County Donegal is a county located in
the west of the Province of Ulster, in the northwest of Ireland. It
is one of three counties in the Province of Ulster that does not
form part of Northern Ireland. It is the most northern county in all
of Ireland, and is part of the Republic of Ireland. County Donegal
is the fourth largest county in Ireland and the largest county in
Ulster. The name 'Donegal' comes from the Irish, meaning 'The Fort
of the Foreigners'.
County Donegal has always had a very strong and close relationship
with the City of Derry, the unofficial regional 'capital' of the
North-West of Ireland. Before circa 1600, Derry was considered part
of the Inishowen Peninsula. Derry has acted for centuries as the
main economic and transport hub and sea-port for both County Donegal
and West Tyrone. This was especially so before the rapid growth and
development of nearby Letterkenny from the late 1960s.
Holiday Homes in Donegal
Tourism
With its sandy beaches, unspoilt bog lands and friendly communities,
Co. Donegal is a favoured destination for many travellers, Irish
(especially Northern Irish) and foreign alike. One of the county
treasures is Glenveagh National Park (formerly part of the Glenveagh
Estate), as yet (February 2008) the only official national park
anywhere in the Province of Ulster. The park is a 140 km² nature
reserve with spectacular scenery of mountains, raised bog lands,
lakes and woodlands. At its heart is Glenveagh Castle, a beautiful
late Victorian 'folly' that was originally built as a summer
residence.
County Museum - Letterkenny
Housing an array of both permanent and temporary exhibitions,
including artefacts dating from pre stone-age era, the museum also
provides an exhibition charting the history of the town and locality
over the last three hundred years. Located on the High Road, the
building has boasted a varied existence, from its opening as a
workhouse in 1843 through to a period of housing a hospital and
administrative offices, until it's complete renovation in 1987
Donegal Holiday Homes Ireland
Colmcille Heritage Centre
Interpretive exhibition featuring Saint Colmcille (Columba),
Patriarch of the Irish monasticism and Scottish Church. The story is
told with artistically designed banners, stained glass, illustrated
panels, artefacts, a wax model with authentic clothing and a step by
step illustration of ancient manuscript fabrication.
Restaurant/tea-room situated on lakeside site on 100 acre estate
with nature walks.
Glenveagh National Park
10,000 hectare park with mountains and glens to be explored. Guided
visits through Glenveagh Castle, self-guiding nature trail, nature
walks and garden tours, visitor centre with audio visual show and
displays explaining the park. Restaurant and traditional teas.
Location 14 miles north-west of Letterkenny.
Fort Dunree Military Museum
The strategic position of the fort, set on the shores of Lough
Swilly, affords dramatic and breathtaking views of the Lough and its
shoreline. The fort also houses the heritage museum. Opened in 1986,
it has an audio-visual theatre and underground bunkers, housing an
extensive collection of military artefacts and memorabilia.
Doagh Island Famine Village
Typical dwellings, from those lived in earlier times such as Sod or
Turf Houses, to a house lived in up until the 1970's, complete with
samples of local food, plants and herbs used for cures. Famine
village, including examples of a typical pre-famine cabin, Landlords
Mansion, Leinster House etc. Re-live a lifestyle from the past by
visiting the Wake House, the Hedge School, the Mass Rock, the
Eviction Scene, the Presbyterian Meeting House and a typical example
of a two storey dwelling, where the occupants shared the building
with livestock.
Holiday Cottages in Donegal
Maritime Museum - Greencastle
The museum has a number of exhibits associated with sea-faring
traditions of what was one of the busiest fleets in Ireland,
including a variety of sailing boats, a 19th century "Rocket Cart"
used to aid survivors of wrecks, and maritime memorabilia. Here is
also a Craft and Coffee Shop. A recent addition to the centre is a
state of the art planetarium where the visitor can learn about the
history of navigation and view the stars.
Mary from Dungloe
The Mary From Dungloe International Festival is a popular Irish
music festival held annually, usually at the end of July in the
small town of
Dungloe,
County Donegal. The festival is centered around a pageant to
find out which contestant has the spirit of the festival, who is
then crowned “Mary From Dungloe”. The winner of the contest holds
this title for a year and acts as an ambassador for the festival.
Irish emigrant communities from around the world as well as some
Irish counties and towns participate by nominating a young woman,
endearingly titled a “Mary”, to represent their community at the
contest. The festival has grown in popularity over the years and now
regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the area.
Earagail Arts Festival
The Earagail Arts Festival (Féile Ealaíne an Earagail) is an annual
festival which takes place in County Donegal, Ireland every
June/July. The festival began in June 1988 and celebrated its 20th
anniversary in 2008. The Festival includes parades, street
performances and numerous plays, musical concerts and comedy acts in
towns and villages across County Donegal. Letterkenny is at the
centre of the festival with various venues such as An Grianán
Theatre, Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre and Donegal County
Museum in the town hosting events.
Donegal Castle
Built in 1474 on the banks of the River Eske by the O'Donnell
Chieftain Hugh Roe O'Donnell, the castle has extensive 17th century
additions by Sir Basil Brooke. The castle is furnished throughout,
and includes Persian rugs and French tapestries. Information panels
chronicle the history of the castle owners, from the O'Donnell
chieftains to the Brooke family. Limited access for visitors with
disabilities to the ground floor. Location: in the centre of Donegal
Town.
Lough Derg
3mi/5km south of Donegal on the N15 a road on the left (R232) leads
to Pettigo, from which the R233 wends its way north through the
barren landscape to Lough Derg. In the lough lies Station Island,
known in the Middle Ages as St Patrick's Purgatory, to which there
is an important pilgrimage every year. The churches and pilgrim
hospices on the island can be seen from the shores of the lough. In
pagan times a cave on Station Island was believed to be the entrance
to the Underworld. It gained its name of St Patrick's Purgatory when
a travelling medieval knight claimed to have seen the fires of
Purgatory in the cave. The pilgrims who make what has been called
the "hardest pilgrimage in Christendom" are now almost exclusively
Irish. They spend three days on the island performing the numerous
penances prescribed, mainly vigils and fasting.
Holiday Homes in
Ireland
The Cairn Centre
From the Celts to the Vikings, from the Great Famine to the recent
past, the story of our heritage is brought to life through story,
scenes and lighting. See how the countryside has changed over the
centuries. Facilities include: Yesterday in Inishowen - Photographs,
stories and information, also available history tour, craft shop,
tea room and the Shades of Ireland - Stage show.
Towns and Villages
County Donegal has approximately 650 kilometres of spectacular
coastline and is a popular surfing destination, with one of Europe's
premier reef breaks located in the southern town of Bundoran. The
largest town in Donegal is Letterkenny, and the official county town
is Lifford, despite the presence of a town called Donegal.
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