Malin Head

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Malin Head (Irish: Cionn Mhálanna) is the most northerly headland of the mainland of Ireland (and of Ulster. It is not in Northern Ireland, though more northerly than any part of it.) The most northerly point is actually a headland 2 km northeast of Malin Head, Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal. It lies at latitude 55.38ºN.^[1] Malin Head gives its name to the Malin sea area. The weather station at Malin Head (built 1955) is an important element of the Irish meteorological service Met Éireann, providing weather reports. and plays its part in the official Weather Forecasts. The Irish Marine Emergency Service, based at the radio station, has a major role in the safety of life at sea.

Banba's Crown on Malin Head is Ireland's most northerly point.^{[citation needed]} Banba was one of the mythical queens of Ireland. Banba's Crown is about 10 miles/16km north of the village of Malin.

1 Locality
- 1.1 Wee House of Malin
- 1.2 Ornithology
2 Location information
3 References

[edit] Locality

A tall derelict building known locally as "The Tower" was built here in 1802 by the Admiralty, and later used as a Lloyds signal station. During the Second World War, the small huts were built and used by the Irish Defence Forces to keep a lookout and protect Irish Neutrality. Marconi Wireless built a radio station beside the tower in 1910. Many years later, this was relocated to its present site some miles away, which is now operated by the Irish Coast Guard. To the north-east can be seen Inistrahull Island. Its first lighthouse was put into operation in 1813, and its light flashes every 30 seconds.

Below Banba's Crown to the east lies Ballyhillion beach, a unique raised beach system of international scientific importance^{[citation needed]}. The very distinct shorelines show the changing relationship between the sea and the land from the time the glaciers began to melt, some 15,000 years ago. At that time County Donegal was depressed by the weight of an immense ice sheet, so the level of the sea, relative to today's shore, was up to 80 feet higher than today.

The largest sand dunes in Europe are at Lagg, along the north of Trawbrega Bay^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Wee House of Malin

The Wee House of Malin is in fact a cave in the hillside and is said to be the home of St. Muirdealach. Legend has it that no matter how many people entered this cave it always had room for more. Beside are the remains of an old church which according to tradition was built by St Muirdealach. Built of split stone rubble and some boulders, only the NE and S walls now survive.

[edit] Ornithology

Malin Head is one of the few places in Europe where you may hear the elusive Corncrake. It is also an ideal vantage point from which to view the Autumnal movements of seabirds such as gannets, shearwaters, skuas, auks and others, on their southward migration flights.