[citation needed]
^ abPatrick McKay, A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names, p. 59. The Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, 1999.
^McGlinchey, Don. "The Laurentic's golden allure". Scuba & Snorkel Diving Ireland. Irish Underwater Council. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
^"Maxi Curran takes up reins as U-21 manager". Donegal Democrat. 21 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2012. Curran from Downings and a member of Jim McGuinness's senior management team, takes over from McGuinness who stepped down at the end of last season.
