After visiting Fanad, I realized how important Carrigart is to the people who live throughout the peninsula. While Fanad is a beautiful and peaceful rural area, rural communities cannot function without some connection to a nearby town. Carrigart serves as that connection. It is more than just a main street with businesses; it is a gathering place, a place where people can access essential goods and services, and a space where community relationships are maintained. It acts as a “third place” where people can socialize outside of their homes and workplaces. Without Carrigart, many of the people living in Fanad would have to travel much farther for everyday needs, and the sense of community that makes the area special would be much harder to maintain. Carrigart is a major reason why a rural place like Fanad can continue to thrive.

Visiting the Tyrconnell Tribune was also a unique experience because it showed me a completely different approach to how news can be created and shared. I was surprised to see a newspaper still operating through a more traditional, community-based model, where stories are gathered through local connections rather than algorithms and online trends. I think this works in Carrigart and Donegal because the community is so connected. People know each other, local events matter, and residents have a shared interest in staying informed about what is happening around them. However, I do not think this model would translate as easily to a place like Pittsburgh. A larger and more fast-paced city is much more dependent on digital media because the population is larger, communities are more spread out, and people are not connected in the same way. The Tyrconnell Tribune showed me that the success of a traditional newspaper is not just about the format—it depends on having a strong sense of community behind it.