One of Donegal’s earliest ‘Big Houses’

Buncrana Castle is located near the mouth of the Crana River beside a small castle known as ‘O’Doherty’s Keep’. These lands and most of Donegal were seized by Sir Arthur Chichester from Cahir O’Doherty after the failed rebellion of 1608. Chichester then leased the lands to Henry Vaughan whose grandson Colonel George Vaughan re-designed Buncrana. Henry built this house and the 6 arched bridge as his own private park and moved Buncrana main street to its present location about 1 mile away. In 1812 the entire town of Buncrana was bought by Isaac Todd at the Court of Chancery on behalf of the trustees of the Marquess of Donegall. His nephews inherited the castle, and they later became known as the Thornton-Todds. Today, the castle remains a private home within Swan Park. The castle has a memorial rock in honor of Sir Cahir O’Doherty and a plaque dedicated to Wolfe Tone.