A Historic Home in the Heart of Killybegs
Now home to the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO), Bruach na Mara is a landmark building with a rich and storied past. Designed by the renowned architectural firm Savery & Scheetz and constructed by the Sinnott family in the early 1900s, the house is an important piece of Killybegs’ architectural and cultural heritage.
One of its notable early residents was Joseph Francis Sinnott, born in Killybegs on 14 February 1837 to John Sinnott and Mary Armstrong Sinnott. Joseph emigrated to the United States, where he married Annie Eliza Rodgers and raised a family of seven children. He passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 20 June 1906, but his family legacy remains deeply tied to the town.
From 1932 until his death in 1969, Bishop John McGinley—a respected figure in the local religious community—made Bruach na Mara his residence during retirement, adding another chapter to the home’s distinguished history.
Today, Bruach na Mara continues to play a central role in the life of Killybegs, standing as both a functional hub for the local fishing industry and a reminder of the town’s vibrant past.
