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 The New Mills Complex in the 19th century The New Mills complex at Milltown, five kilometres west of Letterkenny, has been renovated to full working order and is open to visitors. The complex contains corn and flax mills located on the south bank of the Swilly River. The oldest surviving building is said to be 300 or 400 years old with the oldest mill on the site dated 1683. The complex was in continual occupation and working order until 1982 when the Gallagher family closed the milling business which had been in their ownership since 1892. In 1986 the Commissioners of Public Works purchased the Mills to preserve this fine industrial monument for posterity. The corn mill is powered by a 7.63 metre water wheel which was manufactured by J. Stevenson's foundry in Strabane in 1867. Water for the mill-wheels is siphoned off from the River Swilly at a place known as 'The Caraigh' almost a quarter of a mile upstream from the mill. A salmon weir has now been constructed and new sluice gates control the amount of water getting to the mill-waters along the partially-piped mill-race. The upper Mill was for flax, used in the making of linen, and much of the old machinery is still in place and is powered by a 3.84 metre water wheel. The Newmills complex is in the care of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. |
Tá An Mhuileann Úr suite i Milltown, 5 chiliméadar ar iarthar baile mór Leitir Ceanainn. Tá athchóiriú déanta ar an mhuileann agus tá sé ag obair go maith agus a bhí sé ariamh. Tá muileann arbhar agus líon anseo agus tá sé suite ar an taobh dheas de abhann an t-Suilí a ritheann isteach go Loch Suilí. Deirtear go bhfuil an foirgneamh is seine, go foill ina sheasamh, 300 nó 400 bliana d-aois agus go bhfuil an muileann is seine ar an suíomh ag dul arais go 1683. Bhí duine éigin ina chonaí sa coimhpléasc i gconaí agus bhí gach innrealra ag obair go dtí 1982 nuair a dhruid clann Uí Gallachóir an muileann síos. Bhí úineireacht ag clann Uí Gallachóir ar an coimhpléasc ón bhliain 1892. I 1986 cheannaigh Na Coimisinéirí ar Oibreacha Poiblí an Muileann leis an séadchomhartha breá tionsclaíoch seo a chaomhnú do na glúine atá le theacht. Gheobhann an Muileann arbhar a chuid leictreachas ón rotha uisce atá 7.63 méadar. Thóg an déantóir J.Stevenson ón tSráth Bán é sa bhliain 1867. Siofóntear an t-uisce uilig go dtí na rothaigh muileann ó abhainn an tSuilí ag áit a dtugtar 'An Caraigh' air, chor a bheith ceathrú míle suas an tsrúthán ón mhuileann. Tá cora bradáin tógtha anois agus cuireadh suas loic-chomhla le smacht a choinneail ar an méid uisce a fhaigheann fhád leis na muileainn uisce. Ritheann an t-uisce le taobh an srúth muileann leath-phíotaithe. Rinneadh líon sa mhuileann a bhí shuas. D'úsáid siad an líon seo le línéadach a dheanamh. Tá an chuid is mó den inneallra san áit a bhí sé i gconaí. Tagann cumhacht an innreallra ó rotha mór uisce atá 3.84 méadar trasna. Tá coimhpléasc an Mhuileann Úr faoi chúram An Roinn Ealaín, Cultúr agus Gaeltachta. Tá an coimhpléasc fóscailte do chuairteoirí gach bliain. © The Corn Mill |
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