Townland of Stroove

Area: 1052 acres
Irish Name: An tSrúibh (Srúibh Broin-Stream of Sorrow) (Srúibh Brain-Bran's Point). A place with the current or stream. May also refer to the shape of the headland.
Spelling Variations: According to Cormac Mac Giolla Easpaig, Shrove people call it Shrove: Carrowtrasna people and others call it Stroove. Both are made up names from the real Irish names.

An tSrúibh [an trooive] 'the beak/point'. An tSrúibh is a shortened form of Srúibh Bhrain [sroo vran] 'raven's beak', the Ir. name of Inishowen Head in the north-east of the townland. Ir. Bran 'raven' is also used as a personal name and according to the eighth-century vogage tale Immram Brain 'the voyage of Bran' the final element of the place-name refers to the tale's hero Bran macFeabhail Bran, son of Feabhal and Srúibh Brain 'Bran's point' was the place to which he and his men returned after their journey to the other world [(hi tóib) Srúbe Brain c. 1075]. (Taken from A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names By Patrick McKay).

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There is no doubt Shrove has had a good population for many centuries: sailors and fishermen lived here long before Greencastle or Moville were inhabited. I suppose Kilblaney was their church. I can find no record of any other.

Donovan in 1835, says that Sruva Broin, or the Stream of Sorrow, is marked in the account of diocesan boundaries in the synod of Rathbreassal, 1112 A.D. This is considered to be at Strova Point in Moville parish, where a stream, gushing from the rock, invites all the mad and delirious people in the country to drink of its waters." It is the stream that crosses the path just before Port-a-Doris is entered. All I know Port-a-Doris, the "Port of the Door." I cannot find details about the Shrove before the beginning of the 19th century. The house now known as Hegarty's is one of the oldest with any history. A Mr. Walker inhabited it, but had not built it. He was a solicitor, his wife was a Cary. Her sister married a Vandeleur, of Kilmoyle. The landlord of Shrove was Mr Charles McIntyre. I also hear of a well-known family named Hernon. There were adventurous spirits in those days in this far-away spot. I mention no names, but two of the inhabitants of Shrove were yarn merchants. A great deal of flax was grown and spun and woven, and the linen conveyed to market on slipes - there were no wheeled vehicles. I think Coleraine must have been their market. But they had other ventures. Vessels brought to Malin Head and Inishowen silks, satins and velvets which escaped the Revenue Officers, and were deposited in a house in Shrove, which is no longer in existence. In one of the rooms of the house there was a bed, and when you moved it a trap door, well concealed, was uncovered: this led to a commodious cellar with shelves all round the walls. An old friend tells me that, when a child, she often descended into that cellar, but was told to be careful to make no allusion to it. In due time, Mr Walker gave place to Mr. Hegarty, who had a close friendship with the father of Sir Newman Chambers. It was in this way that Sir Newman became devoted to Shrove and its glorious headlands, and at length built Carrig-nog. There are many stories connected with Mrs. Porter, how that she was a strong character and the tenants all had to give her certain "duty days," that is, a day's work in place of rent. Her name was Rosetta, and families in Shrove gave that name in many instances to their daughters.

Taken from A History of Moville and its neighbourhood by Rt. Rev. Bishop Henry Montgomery, 1847 -1932

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Shrove is a scattered village three miles north of Greencastle. A favourite walk is to Port-a-doris, less than one mile to the north along the coast. The natural door to the little bay is a strange freak of nature. It is natural, not artificial - a lovely cove.

There is a wishing well thought to be lucky, where visitors drink the waters and wish for their heart's desire.

From Crockalaghta (567 feet) there is a good view looking east. Shrove is a bus terminus.

Near Shrove and about half a mile or more north of Inishowen Head in a retired and picturesque situation there is to be seen an ancient cross-inscribed pillar stone, also a small modern cross. The cliffs here are lofty and it is necessary to descend by a steep path from the road above. Near the stone is a little spring dedicated to St. Columcille. Tradition tells us that when the saint sailed for Iona his curragh called here to take in water from this spring. (Taken From "Twixt Foyle and Swilly") Click here to see photographs of Portkille.

Standing Stones (Megalithic)
Off upper Moville/Stroove raod, just before reaching Stroove a road branches towards N. Site is 0.66 miles up this road, in field at roadside on E. On slope 0.5 miles from open sea, beyond mouth of Lough Foyle. Arable. Wonderful view in almost all directions. This pair of standing stones ('Adam & Eve'), hard grey local stone, faces N. and S. Both stones are higher nearer each other the other side of each sloping away. They are on a slight round with evidence of loose stones in the grass. The E. or taller, stone is slightly in front of the W.stone.

Standing Stone (Megalithic)
At Cavanagh's farm 0.25 miles N. of Stroove on hillside W. of Stroove House. Arable. View restricted by higher ground to N. otherwise excellent across mouth of Lough Foyle to Derry and Antrim Coasts, Rathlin Island, and to Scottish islands on a clear day.

This small, rough undressed stone in the field is not locally regarded as a standing stone but has superstitions connected with it and "it will never be moved". The farmer said that when taking a horse past it, the horse "went mad with him". Measurements: Approx. 4ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft.

St. Columbkille's Well and Cross (Early Christian)
Approached by cliff road passing Inishowen Head (300ft high) and 1.5 miles N. from Stroove. At Portkill, at shore edge, at foot of 400ft. cliff, and mountain pasture. View extensive seawards, otherwise greatly restricted.
Well: The well is very small, almost hidden, and is only a few inches deep with loose gravel and shells at the bottom, but no structure. It is about 1ft x 10ins. wide. Pilgrimages are held every year from 15th August to early September. Rags and votive offerings are to be seen. A small concrete cross has been erected above the well bearing the date 1937.
Cross: A few yards nearer the sea is a standing stone - local hard grey sedimentary stone - with a rough incised cross on the W. side with 5 small deep hollows marking the crossing and the ends of the cross.

Graves: On the map (see The Heritage of Inishowen) two graves are marked at the S.E. but other than a small area with rough stones, no sign of these was observed. Possibly the bodies of sailors washed ashore were buried here.

(Taken from The Heritage of Inishowen by Mabel R. Calhoun)

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