Tour of Donegal, Southern Ireland

Ireland Map . Donegal Map . Donegal Town Website.

Donegal is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Donegal is not the county town (capital) of County Donegal, despite being its namesake. Rather, the county town is Lifford, and Letterkenny, 35 miles north, is the county's largest town.

Donegal town is situated at the mouth of Donegal Bay, on the River Eske and is overshadowed by the Bluestack Mountains.

County Donegal is one of three northern counties that do not form part of Northern Ireland. It is the most northern county in all of Ireland, and is part of the Republic of Ireland.

Donegal Castle is situated in the centre of Donegal town. For most of the last two centuries, most of the buildings were in ruins, but the castle was almost fully restored in the late 1990s.

The elder Sir Hugh O’Donnell, wealthy chief of the O’Donnell clan, built the castle in 1474. At the same time, he and his wife Nuala, built a Franciscan Abbey further down the river. A local legend tells of a tunnel connecting the two but no evidence for this has been found.

After the disastrous Nine Years war, the leaders of the O'Donnell clan left Ireland in the Flight of the Earls. In 1611, the castle and its lands were granted to an English Captain, Basil Brooke.

More Information .

Donegal Town Church is situated opposite Donegal Castle.

Before this church was built in 1890, the congregation used to worship at the old Abbey.

"Red" Hugh O'Donnell (1572 – 10 September 1602) was Lord of Tyrconnell, who led a rebellion against English government in Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years War, a revolt against English occupation, from 1595 to 1603.

After the Irish defeat at the Battle of Kinsale in January 1602, O'Donnell left Ireland and sailed to Corunna in Galicia, Spain, where many other chieftains were already arriving with their families.

He died in Spain later that year and was buried at Simancas Castle.

The statue stands at the harbour in Donegal Town.

More Information.

All aboard!!- Donegal Bay Waterbus. The company runs tours around Donegal Bay all year-round. Local shops, hotels and bed and breakfasts keep a list of the times of each sailing which is dependent on the rise and fall of the tide.

Each tour leaves the waterbus pier at Donegal Bay and traverses the inner bay as far as a native seal colony near the mouth of the Laghy River.

A running commentary is given by a local guide throughout the 80 minute tour which leads on then to the McManus estate, the area where the coffin ships left for America during the famine, St Ernan's and Bell Island.

www.donegalbaywaterbus.com.

Donegal Airport is situated on the west coast about 40 miles west of Letterkenny or about 42 miles north of Donegal Town.

There are no regular bus services from the airport so you have to either hire a car or book a Taxi or Mini Bus. Taxi/Bus hire

Website: www.donegalairport.ie

Bundoran is a seaside resort situated about 17 miles south of Donegal Town.

Bundoran truly is an all year round destination hosting many exciting events and festivals throughout the calendar.

Bundoran has something for everyone, whether you want an all action family holiday, a leisurely short break, the finest in live entertainment and music or to simply explore the surrounding countryside-it's all here waiting for you!

Website . Map.

Bundoran Surf School is fully approved and insured by the Irish Surfing Association. All our instructors are fully qualified (Level 1 & 2), experienced surfers who will take you to the best locations.

We offer surf lessons for beginner, intermediate and experienced surfers, as well as a kids surf camp during the summer holidays.

www.bundoransurfco.com.

There is a good selection of Riding Schools in County Donegal.

You can arrange beach rides, show jumping, cross country, hacking, hunting, schooling and basic instruction.

More Information.

There are over 20 Golf Courses in County Donegal, including Donegal Golf Club as seen right.

More Information.

Letterkenny is the largest town in County Donegal located on the River Swilly about 35 miles north of Donegal Town.

The town is considered to be one of the fastest growing towns in all of Ireland.

Letterkenny's central location makes it a a good base for exploring County Donegal. The town offers a good selection of accommodation, restaurants and bars.

Website . Late Rooms . Map.

Glenveagh National Park is situated about 16 miles northwest of Letterkenny.

It lies in the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains in the north-west of Co. Donegal. It is a remote and hauntingly beautiful wilderness of rugged mountains and pristine lakes.

The Park, over 16,000 hectacres in extent consists of three areas. The largest of these is the former Glenveagh Estate, including most of the Derryveagh Mountains. To the west are the quartzite hills around Crocknafarragh and to the south, the peatlands of Lough Barra bog, Meenachullion and Crockastoller.

More Information . Map.

Errigal Mountain or Errigal, is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountains in the Northwest of Ireland with a height of 749 metres (2,457 feet).

Errigal is also the most southern, steepest and highest of the mountain chain, called the 'Seven Sisters' by locals (Muckish, Crocknalaragagh, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Aghla More, Mackoght (also known as 'little Errigal') and Errigal.

More Information . Map.

Doe Castle near Creeslough, was historically a stronghold of Clan Suibhne, with Architectural parallels to the Scottish Tower house.

Built in the 16th c. it is one of the better preserved fortalices in the North-West of Ireland. It was here that Owen Roe O'Neill returned in 1642 to lead the Irish Confederate Army during the Wars of the three kingdoms.

Irish singer Brian McFadden proposed to his, now ex-wife Kerry Katona at the Castle in 2001, being the spot where his grandfather also proposed to his grandmother.

Creeslough is situated at the foot of Muckish Mountain 16 Miles north of Letterkenny.

www.creeslough.com . Map.

More Information . Map.

The Grianan of Aileach is a group of historic monuments in County Donegal about 20 miles northeast of Letterkenny by the road to Derry.

This Iron Age fort is built on the hill of Grianán which is 244 metres high.

Most writers have identified the site as being the great “royal fort” of Aileach. The main monument is that of an Iron Age stone fortress. It is generally accepted to be the seat of the Kingdom of Aileach although the true capital is now believed to lie further to the east.

Dunree Fort is located on the west side of the Inishowen peninsula, about 7 miles north of Buncrana, in the north of County Donegal.

It was originally a Napoleonic period fortification located on a rocky promontory accessed over a natural fissure.

It was remodeled in 1895 to have 2 x 4.7 inch QF guns, and later, 12 pounder QF and 2 x 6 inch guns.

The top of a hill overlooking the site was walled in to form a redoubt. The fort is now a military museum with detailed exhibitions, many restored guns, and a military camp.

Killybegs is an important harbour town in County Donegal located on the coast of the county, north of Donegal bay, near Donegal Town.

The Killybegs fishing port is the most productive in Ireland, over 60 boats may be in the harbour at any given time. It is well known as a famous fishing town throughout Ireland. In the summer, there is a street festival celebrating the fish catches and incorporating the traditional "Blessing of the Boats".

www.killybegs.ie . Map.

Located on the coast of County Donegal, a few miles north of Killybegs, is Slieve League, at 601 metres, has Ireland's second highest sea cliffs, after Croaghaun on Achill Island and Europe's sixth-highest.

Less famous than the Cliffs of Moher, in County Clare, Slieve League reaches almost three times higher than Clare's famous attraction.

More Information . Map.

Rathmullan House Hotel and Restaurant is a beautiful old country house set amidst mature trees, lawns and rose gardens which open out to a golden beach on the sea at Lough Swilly, about 15 miles north of Letterkenny.

Built as a summer retreat for the Knox family 200 hundred years ago, it now welcomes visitors from all over the world in award-winning style. They relax in its elegant lounges, enjoy first-class Irish cuisine in the Liam McCormick-designed restaurant, and explore the glorious scenery of Donegal.

www.rathmullanhouse.com . Map.

Heron's Cove Restaurant Donegal is Donegal's leading 4 Star Restaurant with Rooms with award winning Head Chef and a haven of fine dining and Donegal hospitality.

Enjoy our "Dinner & Duvet" offer at the restaurant, which includes Dinner & Overnight Accommodation in wonderful Donegal located close to the magnificent blue flag beach at Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal and beside the picturesque little harbour at Creevy Pier. Donegal Town is just a few miles up the coast.

www.heronscove.ie . Map . Laterooms.

Escape to the mystical realm of Solis Lough Eske Castle. As the first and only five-star Donegal Ireland hotel and spa, this stirring destination blends a rich sense of history with superbly appointed accommodation and impeccable hospitality.

Dating back to the 1400’s, this meticulously restored Donegal Ireland hotel is nestled in an enchanting forest of massive, ancient trees, where the Celtic language still rolls off the locals’ tongues and the landscape maintains its pristine unspoiled beauty.

Situated about 5 miles northeast of Donegal Town.

For more information on Donegal, visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Donegal.

See also Tour of Derry that is situated a short distance east of Donegal.