Inver is a small village in County Donegal, Ireland. The village lies on the N56 National secondary road midway between Donegal town to the east and Killybegs to the west. It is also a civil parish in the historic barony of Banagh.

History

St Natalis (or Naail), who died in 563, was the abbot of a monastery in Invernayle (Inver). In the 1460, a Franciscan monastery was founded on the same site. The graveyard dates back to 1731. A Church of Ireland Anglican church was built in 1622, with a new building completed in 1807. There was a recognised settlement in Inver in 1837. At that time it was noted that 11,785 people lived there, with five schools teaching 360 children. Inver was an important whaling post in the past, with a whaling station in the Port of Inver, 3km (2 miles) from the town. Its ruins can still be seen in the port to this day. Today there are 24 main species of whale and dolphin in the waters off Ireland's West Coast, and whale and dolphin spotting is very popular with locals and tourists.

Facilities

Inver has three churches, Catholic, Anglican and Methodist. The village has a football pitch which hosts Eany Celtic in the Donegal League. There is one shop and sub-post office in the village. Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota may be named after Inver.

Transport

Inver railway station opened on 18 August 1893 and closed on 1 January 1960.

Civil parish of Inver

The civil parish contains the villages of Inver, Frosses and Mountcharles.

Townlands

The civil parish contains the following townlands: