County Donegal Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
County Donegal [1], in the Republic's part of Ulster is the northernmost county in Ireland, stretching further to the north than any part of "Northern" Ireland.The Donegal mainland coastline is the longest in the country at 1,134km and constitutes over 17% of the total national coastline. The main inlet is Lough Swilly which extends 30km inland from the north coast to Letterkenny.
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Regions
Donegal has a number of regions, defined on traditional grounds going back hundreds of years, and often overlapping.
Probably the best defined, encompassing much of the Irish speaking areas of the county to the north west, including Gweedore, and the inhabited islands of Arranmore and Cruit.
- The Fanad Penninsula
Fanad boasts a world-class beach at Portsalon, which can be almost deserted at times, even in high season. It also is home to Portsalon golf course.
The "Inishowen 100" is a day-long, one hundred kilometre trip around the coastline of the eponymous penninsula, including the most northerly point of the island of Ireland, Malin Head.
In recent times, the county has been seen as being divided into a number of areas both on an economic and physical basis - the north western area is lightly populated with generally mountainous terrain, with the south of the county being densely populated and relatively flat. The east of the county, particularly around Letterkenny, is the most densely populated area of all, and is economically significantly richer than the rest of the county.
The areas of the county which most rely on tourism are the north and western coastal areas, the inhabited islands, and the town of Bundoran. This, however, means that very little is left open to see or do in these areas out of season - generally starting from Easter and ending at the end of August. Out of season, Letterkenny and Donegal Town are both still active.
Major towns
- Bundoran (Bun Dobhrain)
- Donegal Town (Dún na nGall)
- Letterkenny (Leitir Ceanainn)
- Lifford (Leifir)
- Buncrana (Bun Crana)
Other destinations
- Annagry (Anagaire)
- Arranmore Island (Árainn Mhór)
- Ballybofey(Bealach Féich)
- Ballyshannon (Béal Atha Seanaidh)
- Dungloe (An Clochán Liath)
- Glencolmcille (Gleann Cholm Cille)
- Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair)
- Tory Island (Oileán Toraigh)
- Glenties (Na Gleanntaí)
Understand
Donegal natives often say that Donegal is the forgotten county of Ireland as they feel that it is cut off from the rest fo the Republic of Ireland, both economically and geographically. Its proximity to Northern Ireland means that it suffered from a lack of tourists during the recent troubles there. Much of its border is shared with Northern Ireland, with only about 20 km of land connecting it to the Republic of Ireland, on the Bundoran to Sligo road.
Thus, Donegal is not as accessible as other tourist-oriented places in the Republic of Ireland, such as Galway or Kerry and this means it is not as commercialised in the tourist sense. If you are looking to get away from this type of tourism, Donegal can offer unspoilt scenery (apart from over-building of holiday homes and chalets in Dunfanaghy and Downings) and cheaper prices. The downside is that facilities and amenities are not as readily available in Donegal as in other areas of Ireland and travelling out-of season will restrict your options.
On the other hand, if you are into fishing, walking, rock-climbing or even golfing, and you are prepared to "rough it" at times, then Donegal has a lot to offer the more adventurous visitor.
Talk
As with the rest of the Republic of Ireland, Irish is the official first language, and is used as such by many in the north and west of the county. Donegal is home to the largest Gaeltacht area in Ireland. However, English is spoken fluently by the entire native population.
The form of Irish spoken in the area is noticeably different to that in the rest of the country, although it is an accepted dialect, and is used on the Irish language television and radio services.
Get in
There is no rail link into Dongeal, the nearest rail stations being Sligo and Derry.
Car
The county is not served by any motorways. There are three primary routes into Donegal, depending on where you are travelling from. The N15 links the county with Sligo via Bundoran and Ballyshannon. The N2 from Dublin, via Monaghan, links with the N14 to Lifford and Letterkenny while the N13 links with Derry
Bus
Bus Éireann run regular daily services from Dublin, Derry, Galway and Sligo to Letterkenny and Donegal Town. A number of private operators, most notable McGeehan and McGinley, operate services from Donegal Town and Letterkenny to Dublin also.
Air
Daily flights from Dublin and Glasgow operate to Donegal International Airport in the northwest of the county. These flights are operated by Aer Arran
Get around
The road network within Donegal is notably poor, with only the national primary and national secondary routes between major towns being of what most people expect as acceptable quality. In rural areas, roads are often one lane with passing places, or barely two lane. Meeting a wider vehicle, such as a 4x4, truck or bus on these roads can lead to reversing into the nearest gateway to clear the carriageway. Cycling on these roads is best left to the fit and the courageous, as narrow roads over mountains are often the only way from one place to another.
Road signs in the Irish speaking, or Gaeltacht regions of the country are in the Irish language solely, however, even when directing to places outside the region. Due to this, place names in this article are listed bilingually, as often no obvious connection exists between the English and Irish forms. Road signage in Donegal is often extremely poor, so a recent map of the county is advisable. Distances on road signs are officially in kilometres, but a mix of old signage and poor conversions have left distances often in miles, or completely inaccurate.
A private bus operator, Lough Swilly Bus, operates services to almost all parts of the county from Derry City and Letterkenny, albeit infrequently.
See
Pretty much the entire county is scenic, with stunning sights to be observed along the coast, and in the mountain ranges. Errigal, a massive (by Irish standards) quartzite-topped mountain is in the Derryveagh mountains to the north of the county, with the Bluestack mountains to the south. The Slieve League cliffs in the county are among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The country's most northerly point, at Malin Head, is in the county.
A preserved railway, with an operative original railcar open for public journeys, is located at Fintown in the centre of the county; when restoration is complete this will link to Glenties in the west of the county. In addition, a separate museum for a separate part of Donegals now-gone but formerly extensive narrow gauge railway network is in Donegal Town, located in the towns former station house.
An operative corn and flax mill is preserved at Newmills, outside Letterkenny, with the county museum being located in the towns former workhouse. Another former workhouse, at Dunfanaghy, has been partially restored as workhouse museum.
The county's two main offshore islands are both still inhabited, and both worth a visit. In addition, some of the smaller islands are worth seeing, if you have the means to get to them. Most of these are uninhabited during the winter and lack power, water, or any other means of life for anybody but temporary visitors.
Arranmore, the larger and closer inland of the two, has two hotels, 7 pubs, some watersports activities and mountain trails for hikers; and is accessible by a regular, multiple times daily car ferry service. A pre-Christian hill fort as well as ruins of a coastguard station, 1700's lighthouse and World War Two lookout post are all visible on the island. The countries only off-shore football team is based here, with a pitch built on sand dunes on the south of the island.
Tory Island, is smaller, less populous, and further offshore, and is accessible only by a passenger-only ferry; which runs multiple times daily during the summer, dropping to 5 times a week in winter. The island has a hotel. Tory's history is lived out to this very day with an elected "king" who attempts to greet all tourists, and a round tower with famed "cursing stones" and Celtic cross.
Do
Letterkenny is home to hundreds of high street shops, including branches of many international fashion boutiques. Ballybofey, in the centre of the county, also features a large contingent of shops, including a large local department store.
Letterkenny features a multiplex cinema, and a theatre, An Grianán. Nightclubs of varying size and quality are dotted throughout the counties tourist resorts, including Letterkenny, Glenties and Bundoran. Bundoran is Ireland's answer to Blackpool, and features large amusement arcades as well as a waterpark; and some of the best surfing in the country.
Golf is a major pastime for tourists in the region, with many 9 and 18 hole courses dotted around the county. Due to the lack of flat land in many areas, many of the courses are superb links courses formed by nature offering scenic views as wellas excellent golf.
Music is an important part of the regions culture, and its tourist industry. Music tours often head to Kincasslagh, home of Daniel O'Donnell, a favourite with elderly ladies across the UK and Ireland; or to Gweedore to Leo's Tavern, run by the brother of Enya and her siblings band, Clannad.
Traditional Irish music is more prevalent in places like Glencolumcille, Ardara and Glenties, where a traditional fiddlers' festival is held every year
The Ionad Cois Locha in Dunlewey is a tourist attraction, originally built by the countries main power company, the ESB, to employ workers it was laying off from a nearby power plant. Based around a restored two storey farm house, it features a museum of weaving equipment and weaving demonstrations; boat tours of a man-made lake caused by an ESB hydro electric power station, and often hosts concerts or art exhibitions.
Eat
All major towns in the area will have both restaurants and fast food outlets, with the latter often being from the counties indigenous Four Lanterns chain. Rural areas will often have no eateries whatsoever, beyond takeaway chip shops, although many pubs offer meals.
Drink
Every town in the county features at least one pub - usually more. In smaller towns and villages, pubs may not open until late in the afternoon. Prices are significantly lower than in Dublin, with a pint of stout usually averaging €3.70 in rural areas. Many pubs have live traditional music during the summer, and at other times such as Christmas.
Get out
Depending on where you are in the county, trips to Derry and Sligo are easily accomplished. From the east of the county, a day trip to Belfast is not out of the question.
