placenamesDownies
Na Dúnaibh
Known locally as Downings, this Rosguill village has histories of fishing and textile production.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Na Dúnaibh · Irish · main form · validated name
- Downies · English · main form
- Downings · English · main form · local name
Place & story
Boats, gear and fish auctions
In a parliamentary answer in August 1913, Chief Secretary Augustine Birrell described the Congested Districts Board’s support for Downings fishermen. The Board supplied boats and equipment through loans and share arrangements. Its officers auctioned fish landed by share boats, charging a two-and-a-half per cent deduction from the crews’ earnings for the service. [2]
The weaving business
Bill McNutt established his weaving business in 1953 to create local employment. He learned to weave and trained other local people. Production began on handlooms in a converted community hall before moving to a purpose-built mill with power looms. The original weaving shed later became the company’s shop. [3]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Downies. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Donegal Fishermen: written parliamentary answer, 6 August 1913 · UK Parliament, Hansard
- McNutt of Donegal: History · McNutt of Donegal
- Downings Harbour, Downies, as photographed in 2006 illustration: based on a Downings Harbour by Kieran Evans. AI-assisted watercolour and ink adaptation; cream paper margins added, incidental clutter omitted and fine details simplified. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2021-08-27. How this page was prepared.