Dónal Mac Diarmada – Gaoth Barra na dTonn
This mural is on the side of Dónal Mac Diarmada’s cottage, located on the road towards Derryleconnell.
The Gweebarra Poet and Postman
Dónal joined the postal service as a relief worker on his 17th birthday and is reported to have never missed one day of work. His career as a postman in Donegal lasted 58 years, the longest serving postman in Ireland when he retired in 1964.
He composed many songs and poems including Bathadh Aaron Mhor, Gaoth Barra Na dTonn and My Own Gweebarra Bay.
Gaoth Beara na dTonn
– A Song of Place and Spirit
“Gaoth Beara na dTonn” is a lyrical Irish-language song attributed to Dónal Mac Diarmada, celebrating the natural beauty and spiritual resonance of the Gweebarra Bay area in County Donegal. The title translates roughly as Gweebarra of the Waves, evoking both elemental power and deep local connection.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the Donegal landscape: harvest moon, autumnal woods, spawning salmon, and birds nesting along the shore.
It blends natural observation with spiritual longing, culminating in a prayer to St. Patrick and St. Conall for the poet’s soul to rest among the forests of Gweebarra
This song is a beautiful example of how Irish-language music can intertwine landscape, faith, and identity.
Villagers on Video
View a video of Centenarian Dónal Mac Diarmada being interviewed in 1991 by Fr. Eddie Gallagher and Manus Elliott on Doochary Development Committee’s YouTube channel.
