The town was often the focal point for unrest in the surrounding areas as rural peasants protested against evictions and rent increases.
 In 1834, unrest broke out when local residents tried to expel various landlord agents from the area.
 The names of individual agents were posted on the church doors in Buncrana by a "Captain Wright" warning that the agents risked death if they continued to live in the area.
 The unrest forced the administration in Dublin Castle to station troops in the towns of Buncrana, Clonmany and Carndonagh.

Communal relations between Protestant and Catholic communities were tense and on occasions led to violence.
 In  November 1833, communal tensions broke out.
 The houses of local Protestants were attacked and the windows of their houses were smashed.

During the second half of the 19th century the town developed a significant tourism industry.
 Tourists, particularly from Derry, were able to access the town through the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway.
The town was often the focal point for unrest in the surrounding areas as rural peasants protested against evictions and rent increases.  In 1834, unrest broke out when local residents tried to expel various landlord agents from the area.  The names of individual agents were posted on the church doors in Buncrana by a "Captain Wright" warning that the agents risked death if they continued to live in the area.  The unrest forced the administration in Dublin Castle to station troops in the towns of Buncrana, Clonmany and Carndonagh.
Communal relations between Protestant and Catholic communities were tense and on occasions led to violence.  In  November 1833, communal tensions broke out.  The houses of local Protestants were attacked and the windows of their houses were smashed.
During the second half of the 19th century the town developed a significant tourism industry.  Tourists, particularly from Derry, were able to access the town through the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway.
Buncrana