Leitir Corn Mill is a traditional corn mill dating back to the early 19th century located on the Glenaddragh River in Kilcar, Co. 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 will further enhance the visitor experience.
