Swilly, LOUGH

Swilly, LOUGH, a long narrow inlet of the Atlantic on the north coast of Donegal, Ireland, enters between Dunaff Head on the east and Fanad Point, on which there is a lighthouse (fixed light visible 14 miles), on the west. A second lighthouse, on Dunree Head, has a fixed light visible for 13 miles. The entrance is protected by forts. Lough Swilly penetrates about 25 miles inland, and has a width of 3 to 4 miles. On the eastern shore is the small town of Buncrana, much resorted to for seabathing. On its waters a French fleet under Bompart was destroyed in 1798; and in 1811 H.M.S. Saldanha foundered at the entrance in a storm, and 300 lives were lost.