Lifford

181 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Lifford, from 8 m² to 148,496 m² (14.85 ha, 36.69 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 26 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Lifford in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

• 19 May 2026N/a

  CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING COMMERCIAL PREMISES (FORMER AMUSEMENT ARCADE) TO ADULT EDUCATION FACILITY INCLUDING (1) ELEVATIONAL CHANGES, (2) CONSTRUCTION OF (A) EXTENSION TO FIRST FLOOR TO CONSIST OF 2 NO. CLASSROOMS AND 1 NO. COUNSELLING ROOM AND (B) EXTENSION TO REAR CONSISTING OF 2 NO. CLASSROOMS AND (3) BIN STORAGE YARD TO REAR INCLUDING BICYCLE SHELTER, OUTDOOR AMENITY AREA AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2660901

• 14 Apr 2026Conditional

  SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION TO THE REAR OF EXISTING DWELLING

  Retention · Donegal County Council, 2660641

• 24 Nov 2025Conditional

  DEMOLITION OF EXISTING DERELICT DWELLING AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW COMMERCIAL STORAGE SHED

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2562056

• 10 Apr 2025Conditional

  (1) DEMOLITION OF EXISTING PARTIALLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDING, (2) INTERNAL PLAN ALTERATIONS TO INCREASE NO. OF APARTMENTS APPROVED UNDER PLANNING REF. NO. 23/51192 FROM 17 TO 19 UNITS AND (3) MINOR ALTERATIONS TO ROOF AND FACADE DESIGN OF PREVIOUSLY GRANTED PLANNING REF. NOS. 23/51192 & 07/40652

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2560542

• 22 Mar 2024N/a

  (1) EXTENSION OF EXISTING CAR PARKING AREA AND INCORPORATION OF EV PARKING, (2) DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION, (3) ALL ASSOCIATED AND ANCILLARY SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2460377

• 9 Feb 2024N/a

  (1) EXTENSION OF EXISTING CAR PARKING AREA AND INCORPORATION OF EV PARKING, (2) DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION, (3) ALL ASSOCIATED AND ANCILLARY SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2460128

• 29 Sept 2023Conditional

  (1) CHANGE OF USE OF GROUND FLOOR OF THE FORMER POST OFFICE BUILDING INTO OPEN PLAN OFFICE ACCOMMODATION INCLUDING CANTEEN, TOILETS (2) ELEVATIONAL CHANGES ON GROUND FLOOR, (3) DEMOLITION OF 33.65 SQ AREA ON GROUND FLOOR, (4) PROPOSED NEW INSULATED METAL DECK ROOF COVERING, AND (5) ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2351469

• 26 Sept 2023N/a

  (1) EXTENSION OF EXISTING CAR PARKING AREA AND INCORPORATION OF EV PARKING, (2) WIDENING OF 2 NO. EXISTING VEHICULAR ENTRANCE POINTS TO FACILITATE IMPROVED HGV TURNING AND MANOEUVRING, AND (3) ALL ASSOCIATED AND ANCILLARY SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS TO EXISTING FILLING STATION AND SHOP PREMISES

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2351432

• 11 Aug 2023Conditional

  (1) COMPLETION OF WORKS GRANTED UNDER PLANNING REF. NO. 07/40652, (2) CONNECTION TO PUBLIC SEWER, (3) ALTERATION OF THE PREVIOUSLY GRANTED ROOF DESIGN WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR AN ADDITIONAL APARTMENT BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS TO 17 AND (4) ALL OTHER ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2351192

• 4 Aug 2023N/a

  (1) COMPLETION OF WORKS GRANTED UNDER PLANNING REF 07/40652 (2) CONNECTION TO PUBLIC SEWER (3) ALTERATION OF THE PREVIOUSLY GRANTED ROOF DESIGN WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR AN ADDITIONAL APARTMENT BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS TO 17 AND (4) ALL OTHER ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2351164

• 6 Jun 2023Conditional

  ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING COMMERCIAL PREMISES CONSISTING OF ALTERATIONS TO FRONT ELEVATION AND INTERNAL LAYOUT CHANGES

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2350799

• 14 Nov 2022Conditional

  COMPLETION OF A DWELLING HOUSE INCORPORATING GROUND FLOOR GARAGE AND STORE, CONNECTION INTO MAINS SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Retention, 1 home · Donegal County Council, 2251847

• 26 Aug 2022Conditional

  INSTALLATION OF ROOF-MOUNTED SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS TO THE REAR OF BUILDING

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2251434

• 6 Apr 2022N/a

  CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING GROUND FLOOR RETAIL UNIT AS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED UNDER PLANNING PERMISSION 05/40058, TO A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2250591

• 20 Dec 2021Conditional

  ALTERATIONS TO A PREVIOUSLY GRANTED PLANNING APPLICATION REFERENCE NUMBER 21/51200 (CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING ARCADE TO BOOKMAKERS, CONSTRUCTION OF FLAT ROOF OVER SINGLE STOREY OUT SHOT TO REAR, INTERNAL ALTERATIONS, ERECTION OF 2 NO. SATELLITE DISHES TO THE REAR, PROPOSED NEW SIGNAGE AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS). ALTERATIONS TO INCLUDE REPOSITIONING OF THE EXISTING MAIN ENTRANCE DOOR, BUILDING UP OF EXISTING SIDE DOOR AND ALL ASSOCIATED ELEVATIONAL CHANGES AND SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2152551

• 17 Jun 2021Conditional

  CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING ARCADE TO BOOKMAKERS, CONSTRUCTION OF FLAT ROOF OVER SINGLE STOREY OUT SHOT TO REAR, INTERNAL ALTERATIONS, ERECTION OF 2 NO. SATELLITE DISHES TO THE REAR, PROPOSED NEW SIGNAGE AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2151200

• 16 Mar 2021Conditional

  ERECTION OF A DWELLING HOUSE WITH CONNECTION TO PUBLIC SEWER TANK ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Permission, 1 home · Donegal County Council, 2150472

• 1 Feb 2021Conditional

  OUTDOOR COVERED AREA AND PERMISSION TO ENCLOSE REFUSE AREA WITH THE ERECTION OF A NEW WALL AND FOR ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING RAILINGS ON SW BOUNDARY.

  Retention · Donegal County Council, 2150129

• 19 Oct 2020Unconditional

  CONSTRUCTION OF DWELLING HOUSE WITH DOMESTIC GARAGE AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE WORKS

  Extension of duration, 1 home · Donegal County Council, 2051533

• 22 Sept 2020Unconditional

  CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING HAIRDRESSING SALON TO A DWELLING HOUSE

  Permission, 1 home · Donegal County Council, 2051338

• 12 Aug 2020Conditional

  UPGRADE WORKS AT LIFFORD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AS FOLLOWS: (1) NEW INLET WORKS (2) 2 NO. PRIMARY SETTLEMENT TANKS (3) STORMWATER HOLDING TANK AND STORMWATER RETURN PUMPING STATION (4) 4 NO. ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTRACTOR (RBC) UNITS (5) 2 NO. FINAL SETTLEMENT TANKS (6) CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (7) ERECTION OF PICKET FENCE THICKENER (8) SLUDGE STORAGE TANK (9) CONSTRUCTION OF RETAINING WALL ALONG NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE SITE (10) ERECTIONOF NEW SECURITY FENCE (11) CONSTRUCTION OF SITE ROADS AND SITE LIGHTING (12) DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING SEPTIC TANK AND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING (13) DECOMMISSIONING OF EXISTING INLET WORKS. A NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT (NIS) ACCOMPANIES THIS APPLICATION

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2051105

• 22 Jun 2020Conditional

  ALTERATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXTENSION TO THE REAR OF EXISTING DWELLING

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 2050809

• 22 Jul 2019Conditional

  DEMOLITION OF FORMER GYM BUILDING, BOILER HOUSE AND FRONT BOUNDARY WALL AND CHANGE OF USE OF FORMER ARMY BARRACKS BUILDING TO OFFICE ACCOMODATION INCLUDING AMENDMENTS TO THE ELEVATIONS, PROVISION OF CAR PARKING SPACES, MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING VEHICLE ENTRANCE, PROVISION OF PEDESTRIAN ENTRANCE, SIGNAGE AND ALL ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS INCLUDING CONNECTION TO EXISTING SERVICES

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 1951119

• 8 Apr 2019Conditional

  (A) CHANGE OF USE OF EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE TO THE FOLLOWING PROPOSED USES; (1) POST OFFICE USE AT GROUND FLOOR LEVEL WHICH SHALL LINK INTO ADJOINING SUPERMARKET AND (2) ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT AT FIRST FLOOR LEVEL AND (B) CONSTRUCTION OF AN EXTENSION TO THE SOUTH EASTERN SIDE OF THE PROPERTY TO PROVIDE AN ENCLOSED STAIRWELL TO SERVICE THE PROPOSED APARTMENT AND ASSOCIATED SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 1950480

• 14 Aug 2018Conditional

  PROVISION OF 2 NO. 1 BEDROOM APARTMENTS IN LIEU OF 1 NO. 3 BEDROOM APARTMENT TO FIRST FLOOR OF RETAIL AND APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT PERMITTED UNDER PLANNING REF: 17/51051. WORKS INCLUDE AMENDMENTS TO APPROVED WINDOWS ON FRONT AND SIDE ELEVATIONS AND ALL ASSOCIATED WORKS

  Permission · Donegal County Council, 1851248

The 25 most recent of 40 applications.

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

• Special Area of Conservation: River Finn SAC 002301

Recorded monuments

• DG071-005 Standing stone
  Description

  Marked as 'Standing Stone' on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map and shown untitled on the 2nd edition. There are no visible remains. Situated on good land with extensive views. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG071-006 Standing stone
  Description

  Marked as 'Standing Stone' on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map and shown untitled on the 2nd edition. There are no visible remains. Situated on good land with extensive views. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG071-008 Historic town
  Description

  Described in the Urban Survey of Donegal as 'Like most of Donegal's plantation towns Lifford owes its existence to its strategic location, at the meeting of the rivers Murne and Finn, and at the beginning of the River Foyle. There was no bridge and throughout the seventeenth century the river crossing was negotiated by ferry. The town is also located in an area of particularly good agricultural land and was described as early as 1623 as "seated in the richest soil of all the north, the country about it champaign" (Butlin 1976, 149). Its strategic significance was evident before the plantation period, however, and it was here that the O'Donnells built a castle in the fifteenth century (this castle is located in Co. Tyrone). The earl of Essex arrived here in 1574 as part of his ill fated Ulster expedition and formally restored it to Hugh O'Donnell (Hayes McCoy 1976, 97). Ten years later, in 1584, Perrott proposed it for the site of an English garrison if Ulster was to be subdued. Perrott's proposals went unheeded, however, and it was not until 1600 when it was captured by Dowcra's forces, under the command of Niall garbh O'Donnell that it fell into English hands. By 1600 there was evidently some form of settlement in the vicinity of the fort. A contemporary account describes it as : "some eighty houses set in a plain green upon the river side and encompassed by an old ditch" (CSPI 1600-1, 93). Evidently the settlement was substantial enough by 1603 for Sir Henry Dowcra, governor of Lough Foyle, to be granted the right to hold a market there. Shortly after the flight of the earls Lifford was ear-marked for plantation and on 27 october 1611 the village of Liffer with the fort, "commonly called captain Brooke's Fort" and about 500 acres of land were granted to Sir Richard Hansard for 21 years. He received the grant on condition that within five years he should allot portions of land to 60 inhabitants for the erection of houses with gardens and 200 acres for a common (Ir Rec Comm 1830, 182). The fort was excluded from a new grant of 31 jan 1612, when Hansard was given licence to hold a Monday market and two annual fairs, while the number of colonists he was to settle was halved to "30 persons, English or Scots, chiefly tradesmen to be the burgesses" (ibid. 206-7). Lewis (1837, ii, 260) adds that in addition he was to set aside 100 acres for the keep of 50 horses, should His Majesty think proper to assign a garrison to the town. Hansard evidently invested a sizeable amount of his personal income in the town. By 1611 he had built some twentyone half-timbered houses and thirtyseven cottages of one hearth each were constructed about the same time (Rowan 1979, 347). In the same year, 1611, Pynnar described Lifford as having : "a good and strong fort built of lime and stone, with bulwarks, a parapet, and a large ditch of good depth cast above it on the river side, with a storehouse for victuals and munition, a gatehouse and a drawbridge…..There is another small fort in the town rampiered and ditched, about which are certain houses built of good timber after the English manor, which serve for the use of a gaoler and to keep prisoner…Upon view of the town we found it well furnished with inhabitants of English, Scottish, and irish, who live by several trades" (quoted in Butlin 1977, 89). By 1622 the town had at least 54 houses and a male population of about 100, making it one of the more successful plantation boroughs in Ulster (Hunter 1981, 60-1). Sir Richard Hansard died in 1619 and left an unusual bequest, recorded on his monument in Lifford parish church, making financial provision for the corporation (Hunter 1971, 55), for building a church and school, and for the salaries of the schoolmaster and the officers of the town. It is a remarkable demonstration of the founders interest in the welfare of his town. In the census of c. 1659 the adult population is given as 44 English and Scots, and 24 Irish making a total of 68' (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 50-2). The physical layout of the town is described in the Urban Survey as 'The core of the seventeenth century Lifford was concentrated on the Diamond and on the street running SW from it towards the modern bridge, then the site of a ferry. It was presumably in this area that the twentyone houses, built for Sir Richard Hansard by 1611, were located. The presence of a burgage plot pattern on the street running NW from the town, past Ballyduff House, suggests that it too may be of seventeenth century origin. Indeed it may have been the location of the 27 cottages referred to in 1611. In 1603 Sir Henry Dowcra was granted the fight to hold a weekly market at Lifford while in the incorporation charter of 1612 it is stated that the market should be held on Mondays. The market place was evidently located in the Diamond. An account of 1600 refers to Lifford as having "some eighty houses" (CSPI 1600-1, 93). There is no information on the form of these houses, however. By 1611 there were some 21 half-timbered houses in the town and 37 cottages, while in 1622 the town had at least 54 houses. Evidence for inns is indicated by the fact that the inhabitants of Lifford were "able to give entertainment to passengers" shortly after the foundation of the town (Robinson 1984, 173). An account of the settlement, written in 1600, describes it as lying beside the river and "encompassed by an old ditch" (CSPI 1600-1, 93). An outline of these defences is shown on a map, prepared perhaps to accompany this account, now in the library of Trinity College Dublin (Ms. 1209 (17)). No trace of this ditch now survives' (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 53-4). Excavation Number : 93E0008 A series of trial trenches was cut in the vicinity of Lifford Courthouse in January on behalf of the Lifford Association for Tourism, Commerce and Heritage. The trenching was carried out in the rear of the courtyard and nothing of archaeological value was uncovered with the possible exception of a mortared stone wall which retained a steep bank of sand and gravel. The wall lay 6m-9m in from the modern bank of the river Foyle and it is probably of relatively recent origin. The fill of the trenches was largely made up of sands and gravel and suggest that the Foyle has been considerably narrowed since the plantation town was established in the 1600s. Neil O'Flanagan, ADS Ltd., Powerhouse, Pigeon House Harbour, Dublin 4.

• DG071-008001 Church
  Description

  Clonleigh Parish Church (DG071-008001-): Erected under the will of Sir Richard Hansard and the foundations laid by 1622, the present church is of late 18th century appearance (Rowan 1979, 348). In the S wall is a segment-headed recess (DG071-008008-) containing two kneeling figures in Jacobean attire facing each other across a draped predieu — part of the monument of Sir Richard Hansard Kt. and Dame Anne, his wife (for whom see Loeber 1977-80, 238-9). The tablet bears the following inscription: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF SR RICHARD HANSARD/KNIGHT BORNE AT BISKERTHORPE IN THE COVNTY OF LINCOLNE IN/ENGLAND WHO DYED THE 5 OF OCTOBER 1619 AND OF DAME ANNE HIS WIFE/DAUGHTER TO SR EDWARD MARBVRY OF GEISBY IN, THE SAID COVNTY KNIGHT/WHO DYED THE 3 DAY OF OCTOBER 1619 SR RICHARD HANSARD AFTER HE HAD/OF ART IN CAMBRIDGE TOOKE VPON HIM THE PREFESSION OF A SOLIDER IN THE PRIME OF/LIFE HE HAD DIVERS SINDRY HONORABLE PLACES OF COMAND IN THE WARES HE/WAS MAD GOVERNOR OF LIFFORD AND THE PARTS ADIOYNING WHER HE DID MANY GOOD/SERVES IN THE TIME OF TYRONES REBELION AND LAST OF AL IN SR CAHIR O DOHERLES REBELIONIKING JAMES THE FIRST GAVE HIM THIS TOWNE OF LIFORD AND FOWER QVARTERS OF CROHAN TO/PLANT A CORPORACON THERE WHICH HE EFECTED AT HIS DEATH HE DISPOSED BY WIL OF THESE LANDS AND OTHERS TO DIVERS OF HIS NAME NOT NEARE OF KINDRED TO HIM BVT FOR WANT/OF A FEOFTMIENT TO ENABLE HIM TO DISPOSE OF HIS LANDS BY WIL BY LAWE ITFEL A[L]/TO HIS YONGER BROTHER WILLIAM HANSARD OF BISKERTHORPE IN LINCOLNSHIRE ESQVIRE/HE ORDAINED BY HIS WILL SR IOHN VAVHAN KNIGHT SR GEORGE MERBVRY KNIGHT AND/THOMAS PERKINS ESQUIRE THEN LIFTENNANT TO HIS COMPANY HIS EXECITORS/AND DIRECTED THEM TO BVILD THIS CHVRCH THE SCHOOLE AND SCHOOLE HOUSE IN/THIS TOWNE AS NOW THEY ARE DONE AND LIKEWISE GAVE 86L P ANNVM IN PPETVITY/OUT OF HIS LANDES (VIDELICET TO THE WARDEN OF LIFFORD XXL TO THE RECORDER THERE/OF XL TO THE 2 SERGEANTS 6L TO THE SCHOOLE MAISTER XXXL AND TO THE USHER XXL P ANNUM/AND FOR THAT BY LAWE THIS LAND FELL TO HIS YONGER BROTHER WHEERBY THESE PIOVS/INTENTIONS WEER LIKE TO BE FRVSTRATED THEREFORE THE 3 SORNAMED EXECVTORS DID/PVRCHASE OF HIS SAID BROTHER THE WHOLE LANDES FOR ONE THOUSAND AND 5 HUNDRED/POUNDS AND SO HAVE FINISHED THE SAID WORKES AND PPETVALL DONATION ACCORDING/TO THE WILL AND INTENT OF THE SAID SR RICHARD. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG071-008003 Graveyard
  Description

  Clonleigh Parish Church (DG071-008001-): Erected under the will of Sir Richard Hansard and the foundations laid by 1622, the present church is of late 18th century appearance (Rowan 1979, 348). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG071-008004 House - 16th/17th century
  Description

  The physical layout of the town is described in the Urban Survey as 'The core of the seventeenth century Lifford was concentrated on the Diamond and on the street running SW from it towards the modern bridge, then the site of a ferry. It was presumably in this area that the twentyone houses, built for Sir Richard Hansard by 1611, were located. The presence of a burgage plot pattern on the street running NW from the town, past Ballyduff House, suggests that it too may be of seventeenth century origin. Indeed it may have been the location of the 27 cottages referred to in 1611. In 1603 Sir Henry Dowcra was granted the right to hold a weekly market at Lifford, while in the incorporation charter of 1612 it is stated that the market should be held on Mondays. The market place was evidently located in the Diamond. An account of 1600 refers to Lifford as having "some eighty houses" (CSPI 1600-1, 93). There is no information on the form of these houses, however. By 1611 there were some 21 half-timbered houses in the town and 37 cottages, while in 1622 the town had at least 54 houses. Evidence for inns is indicated by the fact that the inhabitants of Lifford were "able to give entertainment to passengers" shortly after the foundation of the town (Robinson 1984, 173).' (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 53-4).

• DG071-008005 Town defences
  Description

  The physical layout of the town is described in the Urban Survey as 'The core of the seventeenth century Lifford was concentrated on the Diamond and on the street running SW from it towards the modern bridge, then the site of a ferry. It was presumably in this area that the twentyone houses, built for Sir Richard Hansard by 1611, were located. The presence of a burgage plot pattern on the street running NW from the town, past Ballyduff House, suggests that it too may be of seventeenth century origin. Indeed it may have been the location of the 27 cottages referred to in 1611. An account of the settlement, written in 1600, describes it as lying beside the river and "encompassed by an old ditch" (CSPI 1600-1, 93). An outline of these defences is shown on a map, prepared perhaps to accompany this account, now in the library of Trinity College Dublin (Ms. 1209 (17)). No trace of this ditch now survives' (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 53-4).

• DG071-008006 Fortification
  Description

  Described in the Urban Survey of Donegal (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 55) as 'Like most of Donegal's plantation towns Lifford owes its existence to its strategic location, at the meeting of the rivers Murne and Finn, and at the beginning of the River Foyle. There was no bridge and throughout the seventeenth century the river crossing was negotiated by ferry. Its strategic significance was evident before the plantation period, however, and it was here that the O'Donnells built a castle in the fifteenth century (this castle is located in Co. Tyrone). The earl of Essex arrived here in 1574 as part of his ill fated Ulster expedition and formally restored it to Hugh O'Donnell (Hayes McCoy 1976, 97). Ten years later, in 1584, Perrott proposed it for the site of an English garrison if Ulster was to be subdued. Perrott's proposals went unheeded, however, and it was not until 1600 when it was captured by Dowcra's forces, under the command of Niall garbh O'Donnell that it fell into English hands. By 1600 there was evidently some form of settlement in the vicinity of the fort. A contemporary account describes it as : "some eighty houses set in a plain green upon the river side and encompassed by an old ditch" (CSPI 1600-1, 93). Evidently the settlement was substantial enough by 1603 for Sir Henry Dowcra, governor of Lough Foyle, to be granted the right to hold a market there. Shortly after the flight of the earls Lifford was ear-marked for plantation and on 27 october 1611 the village of Liffer with the fort, "commonly called captain Brooke's Fort" and about 500 acres of land were granted to Sir Richard Hansard for 21 years. He received the grant on condition that within five years he should allot portions of land to 60 inhabitants for the erection of houses with gardens and 200 acres for a common (Ir Rec Comm 1830, 182). The fort was excluded from a new grant of 31 jan 1612, when Hansard was given licence to hold a Monday market and two annual fairs, while the number of colonists he was to settle was halved to "30 persons, English or Scots, chiefly tradesmen to be the burgesses" (ibid. 206-7). Lewis (1837, ii, 260) adds that in addition he was to set aside 100 acres for the keep of 50 horses, should His Majesty think proper to assign a garrison to the town. Hansard evidently invested a sizeable amount of his personal income in the town. By 1611 he had built some twentyone half-timbered houses and thirtyseven cottages of one hearth each were constructed about the same time (Rowan 1979, 347). In the same year, 1611, Pynnar described Lifford as having: "a good and strong fort built of lime and stone, with bulwarks, a parapet, and a large ditch of good depth cast above it on the river side, with a storehouse for victuals and munition, a gatehouse and a drawbridge…..There is another small fort in the town rampiered and ditched, about which are certain houses built of good timber after the English manor, which serve for the use of a gaoler and to keep prisoner…Upon view of the town we found it well furnished with inhabitants of English, Scottish, and Irish, who live by several trades" (quoted in Butlin 1977, 89).' (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 50-2). Nothing remains of the "good strong fort of lime and stone" mentioned in 1611. A plan of "the king's fort at Lifford", prepared about this time is in the library of Trinity College Dublin (Ms. 1209 (30)). The 1611 account, quoted above, mentions a second fort in the town but its whereabouts remains unclear' (Bradley & Dunne 1989, 55). Date of upload: 5 December 2008

• DG071-008007 Wall monument - effigial
  Description

  Clonleigh Parish Church (DG071-008001-): Erected under the will of Sir Richard Hansard and the foundations laid by 1622, the present church is of late 18th century appearance (Rowan 1979, 348). In the S wall is a segment-headed recess containing two kneeling figures in Jacobean attire facing each other across a draped predieu — part of the monument of Sir Richard Hansard Kt. and Dame Anne, his wife (for whom see Loeber 1977-80, 238-9). The tablet bears the following inscription: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF SR RICHARD HANSARD/KNIGHT BORNE AT BISKERTHORPE IN THE COVNTY OF LINCOLNE IN/ENGLAND WHO DYED THE 5 OF OCTOBER 1619 AND OF DAME ANNE HIS WIFE/DAUGHTER TO SR EDWARD MARBVRY OF GEISBY IN, THE SAID COVNTY KNIGHT/WHO DYED THE 3 DAY OF OCTOBER 1619 SR RICHARD HANSARD AFTER HE HAD/OF ART IN CAMBRIDGE TOOKE VPON HIM THE PREFESSION OF A SOLIDER IN THE PRIME OF/LIFE HE HAD DIVERS SINDRY HONORABLE PLACES OF COMAND IN THE WARES HE/WAS MAD GOVERNOR OF LIFFORD AND THE PARTS ADIOYNING WHER HE DID MANY GOOD/SERVES IN THE TIME OF TYRONES REBELION AND LAST OF AL IN SR CAHIR O DOHERLES REBELIONIKING JAMES THE FIRST GAVE HIM THIS TOWNE OF LIFORD AND FOWER QVARTERS OF CROHAN TO/PLANT A CORPORACON THERE WHICH HE EFECTED AT HIS DEATH HE DISPOSED BY WIL OF THESE LANDS AND OTHERS TO DIVERS OF HIS NAME NOT NEARE OF KINDRED TO HIM BVT FOR WANT/OF A FEOFTMIENT TO ENABLE HIM TO DISPOSE OF HIS LANDS BY WIL BY LAWE ITFEL A[L]/TO HIS YONGER BROTHER WILLIAM HANSARD OF BISKERTHORPE IN LINCOLNSHIRE ESQVIRE/HE ORDAINED BY HIS WILL SR IOHN VAVHAN KNIGHT SR GEORGE MERBVRY KNIGHT AND/THOMAS PERKINS ESQUIRE THEN LIFTENNANT TO HIS COMPANY HIS EXECITORS/AND DIRECTED THEM TO BVILD THIS CHVRCH THE SCHOOLE AND SCHOOLE HOUSE IN/THIS TOWNE AS NOW THEY ARE DONE AND LIKEWISE GAVE 86L P ANNVM IN PPETVITY/OUT OF HIS LANDES (VIDELICET TO THE WARDEN OF LIFFORD XXL TO THE RECORDER THERE/OF XL TO THE 2 SERGEANTS 6L TO THE SCHOOLE MAISTER XXXL AND TO THE USHER XXL P ANNUM/AND FOR THAT BY LAWE THIS LAND FELL TO HIS YONGER BROTHER WHEERBY THESE PIOVS/INTENTIONS WEER LIKE TO BE FRVSTRATED THEREFORE THE 3 SORNAMED EXECVTORS DID/PVRCHASE OF HIS SAID BROTHER THE WHOLE LANDES FOR ONE THOUSAND AND 5 HUNDRED/POUNDS AND SO HAVE FINISHED THE SAID WORKES AND PPETVALL DONATION ACCORDING/TO THE WILL AND INTENT OF THE SAID SR RICHARD. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Attached images: DG071-008007-_01.JPG DG071-008007-_02.JPG DG071-008007-_03.JPG DG071-008007-_04.JPG Date of upload/revision: 15 December 2011

• DG071-010 Bullaun stone (present location)
  Description

  In back garden of house facing onto Foyle View street in the town of Lifford, Donegal. A large irregular shaped sandstone boulder (H 0.3-0.43m; 0.4m x 0.65m) with quartz inclusion that has a deep, smooth-sided, circular-shaped hollow (top diam. 0.27m; base diam. 0.12m; D 0.2m) in its upper surface. According to the owner of the house, this bullaun stone was originally located in the townland of Mullanalamphry beside Tawnawully Bridge close to the shoreline of Lough Eske (DG094-014----). Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien Date of upload: 02 August 2012

Architectural heritage

• Saint Lugadius's Church (Clonleigh), church/chapel, 1610–1630 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding Church of Ireland church, built c. 1622 and altered c. 1800 and c. 1863, comprising four-bay nave with shallow chancel to the east, three-stage tower (on square-plan), built c. 1800, to the west gable end having raised Irish-style crenellated parapets and with ashlar corner pinnacles, aisle to the north, added 1863, and with single-storey over basement vestry attached to the north-east side of chancel. Pitched natural slate roof to main body of building with cut stone eaves course, ashlar verges (some rendered) to gable ends having moulded kneeler stones at eaves level to some elevations, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Pitched natural slate roof to vestry having ashlar verge to gable end with moulded kneeler stones at eaves level, and with ashlar finial or chimneystack over gable apex; mono-pitched natural slate roof to aisle extension. Crenellated parapet to tower having raised stepped Irish-style rubble stone crenellations with cut stone coping, moulded cut stone cavetto stringcourse to base of parapets, and ashlar pyramid pinnacles to corners. Roughcast rendered walls over projecting plinth course with angled buttresses to east gable having ashlar skews. Stepped roughcast rendered buttresses to the east elevation of chancel. Rubble stone walls to north elevation of vestry and aisle to north having roughly dressed flush quoins to corners. Rubble stone construction to tower having cut stone stringcourses delineating stages. Pointed-arched window openings to the south side of nave and to the west end of north aisle having cut sandstone surround, chamfered sandstone sills, cut stone tracery having paired trefoliated openings with Decorated-style head, and leaded windows with coloured glass to margin panes. Square-headed window openings to the north aisle having triple pointed-arched window openings, cut stone surround, cut stone tracery and mullions, leaded windows with coloured glass to margins, and with cut stone hoodmoulding over. Pointed-arched window opening to the north elevation of vestry having cut sandstone surround, chamfered sandstone sills, cut stone tracery having paired trefoliated openings with Decorated-style head, and leaded windows with coloured glass to margin panes. Pointed-arched window opening to the chancel gable having three cusped window openings, cut sandstone surround, chamfered sandstone sills, cut stone tracery with Decorated-style head, leaded windows with leaded coloured glass windows, and with cut stone hoodmoulding over. Cusped window openings to the west side of nave. Pointed-arched openings to tower at second and third stage levels having rendered surrounds and timber louvered fittings. Pointed-arched doorway to the front face of tower (west) having ashlar surround, drip mould and rusticated relief arch over, double-leaf timber sheeted entrance door with wrought-ironmongery, and approached by series of stone steps adjacent to road. Pointed-arched doorway to the west end of north elevation of side aisle to north timber panelled double-doors with wrought-ironmongery, ashlar surround, and with drip mould and rusticated relief arch over. Tudor-arched doorway to the east face of vestry having ashlar surround, and timber sheeted entrance door with wrought-ironmongery. Doorway reached up flight of steps with pointed-arched opening to base having cut stone voussoirs, and wrought-iron gate. Exposed kingpost roof to nave and wagon roof to chancel, arcade of pointed arches to side aisle resting on polished granite columns, carved timber panelling to chancel, timber pews, and with collection of wall memorials, including monument to Sir Richard Hansard dated (died 1619), c. 1622. Set adjacent to road to the north-east end of Lifford. Graveyards to the north and south having collection of upstanding, recumbent and table-type memorials, some in metal railed enclosures, of mainly nineteenth century date. Yew trees to south graveyard. Pedestrian gateway adjacent to the south-side of tower having a pair of squared and dressed coursed rubble stone gate piers (on square-plan) having cut stone coping over, and with wrought-iron gate with cast-iron finials. Rubble stone boundary walls to boundaries, some modern (to north-west). It forms a pair of related structures with the former church hall (see 40835002) across the road to the west.

• Clonleigh Parish Hall, church hall/parish hall, 1865–1870 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay single-storey over basement Church of Ireland church hall, dated 1868, having projecting gable-fronted single-bay single-storey over basement entrance porch to the south-east end of the main elevation (north-east). Pitched natural slate roof with blue clay ridge tiles, raised ashlar verges to gable ends with kneeler stone to eaves, and with ashlar chimneystacks to the gable ends having chamfered cut stone pots over. Pitched natural slate roof to porch with raised ashlar verge to gable end having cut stone kneeler stones to eaves, and cut stone finial over gable apex. Randomly coursed rubble stone walls with tooled flushed ashlar quoins to the corners, and with chamfered cut stone plinth over basement level. Cut stone date plaque to porch. Trefoil-headed window openings to front elevation and rear elevation at ground floor level having chamfered tooled ashlar surrounds, ashlar sills, and metal casement windows having decorative timber tracery over. Square-headed window openings to the front elevation at basement level having tooled stone surrounds, stone sills, and one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed window and door openings to the rear elevation at basement level having chamfered ashlar surrounds, ashlar sills to windows, and with openings now blocked. Three-graded lancet openings to the south-east gable end having chamfered cut stone surround, cut stone mullions and sills, and with cast-iron latticed windows. Pointed-arched doorway to the front face of porch having chamfered ashlar surround, and battened timber door. Flight of stone steps to entrance flanked to either side by ashlar boundary walls. Scissor trussed timber roof to interior. Enclosed to road-frontage to the north-east by low rubble stone boundary wall having render coping over, and with wrought-iron railings having cast-iron fleur-de-lys finials over. Pedestrian gateway serving doorway comprising a pair of decorative cast-iron gate posts with metal gate. Graveyard adjacent to the north (opened c. 1863) having collection of gravemarkers of late nineteenth or twentieth century date. Graveyard bounded to road-frontage to the east by rubble stone boundary wall with wrought-iron railings over having cast-iron fleur-de-lys finials. Gateway to site comprising a pair of decorative cast-iron gate posts having a pair of wrought-iron gates with cast-iron finials. Rubble stone boundary walls to other boundaries of graveyard. Sexton’s house adjacent to the west of church hall. Set slightly back from road to the north of the centre of Lifford set to the west of St. Lugadius Church or Ireland Church (see 40835001).

• Donegal County Council, town/county hall, 1820–1890 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached seven-bay two-storey county council offices, built altered\rebuilt c. 1868, having two-storey return to the rear at the north-east corner, and with central pedimented Tuscan doorcase to the main elevation (south-east). Possibly originally in use as a reformatory from c. 1820. Renovated c. 1997 and now with large modern additions to the rear (north-west) and attached to the south-west. Pitched natural purple slate roof having raised rendered verges to either end with render kneeler stones to eaves having gabled finials over, projecting smooth rendered eaves course, cast-iron rainwater goods with profiled gutters, and with four smooth rendered chimneystacks with cornice copings and clayware pots over. Projecting roughcast rendered chimneybreast to the north-east gable end. Roughcast rendered walls over smooth rendered plinth course, moulded cornice stringcourse above ground floor openings, and with smooth rendered block-and-start quoins to the corners. Square-headed window openings with replacement four-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows, painted concrete sill on moulded brackets, and with smooth rendered architraved surrounds. Central square-headed doorway to the front elevation having timber panelled double-doors with bolection mouldings, and having Tuscan doorcase comprising Tuscan columns with entablature over, and surmounted by moulded pediment. Timber half-glazed panelled double porch doors with glazed sidelights and toplight with carved timber colonnettes, timber stairs with decoratively carved newel posts, stucco consoles to entrance hall arches, plaster ceiling cornices, timber panelled window shutters, timber panelled doors with architraved surrounds (interior not viewed). Corner-sited to the north-east corner of the Diamond to the centre of Lifford facing Lifford Old Courthouse (see 40835006) to the south-east.

• The Old Courthouse, court house, 1740–1750 · National interest
  Description

  Detached eight-bay single-storey over basement former court house and jail\gaol on ‘T-shaped’ plan, built c. 1746 and altered c. 1830 and c. 1868, having central advanced three-bay breakfront to the centre of the front elevation (north-west) of the original seven-bay building, and recessed single-bay block attached to the north-east end of the front elevation, and with two-storey return to the centre of the rear (south-east) elevation. Later three-bay two-storey block attached to the rear at the south-east corner, and two-storey addition to the south-west side of two-storey return. Also formerly in use as Grand Jury chambers, and later also possibly in use as a lunatic asylum (rear). Now in use as a visitor centre and restaurant. Hipped artificial slate roof (fibre cement) having raised parapet to front (north-west) with ashlar sandstone coping over, ashlar sandstone cyma recta eaves course, cast-iron rainwater goods, raised ashlar piers to parapets at corners of building and to corners of breakfronts, and with central raised ashlar parapet\pediment rising over parapet over doorway having carved coat-of-arms of George II with moulded cut stone surround with egg-and-dart detailing and carved swags over, inscribed cut stone panel under, and with having moulded cornice over. Two cement rendered stepped chimneystacks to the later block to the south-east with cornice copings and decorative clay ware pots over, cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls with flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds to corners and to corners of breakfronts. Roughcast rendered walls at basement level having chamfered ashlar sandstone stringcourse\plinth course. Two wrought-iron sign standards to front, one to either side of breakfront. Segmental-headed window openings to front elevation having ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds with architraves, architraved heads with Gibbsian keystone motifs, stone sills, and with nine-over-nine pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed window openings to block to the south-east and to rear having stone sills and timber sliding sash windows. Venetian window opening to the south-east gable of rear return having timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed doorway to the centre of breakfront having timber panelled doors with fielded panels, and ashlar Gibbsian surround having lugged blocked architraved surround with Gibbsian keystone over having carved skull motif to central stone, and with ashlar pediment over. Doorway served by flight of cut stone steps having ashlar paved threshold, and flanked by roughcast rendered walls with cut stone coping over. Roughcast rendered boundary wall over basement level to front having cut stone coping over. Galleries to corner courtroom to interior having timber panelled balustrades\parapets and cast-iron supports. Yard to rear with rubble stone boundary walls. Located to the south-east corner of the Diamond to the centre of Lifford.

• House, 1860–1890 · Regional interest
  Description

  Semi-detached three-bay two-storey over basement former house with attic level, built c. 1870, having two-bay two-storey rear return. Renovated, c. 1990, and now in use as offices. One of a pair with the building (see 40835008) adjoining to the east. Pitched artificial slate roof (fibre cement) having smooth eaves course with paired corbelled brackets, ogee moulded cast-iron rainwater goods, smooth rendered chimneystack to the west with rendered cornice coping, and with modern rooflights. Mono-pitched artificial slate roof to rear return. Squared and snecked squared rubble stone walls with modern strap pointing having canted ashlar sandstone stringcourse over projecting plinth to basement, and with raised rusticated ashlar sandstone block-and-start quoins to the north-west corner of the front elevation. Roughcast rendered walls to rear. Shallow segmental-headed windows openings with flush brick block-and-start reveals and voussoirs, stone sills, and with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with horizontal glazing bars. Square-headed window openings to rear (south-east) having six-over-six and six-over-three pane timber sliding sash window, shallow segmental-headed window openings to south-east elevation of return having timber sliding sash windows with margin glazing bars. Shallow segmental-headed doorway to the east end of the main elevation having timber panelled door with round-headed glazed panels to upper half, flush brick block-and-start reveals and voussoirs flanking timber pilasters with scrolled brackets over supporting moulded timber lintel, and with plain overlight. Doorway approached with shared flight of stone steps having wrought-iron railings over with cast-iron fluer-de-lys finials over. Low rendered dwarf wall over basement having wrought-iron railings over with cast-iron fluer-de-lys finials over. Set slightly back from road to the south-west corner of the Diamond to the centre of Lifford. Rubble stone boundary wall to rear. Laneway to the west side giving access to car park to the rear.

• House, 1860–1890 · Regional interest
  Description

  Semi-detached three-bay two-storey over basement former house with converted attic level, built c. 1870, having two-bay two-storey rear return. Renovated, c. 1990, and now in use as offices. One of a pair with the building (see 40835007) adjoining to the west. Pitched artificial slate roof (fibre cement) having smooth eaves course with paired corbelled brackets, ogee moulded cast-iron rainwater goods, smooth rendered chimneystack to the east with rendered cornice coping, and with modern rooflights. Mono-pitched artificial slate roof to rear return. Squared and snecked squared rubble stone walls with modern strap pointing having canted ashlar sandstone stringcourse over projecting plinth to basement, and with raised rusticated ashlar sandstone block-and-start quoins to the north-east corner of the front elevation. Roughcast rendered walls to rear. Shallow segmental-headed windows openings with flush brick block-and-start reveals and voussoirs, stone sills, and with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with horizontal glazing bars. Square-headed window openings to rear (south-east) having six-over-six timber sliding sash window, shallow segmental-headed window openings to south-east elevation of return having timber sliding sash windows with margin glazing bars. Shallow segmental-headed doorway to the west end of the main elevation having timber panelled door with round-headed glazed panels to upper half, flush brick block-and-start reveals and voussoirs flanking timber pilasters with scrolled brackets over supporting moulded timber lintel, and with plain overlight. Doorway approached with shared flight of stone steps having wrought-iron railings over with cast-iron fluer-de-lys finials over. Low rendered dwarf wall over basement having wrought-iron railings over with cast-iron fluer-de-lys finials over. Set slightly back from road to the south-west corner of the Diamond to the centre of Lifford. Rubble stone boundary wall to rear. Laneway to the west side giving access to car park to the rear.

• Lifford Youth Reach, rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house, 1900–1920 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay two-storey former Church of Ireland rectory on complex irregular-plan, built c. 1910, having single-storey flat-roofed canted bay to the west end of the south-east elevation, single-storey flat-roofed canted bay wrapping around corner to the south end of the east elevation, and with two-bay stepped projection to the north end of the east elevation having gable-fronted bay to the north with single-storey flat-roofed box bay window. Later in use as a hostel and now in use as community centre. Pitched and hipped natural slate roof with terracotta block ridge tiles, exposed rafter ends, and with four red brick chimneystacks having stepped red brick and clay-ware pots over. Flat roofs to canted bays. Red brick walls (Flemish bond) with painted timber sheeted cladding to south-east gable and roughcast render to north-west elevation. Segmental-headed window openings with one-over-one timber sliding sash windows and timber casement windows, some with decorative leaded upper lights with coloured glass. Concrete lintel over canted bay window to the south-east corner. Central three-centred arched door opening to the east elevation having replacement double-leaf timber panelled doors, pointed-arched sidelights with leaded glass, overlight with radial glazing, and with brick hoodmoulding over with ceramic keystone. Glazed inner doors having leaded panels. Timber panelled doors with architraves to interior, turned timber stair balusters, plaster cornices, carved timber fireplace surrounds. Bounded on road-frontage to the south and east by red brick boundary wall with red brick piers (on square-plan) having wrought-iron railings over. Gateway to the east having a pair of red brick gate piers (on square plan) having wrought-iron gate. Located to the south-east side of the Diamond to the centre of Lifford.

• Lifford Garda Station, house, RIC barracks, 1850–1890 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay three-storey gable-fronted former Royal Irish Constabulary barracks, built c. 1870, having advanced single-bay single-storey gable-fronted bay to the centre of the main elevation (south-east). Now in use as Garda station with four-bay two-storey former house amalgamated to the north-east and with three-bay two-storey over basement house to the west having canted corner following streetscape (now in use as retail outlet with accommodation over). Pitched natural slate roof to main block having raised moulded ashlar verge to the front elevation (south-east) with cut stone kneeler stones to eaves and cut stone finial over, and cut stone eaves course, and with rendered chimneystack to either end. Pitched natural slate roof to gabled breakfront having raised moulded ashlar verge to the front elevation (south-east) with cut stone kneeler stones to eaves and cut stone finial over. Hipped and pitched artificial slate roof to flanking buildings having roughcast rendered chimneystack to the north-east gable end of building to the north-east and red brick chimneystack to the west gable end of section to the west. Squared and coursed rubble sandstone stone walls over projecting plinth course with moulded chamfered cut stone stringcourse over, and with flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start quoins to the corners. Squared and coursed rubble sandstone stone walls to attached blocks having projecting plinth course with moulded chamfered stringcourse over, and with flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start quoins to the north-east corner of building to the north-east and flush red brick block-and-start quoins to the western corner of building to the west. Square-headed window openings with chamfered ashlar surrounds, stone sills, cut stone hoodmouldings, and replacement fittings. Square-headed window openings to blocks to either side having red brick surrounds and replacement windows; some window openings to block to the west now enlarged to form display windows. Square-headed doorway to the north-east end having staged chamfered ashlar sandstone surround, cut stone hoodmoulding over, replacement timber panelled door, and plain overlight. Square-headed doorway to building to the north-east having red brick block-and-start surround, replacement door and plain overlight. Square-headed doorway to the building adjoining to the west having battened timber door, plain rendered surround, and overlight with tracery. Road-fronted at a corner site to south-west of the Diamond to the centre of Lifford.

• House, 1790–1830 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached end-of-terrace five-bay two-storey house, built c. 1870, having rear return to south-east, and with later single-storey addition attached to the south-west gable end. Later also in use as shop or retail outlet with enlarged window opening to the south-west end of the front elevation added c. 1950. Pitched artificial slate roof with projecting eaves course, smooth rendered chimneystacks to the gable ends, and cast-iron downpipes. Smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walls over projecting smooth rendered raised plinth course and raised smooth rendered parallel quoins to the corners. Square-headed window openings with painted stone sills and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows. Enlarged window opening to the south-west end of the front elevation having fixed-pane timber display window. Square-headed doorway with plain rendered surround and replacement door. Road-fronted to the south-west of the centre of Lifford, and to the south-wet of the Diamond.

• House, 1800–1860 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached three-bay single-storey with attic level vernacular house, built c. 1820 and possibly containing earlier fabric, having single-storey gable-fronted projecting porch to the centre of the front elevation (north-east). Now unoccupied. Pitched reed thatched roof with projecting eaves course, and with raised rendered verges and rendered chimneystacks to the gable ends. Pitched corrugated metal roof to porch with timber finial over. Smooth rendered walls with smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walls to the west gable end at attic level. Square-headed window openings with smooth rendered reveals, and two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed doorway with timber door; modern security door to front of porch. Timber latticed walls to porch. Set back from and parallel to Main Street to the west of the centre of Lifford.

• Ballyduff House, house, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached five-bay two-storey house, built c. 1780 and possibly containing earlier fabric, having projecting gable-fronted single-bay single-storey entrance porch offset to the north side of the centre of the entrance front (east), added c. 1870, two-storey return to rear (west), two-bay single-storey extension to the north, and with single-storey outbuilding attached to the south. Pitched natural purple slate roof with three smooth rendered ruled-and-lined chimneystacks (one to centre and one to either gable end) with cornice coping, and having cast-iron rainwater goods. Hipped and pitched roof to north extension. Rusticated smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walls with roughcast rendered walls to extension to north and to return to rear. Square-headed window openings with stone sills, six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows, and with architraved surrounds to ground floor openings. Square-headed doorway to front face of porch having timber panelled door with bolection mouldings, spoked overlight, and with doorcase comprising Doric columns supporting entablature over with dentilated cornice and with floral motifs to frieze. Set back from road in mature grounds to the west of the centre of Lifford. Aligned at a right-angle to road-alignment. Range of single-storey outhouses adjoining to south having pitched corrugated-metal and natural slate roofs, smooth rendered and brick walls and square-headed openings. Rubble stone boundary walls to the north boundary to rear (west), roughcast rendered walls to the north boundary to front (east). Gateway to the south-east.

• Lifford Army Barracks, school, 1870–1890 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached ten-bay single- and two-storey former secondary school building on ‘U-shaped’ plan, built 1879-80, having pair of projecting three-bay two-storey blocks to either end of the front elevation (west) with central half-dormer window opening to each projection, half-dormer openings to the north and south side elevations, central four-bay single-storey block, and with three-bay single-storey former classroom blocks to the rear (east) of each two-storey projection. Later in use as an army barracks. Now out of use. Hipped natural slate roof with corbelled eaves brackets, exposed rafter ends, cast-iron rainwater goods, decorative terracotta ridge tiles and finials, and with coursed stone chimneystacks with stepped coping. Pitched natural slate roof to dormers having ashlar sandstone coping over with moulded sandstone finials over gable apexes, and with flanking ashlar sandstone piers to either side having cut sandstone pinnacles over crowned with cut stone finials. Coursed rubble stone battered walls with base batter, flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start quoins to corners, and with flush ashlar sandstone sill course at ground floor level. Segmental-headed window openings with chamfered ashlar sandstone sills, chamfered flush ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds with decorative mouldings to heads, and with replacement windows. Segmental-headed doorways with chamfered ashlar sandstone surrounds, hoodmouldings with decorative cut stone finials over, and with replacement doors. Central cusped niche to the central single-storey block having moulded sandstone surround, with hoodmoulding over. Set back from road in own grounds to the west of the centre of Lifford with various later buildings to site.

• Post box, 1922–1950 · Regional interest
  Description

  Freestanding cast-iron pillar post-box on circular-plan, erected 1922-46. Cylindrical drum with moulded necking having dentilled frieze, projecting letter slot, moulded and slightly projecting base, and having shallow domed capping over. Foundry stamp to base now illegible. P&T motif to base of door. Erected on footpath to the west of the centre of Lifford.

• Ballyduff Cottage, house, 1800–1840 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay two-storey house, built c. 1830, and having a number of two-storey extensions to the rear (south-west). Pitched artificial slate roof with overhanging eaves and three smooth rendered chimneystacks (one to either end and one to centre) with cornice copings. Roughcast rendered walls with raised smooth rendered parallel\block quoins to corners. Square-headed window openings with painted stone sills, rendered architraved surrounds, and with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Square-headed doorway, offset to the south-east side of centre, having timber panelled door with bolection mouldings, modern leaded sidelights and overlight, and rendered doorcase comprising rendered pilasters with brackets over supporting lintel. Set slightly back from road in own grounds to the north-west of Lifford. Set parallel to road with roughcast rendered wall to front with modern cast-iron fleur-de-lys railings. Detached five -bay two-storey outbuilding to the north-west having pitched artificial slate roof, rendered walls, and square-headed openings with modern fittings.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Lifford, about 1 in 10 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_1959 (ZIP).

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Lifford with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Donegal.

Name

Lifford · Leifear

Area

619,833 m² (61.98 ha, 153.16 acres)

Civil parish

Clonleigh, and its townlands

Barony

Raphoe North

Electoral division

Clonleigh South, the unit of the census

Census 2022

2,156 people lived in 853 households in the Clonleigh South electoral division. 64% of households owned their home. 32% of homes were built since 2001. 9% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Lifford Bog, Lifford Common, Roughan, Townparks, Wood Island

Placenames

Lifford on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address. Old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.