Leitir Corn Mill Conservation Project

Leitir Corn Mill is a traditional corn mill dating back to the early 19th century located on the Glenaddragh River in Kilcar, Co. Donegal. Up until May 1954, the mill catered for the corn growers of the parishes of Kilcar, Glencolumbkille and Killybegs. There was also a cohort of farmers from parts of Ardara, who travelled to the mill to have their corn crops ground into oatmeal. Oats were a staple food of the Irish throughout our history conjuring images of the self-sufficient farmstead. Few of Ireland’s traditional corn mills have survived to the present day with the level of preservation and intactness of this 156 year old corn mill and drying kiln. This mill and kiln is undoubtedly of immense cultural and industrial significance.

In late 2014 a local heritage committee was formed in Kilcar, Co. Donegal to develop a mill heritage project to restore and develop Leitir Corn Mill into a working heritage water mill. The mill when restored will offer an exemplar insight into an important aspect of industrial and agricultural heritage in the 19th century, not alone in Kilcar and the surrounding parishes, but of Donegal and of the North West region. The mill will offer the visitor a unique glimpse of an era when country mills flourished, and for the winter and early spring at least, plied its trade and served farming communities.
It survives as a rare example of the small country custom mill, dedicated to grinding the farmer’s hard won corn harvest into the finest oatmeal. The associated miller’s house and the millrace and millpond along with the scenic walk will further enhance the visitor experience.

​

​

​

Tá Muileann Coirce Leitir ina sheasamh go daingean ar bhruach abhainn Ghleann Eadrach i mbaile fearainn Leitir i bparóiste Chill Charthaigh. Is muileann coirce traidisiúnta í a théann siar go luath sa 19ú haois. Go dtí Bealtaine 1954, d’fhreastail an muileann ar fheirmeoirí coirce i bparóistí Chill Charthaigh, Ghleann Cholmcille agus na Cealla Beaga. D’úsáid roinnt feirmeoirí as Ard an Rátha an muileann leis an choirce a mheilt mar mhin choirce. Tríd an stair bhíodh min choirce mar phríomhbhia ag muintir na hÉireann rud a thugann chun cuimhne íomhá d’fheirmeacha a bhí in ann leordhóthain bia a sholáthar dóibh féin. Tá an muileann coirce agus áith traidisiúnta seo 156 bliain d’aois agus is beag muileann eile atá ann ar an aimsir seo a bhfuil bail chomh maith agus chomh slán air is atá ar an cheann seo.

Mall sa bhliain 2014 bunaíodh coiste oidhreachta i gCill Charthaigh le tionscadal oidhreachta a chur le chéile chun Muileann Coirce Leitir a athbhunú agus a fhorbairt mar mhuileann uisce atá fós ag obair. Nuair atá an obair athchóirithe críochnaithe tabharfaidh an muileann tuiscint ar ghné iontach tábhachtach d’oidhreacht tionsclaíochta agus talmhaíochta an 19ú aois, ní amháin i gCill Charthaigh agus na paróistí máguaird ach i nDún na nGall agus ceantar an iarthuaiscirt. Tabharfaidh an muileann léargas ar leith don chuairteoir dar ar ré nuair a bhí rath ar mhuilte tuaithe agus, ar a laghad don gheimhreadh agus luath earrach bhí sé gnóthach agus chuir seirbhís ar fáil do phobail fheirmeoireachta.