St. Patrick’s Church, Crossroads
The Village of Crossroads in County Donegal is located on the road that parallels the south side of the River Finn near the bridge to Killygordon. Locally the village is known as The Cross. In his book, Rambles Around the Finn, David Kelly claims that the village was called The Cross because the cottages, shebeens, and church there formed the shape of a cross. This changed after Oliver Cromwell “visited” Ireland in the 17th century, and the cottages were destroyed to make dwellings for his loyal English and Scot soldiers. The name of the village then became Crossroads probably because of the intersection of the main road with the road over the Finn to Killygordon. The road from Killygordon continues past Crossroads and travels up to the border of County Tyrone at Carn Hill and down to the County Tyrone town of Killeter.
The village is tiny. Besides a few dwellings, it has two churches, two pubs, and a store/post office. An international business (Donegal Creameries) started here and has its main office in Crossroads. It now has operations in Ireland, Britain, Netherlands, and Brazil. The churches: The first church here was built more than a millennium ago. Other churches replaced it as the years went by until the Penal Laws limited the practice of Catholicism. Near the end of the Penal Laws, a new thatched-roof Catholic chapel was built in 1790. That humble chapel was replaced in 1875 by the magnificent St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Much of the funding for the new church came from those who emigrated from the parish to America following the Great Famine. Father Edward Boyle was responsible for arranging the financing.
St. Anne’s Church of Ireland (Anglican) was founded in 1833 by Rev. Robert Delap. Reverend Delap was a wealthy landowner in the parish and a curate of the Donaghmore Church of Ireland.
The Pubs: Browne’s Cross Bar is located on the north side of the main road at the intersection of the road to Killygordon Bridge. The Lantern Inn is located on the south side of the main road and across the street from Browne’s Cross Bar.
The Store: Bradley’s of the Cross is a Gala Store and post office. The last I heard, Barry Bradley was proprietor and postmaster.
Donegal Creameries: The Finn Valley Co-op was founded in 1898 and a creamery was opened in Crossroads the following year. In 1970, Finn Valley and a number of other co-ops joined to form Donegal Creameries. Donegal Creameries grew and it is now a major supplier of dairy products (named Daisi) in north-west Ireland. It is one of Donegal’s biggest employers and it sponsors County Donegal’s premiere GAA football team.
Much of my novel, DONEGAL GENERATIONS, takes place in Crossroads and in the hills to the south of the village. If you have the inclination, please check it out.
Bradley’s of the Cross
Browne’s Cross Bar
The “Crossroads” at Crossroads
The “Crossroads” at Crossroads
St. Anne’s
Memorial to Rev. Robert Delap at St. Anne’s.
Interior of St. Patrick’s.
St. Patricks, Crossroads (from Gleneely).
Interior of St. Patrick’s, Crossroads.
Interior of St. Patrick’s, Crossroads.
My father in-laws baptism record reads Andrew O’Brien ,Bradley Parish of Drumholm, St. Bridets church Ballantra. What is the meaning of Bradley? It is not a family name an his middle name was Patrick. Thanks for your help
I’m sorry. I can’t answer your question. Hopefully someone else reading this can. At first it appears to be a townland of Drumholm Parish but no such townland exists. Can it be the mother’s maiden name? Again, sorry. Have you checked the original record of the baptismal record? It can be found online at http://www.nli.ie/en/parish-register.aspx .
Hi Tom,
I visited the area earlier this year in my search for information on my Bonner family and I found a grave in St Patricks with the headstone inscription for the Hannigan/Bonner/Gallen families and wonder if you are related to this Gallen family?
I am seeking info on my great grandparents James Bonar and Elizabeth Smyth whose daughter Anna Bonar was born in Donaghmore and baptised 18 Nov 1877. It would appear they later moved to the Strabane area. I can find no information on James or Elizabeth. I wonder if you have any knowledge about the Bonners?
I was born in Omagh but now live in Surrey.
Kind regards
Ken
Sorry. Although possible, I don’t believe I am related. These are more recent graves.
Yes Bradley is a townland near Ballintry, .It is out about three miles beyond the Old Landfill on the backroad road to I believe Enniskillen.and yes Bradley is a very common surname in Donegal.
My mum came from dromore the cross and I have had many wonderful holidays there. I was lucky enough to be baptised in st patricks church. I love my holidays there.
I am a Catholic priest in Philadelphia, and grandson of the Cross where my grandparents were married.
The priests and parishioners are special. They always welcome me “home.”
I am a Catholic priest in Philadelphia, and a grandson of the Cross where my grandparents were married.
Priests and parishioners are very special to me, They always and with warmth welcome me “home.”
Hi where can I puchase Rambles around the Finn also the video .
I would also like to know prices.
Thank you
NormaMcAfee
I hope someone reads this and can help you. I have a copy of the book by David Kelly but I believe that it is now out of print. I wasn’t aware of a video.
Yes Bradley is a townland near Ballintry, .It is out about three miles beyond the Old Landfill on the backroad road to I believe Enniskillen.and yes Bradley is a very common surname in Donegal.
Hi Tom,
I will read your book – its sounds fabulous. I am heading to Donegal in two weeks for the first time and have travelled from NZ to many other parts of Ireland in the past. My paternal great great grand parents were a William Gallen born abt 1819 in Killygordon and died 2 jul 1882 in Meenreagh Killygordon (son of Murthy (Maurice) gallen and Catherine Boyle, and my ggmother was bridget Moyborn in Donegal abt 1816 and also died in Meenreagh Killygordon on 10 jan 1908.
They had 6 children (Maurice, Rose, Mary, Patrick, John and William) of these 6 Rose and William stayed in Ireland, the others all went to Australia and my grandfather john went on to NZ.
do you know if we are related?
Hope to hear from you
Gail Costa (nee Malcolm) – Wellington, new zealand
Sorry, Gail. I was unsuccessful in finding my Irish ancestors beyond the family who emigrated to America. I had my DNA tested and I’ll look for your name among my over 700 distant relatives on ancestry.com.
Hello Gail,
It appears we are related. My third great grandparents were Patrick Moy (1798-1885, b. Donegal, d. NSW Australia) and Cecilia Carlan (1808-1885, b. Donegal, d. NSW Australia). I also have several Boyle names in my line, Frances Boyle Sweeney was my 3rd great grandmother. Do feel free to email me at email2shannon.obrien at gmail.com (notice period between my first and last name) if you’d like to connect. I am in the U.S.
My ancestors were Michael McGlensey/McGlinchey/
McGlinsey. I’ve seen several spellings, and Sara Boyle.
I have a record showing Michael was a witness for a wedding/Gallen. Another guest was a Catherine Boyle who I believe was related to Sara. This wedding was before 1852 which was when Sara and Michael left Ireland by ship to Pennsylvania.
Perhaps we are related??
Could be! But unfortunately no way to check.
I found this information on my g-g-grandmother, Catherine Anastasia Brogan’s younger brother. This is the only one of 3 children I found with birth information. Any suggestions as to how to pursue this in Ireland? Thanks.
Name: Michle Brogan
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 2 Aug 1867
Birth Place: Crossroads, Donegal, Ireland
Father: John Brogan
Mother: Cathrine Gallagher
FHL Film Number: 101151
Only suggestion is to search the Catholic parish records. They can be found athttps://www.nli.ie/en/parish-register.aspx. The parish for Crossroads is Donaghmore.
Thanks, I tried, no luck.
My Great great grandmother’s maiden name was Sarah Griffith. Her obituary written in 1921 says that she had come form Carrowcannon. Her father was William Griffith. My research has found a contemporary William Griffith who became a JP and supported the people from Gweedore. William passed away in 1911.
He had a family of several children all of whom appear to have vanished off the face of the earth. I have spent hours google earthing the Crossroads.What a glorious place. One of these days I would love to be able to visit. When I visited Donegal in the 1990s I was unaware of these connections. I have read “Setting Donegal on Fire” which says that William Griffith purchased Carrowcannon House during the 1800s.
Hello!
I just ordered your book. I am adopted and recently found my birth families. My father’s side came from Donegal, Crossroads to be exact. It’s overwhelming trying to find ancestors! My cousin has gone back as far as the mid 1800’s. There are Boyles and Cannons and Gallaghers oh my!
Looking forward to the book!
I’m looking for more information on the family connections of my great grandmother, 4 generations back.
She was Elenore Barber, from Lifford, Donegal County, Norther Ireland, born in 1800 and then got married to John Edward Fullard and imigrated to the Cape of Good Hope with the Irish Settlers in 1820.
I am researching her family and ancestry links in Northern Ireland.
According to the story, her father was Squire in Lifford.
Any help will be appreciated.
Regards
Minnaar Fullard
Cape Town
South Africa
I had thought Crossroads was now Falcarragh town.
In mid 1800’s my ancestors lived on the Old Road to Letterkenny (Griffiths Valuation), which someone had said could be Station Road (the Falcarragh crossroad)? Have you seen reference to that road?
There are more than one Crossroads in Donegal. This one is across the river from Killygordon.
Hello all
I have traced my ancestors to Cross Roads / Killygordon. My GtGt Grandparents were John & Roseanne Patton nee McBrearty. They emigrated to Glasgow in 1850 and from there some of the lads moved to Liverpool in the 1860/70s. I have the baptism records of the younger children that were baptised in St Patrick’s but the older ones would have been baptised prior to St Patrick’s being built.
I am trying tp find the Sweeney family who lived at Crossroads, Killygordon at least 60 years ago.
Doing my family tree. My mother came from Strabane(Margaret McAleer).
I can remember as a child taking things to post to the Sweeney’s, i think they were related somehow but don’t know how,
Grateful for any help.
Thanks,
Ann Burrows
I am trying tp find the Sweeney family who lived at Crossroads, Killygordon at least 60 years ago.
Doing my family tree. My mother came from Strabane(Margaret McAleer).
I can remember as a child taking things to post to the Sweeney’s, i think they were related somehow but don’t know how,
Grateful for any help.
Thanks,
Ann Burrows
Hello,
My grandparents lived in Ballyness/? Ballyboes. I found some information in the Census about the family. However, I never seem to be able to find any photos, information about Ballyness in the mid to late 1800s and onwards. Would Ballyness have been close to Crossroads? Place names on the Census were Ballyness, Tulloughabegley, Kilmacrennan, Raphoe. I wondered if you could give me some direction on reading materials.
Thank you,
Kind regards,
Elizabeth P.
Why is there not a mention of McCrearys business there since 1860 and still getting bigger the family have been part of the village for a very long time.
I believe you are related to Robert “Bertie” Gillespie. I manage the DNA for Charlene and her Harper aunts living in Carnadore, Co. Donegal.
Sorry. I am not related to Robert Gillespie.
Hi
Does anyone know anything about this area of Crossroads – Mullaghaneary, Crossroads, Killygordon, Co. Donegal.
All my grandmother’s family (Lynch) were born there, but she was born in Glasgow, moved to Esssex, where I was born, but lived in the North of Ireland for the last 20 years.
Thanks
Sarah
My grandmother Frances Harper b. 1884 Carranadore, Co Donegal left a hand drawn map leading her her family farm also known as Carnadore. It led passed the crossroads and creamery. In 1999 I cycled Ireland and followed her map to discover four Harper cousins currently living happily on the farm. They hosted me to tea and great conversation. I’ve been back three Simoes since.
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It didn’t seem to be so bad, when I was there. Maybe this refers to a different Crossroads.