County Donegal, located in the northwest of Ireland, is one of the three counties in the province of Ulster. The name of the county comes from the Irish "Dún na ngal", which in German means "fortress of strangers".
Donegal is the northernmost county in the Republic of Ireland. In fact, this county is even further north than Northern Ireland itself.
The county's landscape is dominated by the Blue Stack Mountains to the south and the Derry Weag Mountains to the north. The northern peninsula of Inishowen is also characterized by a vast hilly landscape.
In addition, there is a very indented coastline with numerous bays and peninsulas, the northernmost point of Ireland. Between the cliffs, some of which are up to 600 meters high, you will also find numerous sandy beaches where you can relax.
If you are planning a trip to County Donegal, you will see a particularly interesting part of Ireland. Arriving here, you will quickly realize that this part of Ireland is quite cut off from the rest of the country.
If you love walking through stunning landscapes, Donegal is the place to be. The rugged terrain is also great for climbing, and you'll even find surf spots along the coast. In this article, i will tell you which places you should definitely visit.
Donegal Town
The town of Donegal is the town from which the name of the county is derived. It is located on the shores of Donegal Bay, and also at the foot of the Bluestack Mountains. With such a great location, it's no surprise that the city of Donegal is a great starting point for numerous walking tours of County Donegal south.
Just 25 kilometers from the city of Donegal is St. John's Point, which is one of the longest capes on the island of Ireland. Numerous beautiful plants such as the swamp orchid are a great reason to visit this place. Here you will also find a beach that is ideal for relaxing.
But the city itself is worth a visit. In the harbor, for example, you will find the ruins of Donegal Abbey, which was built in the late 15th century. In addition, downtown Donegal, which has an extensive pedestrian zone, invites you to a tour.
Since Donegal Town is also quite manageable, you can get to all the interesting places on foot.
Especially worth seeing is Donegal Castle, which was the seat of the O'Donnell clan in the 15th century. Between March and October, you even have the opportunity to view this now restored castle from the inside. In winter, various cultural events are held in the great hall of the castle.
After a sightseeing tour or a walk through the picturesque landscape, you can relax in the many restaurants and cafes. If you wish, you can also spend an evening with the locals in one of the traditional Irish pubs.
You may also notice that the city of Donegal is quite cheap compared to the rest of Ireland. Especially in numerous eateries, where you can often eat inexpensively. Some of them are even open until midnight, so you can satisfy your hunger even late at night.
You should definitely try Fish'n'Chips, which can be bought in almost every eatery for just a few euros.
Letterkenny
With a population of around 18,000, Letterkenny is the largest city in Donegal. This means that here you will find good infrastructure that you are unlikely to find in the rest of the county. The city is located on the banks of Laf Swilly and dates back to the 17th century.
While at the time Letterkenny was a small and manageable village, over time it has grown to become the largest town in County Donegal, especially after industrialization.
The busiest part of Letterkenny is Main Street, where you will find many shops. Among other things, you can visit the Courtyard shopping center, which is located in the old market square.
Letterkenny is also home to the only cathedral in County Donegal, St. Younan's Cathedral. It is also a prominent part of the Letterkenny skyline and is visible from many parts of the city. In the square in front of the cathedral, you will also find the largest Celtic cross in Europe.
The city is especially famous for its vibrant nightlife, and in almost every corner you will find an Irish pub where you can spend the evening. Letterkenny is also home to many nightclubs that often host stag parties.
If you want to experience the nightlife yourself, I can recommend the Milan restaurant on Upper Main Street. You will pay five euros for entry, but drinks are very cheap here. All the drinks you order there cost three euros.
If you want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, you should definitely visit the city park. It's a welcome change from the bustle of Donegal's largest city, especially with its lovely herb gardens and flower beds.
From Letterkenny, you can also explore the beautiful countryside of Donegal. In particular, Glenveag National Park should be on your to-do list. This 17-hectare park is located about 24 kilometers northwest of Letterkenny and is characterized by numerous mountains, forests and lakes.
You'll also find a Scottish-style castle surrounded by beautiful gardens that make it stand out from the rugged landscape. For an entrance fee of five euros, you can also see the castle from the inside, but this is only in the form of a guided tour. On the other hand, the outer spaces can be explored completely freely.
Another great place to visit near Letterkenny is the Rosses region. It extends from Dungloe in the south to Crawley in the north.
However, since most of the settlements are located mainly by the sea, the route along the coast is especially interesting. This is mainly due to the fact that the Placer is dotted with numerous small lakes, which made it almost impossible to build settlements there.
Inishowen
Inishowen is Ireland's largest and northernmost peninsula. It is also home to Malin Head, which is the northernmost point of the Irish mainland.
But that's not the only reason this place is worth a visit, as you can see the Northern Lights here if you're lucky, as well as some of the Scottish Isles.
Inishowen Island is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and a large lake to the east and west. In the interior, you will find mostly hills, which are not too high, however, with a maximum height of 600 meters. However, they are great for taking in the breathtaking scenery. However, you will find fewer inhabitants in the interior of the country, since most of the settlements are located near the coast.
Interestingly, you will also find many historical monuments on Inishowen. The ruins of some castles testify that the first settlements appeared here many centuries ago.
The best impression of the island can be obtained by driving along the coast road that leads around Inishowen. You will pass by the most interesting corners of the peninsula. However, the route is often poorly marked and the roads are very narrow in places.
The largest city on Inishowen is Buncrana, which is located right at the entrance to the peninsula from Donegal. There you will also find Lough Swilly, one of the lakes that border Inishowen from the side. Not far from the city limits is the Liteiny Bridge, which is a very popular photo spot due to the beautiful lighting.
On the final note
County Donegal in the north of the island of Ireland is one of those places that you should definitely put on your list. It is curious that the northernmost part of the island does not even belong to Northern Ireland, but to the Republic of Ireland.
Of the general impressions, the country is certainly not rich, but beautiful, kind and rather carefree. The Irishman, unlike the Englishman, does not live in work, traffic jams start at exactly 6 pm, you have to drive the car to the house in order to have time to go in for a pint or two in the pub.
But the long centuries of English rule have left their mark on literally every aspect of life, from the architectural styles of buildings to the obligatory tee/coffee service in hotel rooms. And the language of communication for the vast majority of the population is English, despite all the attempts of the government to preserve the national traditions of the Gaelic language.
Before departure, do not forget about souvenirs. From fairy tales about fairies and elves, the local tourism industry has long made a profitable business, everything is not cheap, but the little things are original and for every taste. And remember that if you find a leprechaun in Ireland at the base of the rainbow, then you need to look closely into his eyes, without looking away, then he will give you his pot of gold.
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"Do what is right, mot what is easy nor what is popular" - R. T. BENNETH.
