Description
Port (An Port) County Donegal, Ireland
In the extreme reaches of west Donegal, lies the remains of this “Ghost Village” also called “The Deserted Village of An Port”. Earlier in history “Port” was a thriving fishing village & was the first maritime port in County Donegal. It gets it’s unusual nickname from the fact that a whole hamlet of houses just seemed to have been abandoned in a very short space of time.
It is thought that the people who lived here, sadly had to leave during “The Great Famine” (1845-52) after which almost all these houses were left to fall into ruin. Of course many people left Donegal and the rest of Ireland during and after The Famine but Port is unusual in that almost all but a few seemed to have left so suddenly, with no indication on where too? A riddle many folk still dwell over to this very day….
I stayed here for a wee while just thinking on how difficult those poor souls had it. They had to literally abandon their homes and lands forever due to starvation & the few who remained must have also suffered with great hunger for years afterwards. It’s really amazing to see this village completely untouched & other than time taking its toll it’s the way it was left over 170 years ago…. I pray its former inhabitants are now resting in peace
