The History of Freemasonry in Donegal

By Rt Wor Bro Robert T Bashford

The first Stonemasons in Donegal

Grianan of Aileach, that mysterious stone hill-fort reputed to have been built by one of our remote ancestors – “the Gobhan Saor”, who was said to have built it in 1700 BC for King Dagda, King of the Tuatha De Danna, Irish descendents of The 12th Tribe of Israel – The Tribe of Dan

Glencolmcille

Land of the Solstice Square

Here we have an example of one of the Christian Tura's stones found in the valley Of Glencolmcille marking out the stops on the annual pilgrimage in memory of St Columba. Of particular interest is the use of the square as a central motif. The square can also be found on the decoration in the Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow.

The first Freemason?

Doire 1600’s

Here again the use of ‘The Square’ is very prominent in this early plan for the city of Londonderry

The first artefact with a Masonic origin was found under the foundations of the Baals Bridge in Limerick.

I will strive to live with love and care Upon the level, by the square

Our earliest recorded Masonic Lodge dates

And met in Trinity College,Dublin.

from the year 1680

The earliest written record of a Grand Lodge in Dublin dates from 26th June 1725

Our earlier picture is of The Tailor’s Hall Where Grand Lodge met before moving to the present hall in Molesworth St, Dublin

The first warrant issued to a Donegal Lodge

The first warrant issued to a Donegal Lodge

Ballyshannon

Ballyshannon Warrant No 287

Ballyshannon

Warrant No 128

Gibraltar Lodge No 128

Attached to the 39th Foot

In Ballyshannon

Sept/Oct 1791

Ballyshannon

Warrant No 865

Donegal Militia Lodge No 865

Stationed Ballyshannon 1816-1821

Ballyshannon

Warrant No 129

Lodge Smoke Seal

Ballyshannon

Warrant No 756

Ballyshannon

Warrant No 287 Re-Issued1890

Ballintra

Lodge No 491

Ballybofey

Lodge No 442

Ballybofey

Lodge No 641

Buncrana 1st Warrant 1804

The Buncrana Lodge No 939

Buncrana Sunbeam Lodge No 191

This was the Buncrana Hall up until the mid 1940’s

Past Master’s Jewel

of Sunbeam Lodge

Buncrana

Bundoran

Lodge No 129

Carndonagh

Lodge No 196

Castlefin

Lodge No 614

Convoy

Lodge No 438

Donegal Town

Lodge No 588

Drumconnor

Lodge No 575

Dunkineely

Lodge No 558

Fahan

Lodge No 882

Island of Inch

Lodge No 589

Killybegs

Lodge No 522

Killygordon

Lodge No 434

Letterkenny

Lodge No 438

Lifford

Lodge No 569

Lifford

Lodge No 102

Lodge Seal

Moville

Lodge No 297

Newtowncunningham

Lodge No 670

Pettigo

Lodge No 215

Port/Gurt

Lodge No 685

Ramelton

Lodge No 448

Raphoe

Lodge No 346

Raphoe

Lodge No 438

St Johnston

Lodge No 281

Stranorlar

Lodge No 442

Stranorlar

Lodge No 341

Tawnawully Mountains

Lodge No 644

There are many reasons for the decline in membership of Masonic Lodges in Co Donegal. Of these the main problems arose from the following:-

The Irish Famine

The Irish Famine

Emigration

The Irish Famine

Emigration

Papal Bulls

One of the most famous Freemasons to be affected by the Papal Bulls, was Daniel O’Connell, ‘The Great Liberator’. O’Connell had been Master of a Lodge in Co Kerry, Master of a Dublin Lodge and was a noted Ritualist within the Order.

Daniel O’Connell

Daniel O’Connell

described Freemasonry as;

Daniel O’Connell

“Philanthropy unconfined by Sect, Nation, Colour or Religion”

described Freemasonry as;

Philanthropy - 2011 Grand Lodge Charity Donations in 2011 included:-

Philanthropy - 2011

N.I. Children’s Hospice - £200,000

Philanthropy - 2011

N.I. Children’s Hospice - £200,000

Laura Lynne Children’s Hospice Dublin - £200,000

Philanthropy - 2011

N.I. Children’s Hospice - £200,000

Laura Lynne Children’s Hospice Dublin - £200,000

Samaritans of Ireland - £200,000

Philanthropy - 2011

These figures do not take account of the many individual Lodge donations to worthwhile local charities,throughout the year.

Friendship Lodge No 341, Stranorlar celebrated it’s 100th Anniversary this year and became the first Lodge to install a Philippine Brother as Worshipful Master.

The current Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ireland is a Donegal Mason

Most Worshipful Brother George Dunlop, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland

We hope you have all enjoyed this very short synopsis of Donegal Lodges. We hope that you will all have an opportunity to attend a meeting in the County of Donegal, where you will be assured of a very warm and hearty welcome.