When President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865, it was a shocking event that sent ripples across the world. But few know that the first full report of his death reached Europe through Inishowen. Greencastle, with its vital telegraph station, was one of the key entry points for transatlantic news, ensuring that Lincoln’s assassination was transmitted quickly from America to London and beyond.

Two steamships raced to deliver the news across the ocean. The Teutonia carried an early, incomplete message—“Lincoln shot”—which was passed on in Crookhaven, County Cork, giving private financial clients in London advance warning. Meanwhile, the Nova Scotian carried the confirmed story—“Lincoln assassinated”—but was delayed by fog. When it finally reached Inishowen’s shores on April 26, 1865, the full account was landed at Greencastle’s telegraph office at 9:45 a.m. and sent to London by 11:30 a.m. That same day, it became headline news across Britain and Europe.

This moment highlights how a small Donegal village played an outsised role in shaping the flow of global information. Greencastle was not only a fishing and maritime hub but also a critical link in the international news chain. Through its telegraph, Inishowen carried one of the most important stories of the 19th century—the assassination of an American president—to the wider world.

Photo Courtesy of Adam Cuerden