Ramelton
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| Ramelton Ráth Mealtáin |
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WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
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| Irish grid reference B847228 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Ulster | |
| County: | County Donegal | |
| Dáil Éireann: | Donegal South West | |
| Dialling code: | 075, +000 353 74 | |
| Population (2006) | 1,088 | |
Ramelton is a town in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland; its population is 1088 (2006).
Ramelton (Gaelic: Ráth Mealtáin) is situated at the mouth of the River Lennon, 11km north of Letterkenny and 4km east of Milford on the western shores of Lough Swilly. The town is named from Ráth Mealtáin, 'the fort of Mealtan', an early Irish chieftain. The fort is said to lie under the ruins of a medieval castle of the O'Donnells, the ruling family of West Donegal before their exile to Europe in 1607.
Ramelton was settled by English and Scots Planters during the Ulster Plantation of the 17th century and is the site of the oldest Presbyterian church in Ireland.
The town was the setting for the 1995 television program "The Hanging Gale", which told of the Potato Famine of the 19th century.
The town has hosted the Lennon Festival since 1970. It is the birthplace of Francis Makemie, often referred to as the founder of Presbyterianism in the United States; Glasgow Celtic footballer Patsy Gallacher, and All Blacks captain Dave Gallaher.
Ramelton is a Fáilte Ireland designated Heritage Town.
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