From Wikitravel

A large town, really the only one in Donegal. With a poor (but improving) road infrastructure, Letterkenny boasts a good nightlife with plenty of young students, decent pubs, and places to eat. It is popular with hen and stag parties. Letterkenny is the shopping capital of the North-west. Shopping centres abound and shoppers are spoiled for choice.

It is the ideal place to base yourself if you want to explore regions like the Rosses, Glenveagh and Fanad. It is a fast expanding town, with many housing developments being built. This has spoiled much of the scenic environment close to the town.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By Car 1.2 By Bus 1.3 By Air 2 Get around 2.1 By Taxi 2.2 By Foot 2.3 By Bicycle 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 6.1 Restaurants 6.2 Cafés and Snackbars 6.3 Pub food 6.4 Fast Food 7 Drink 7.1 Bars 7.2 Nightclubs 8 Sleep 9 Stay Safe

Get in

Getting to Letterkenny is by means of car or bus only, as the town lacks a rail link.

By Car

There are three main road arteries into Letterkenny. One is via Derry if you are travelling from Northern Ireland. Another is the N13 from Sligo via Donegal town and the third is the shortest route from Dublin, the N2 via Monaghan, Strabane and Lifford. This journey takes about 4 hours. Use the M1 motorway from Dublin Airport, leave the motorway at Ardee exit and travel through Monaghan and towards Derry. Turn off at Strabane for Lifford and then onto Letterkenny.

By Bus

The national bus company, Bus Éireann runs seven trips per day to and from Dublin to Letterkenny. A single journey costs around €15.00 and €20.00 return. Some of these buses go via Dublin Airport. Ther are also private bus companies, such as McGinley's Buses and Feda O'Donnell's Buses, who run similar type services.

By Air

Alternatively,visitors can fly to Donegal International Airport or City of Derry Airport.The small airline company, Aer Árann operate a daily return service from Dublin to Donegal, with services to and from Glasgow also available. There is a bus service from Donegal International Airport into Letterkenny,which brings you along a very scenic route via Glenveagh National Park. Car hire is available at Avis Car Rental, Donegal Airport, Co. Donegal Tel: 00 353 (0)74 9548232

Get around

By Taxi

There is a plentiful taxi service with fare starting at €5.00. The best place to get a taxi is at the Market Square, which is in the town centre. There is also a rank near the bus station. There are a number of cab companies that can be called and most public phone boxes have numbers displayed.

By Foot

Letterkenny has a long main street and walking is a good option within the town limits, as you can get around most of the places of interest by foot.

By Bicycle

Renting a bike is a pleasant way to explore the town and surrounding environs. Be warned though, Letterkenny is a very hilly town and you will rarely be travelling on the flat! Also, like many other Irish towns, it lacks dedicated cycle paths and drivers tend to ignore cyclists' rights on the road.

Bike hire at Church Street Cycles, Church Lane, Letterkenny, Co Donegal Tel: +353 74 91 26204 Fax: +353 74 91 26204

See

The Market Square has a nice monument commemorating the times when "Hiring Fairs" were held there, called The Rabble Children. These fairs were held so that farmers could hire people, including young children, to live and work on their farms, for periods of six months or more. Letterkenny has a town park, perfect for a quiet stroll in the Donegal air.

St. Eunan's Cathedral , the only cathedral in the county, dominates the skyline and is well worth a visit.

At Cathedral Square you can see the newly erected Celtic Cross, which is the largest in Europe.

There is also a designated signposted walk-way which takes you out along the Swilly River, which runs through the town. It starts at the Station Roundabout near the bus depot and continues out the Derry road.

If you are entering Letterkenny via the Derry Road, you cannot miss the fantastic new sculpture called Polestar, erected in the centre of the Blaney Roundabout, near the Tourist Centre.

Do

Call to the Tourist Centre to get up-to-date information on what's on in the town when you're there. Unfortunately, it is located outside the town (about 1-2 KM) just off the Neil T.Blaney Roundabout on the Derry Road. It is a stone-fronted building, fairly visible on the right hand side as you come towards the town from Sligo (N13) or Derry.

If the weather is good, take advantage and visit the surrounding countryside, including the Famine village at Gartan, as well as the centre itself and maybe even climb Mount Errigal, Donegal's highest peak. A visit to nearby Glenveagh National Park is a must if you have transport. There are also plenty of indoor options to fill your time.

• Theatre: An Grianán Theatre, Port Road, Letterkenny
• Ten-Pin Bowling: Arena 7, Ramelton Road, Letterkenny
• Cinema: Neil T. Blaney Road, Letterkenny
• Swimming Pool: Letterkenny Leisure Centre, High Road (daily rates from about €5.00)
• Outdoor Pursuits: Gartan Adventure Centre, Churchill,located about 20k from Letterkenny, follow the signs on the Glenties to Churchill road.
• The County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny. Local history and exhibitions.
• Library and Arts CentreOliver Plunkett Road

• Newmills Corn and Flax Mill is a restored mill on the outskirts of the town. Take the road to Glenties for about 5 KM and it's on the left hand side. Tel: +353(0)74-91-25115,
• An Grianan Ailigh is an ancient fort site located twenty miles from Letterkenny on the Derry road.
• Glenveagh Park and House will take at least one pleasurable day, with tours of the house and grounds available all year round.

Award-winning beaches abound in the locality. Visit Marble Hill, Portsalon or Portnoo to experience the peace and quiet of County Donegal.

Donegal has many beautiful golfcourses, some beside these beaches, and Letterkenny is the ideal base for visiting golfers. Play the Nick Faldo-designed Ballyliffen Golfcourse follow the road to Derry, go through Buncrana and Clonmany to get to Ballyliffen), in the Inisowen Penninsula. Or experience Portsalon Golfcourse (Follow the Ramelton road, through Milford and Kerrykeel village to get to Portsalon) on the Fanad Penninsula, another gem for golfers. These courses are about an hour's drive from Letterkenny.

Buy

Letterkenny has some fantastic and large shopping centres with a variety of stores.

• The Courtyard is situated in the square and

• Letterkenny Shopping Centre is just beside the bus station.

• The Forte Shopping Centre is opposite the Radisson Hotel.

Many chain stores have branches in these shopping centres and other areas of the town, including Tesco, Dunnes, Penneys, TK Maxx, Argos, Eason, Elverys, Next, Heatons, Lidl, Supervalue, Tempest, Lifestyle, Jean Scene, Paco, Xtravision, Harry Corrys, Homebase and Atlantic Homecare.

For gifts and souvenirs, Victor's Giftshop on the Main Street should be visited and stroll along the Main Street to check the stalls and other craft shops. Not surprisingly due to the fantastic scenery that surrounds them, artists abound in Donegal and their work can be purchased in Letterkenny galleries and craftshops. Watch out for the uniquely sculpted "Bog-oak" (preserved wood retrieved from the bogs and crafted into artistic shapes and forms before a polished finish is applied).

The Cristeph Gallery, located on the Port Road beside the Oaktree Restaurant, has local artists' work for sale.

On Saturday mornings, there is a "Car-Boot" sale held in the grounds of the Community Centre on the Port Road, where all sorts of unusual odds and ends can be bought as souvenirs.

Eat

Restaurants

There are numerous good restaurants in the town.

• The Lemon Tree (Lower Main Street) is a pleasant, mid-priced place to eat.
• The Oak Tree (on the Port Road) is a sister restaurant which also has a nice atmosphere and decent service
• The Yellow Pepper (Lower Main Street) is also well worth a visit.

These three places serve good locally-sourced food, at prices ranging from €15 to €20 per main course. Booking is advisable if you are visiting at high season.

• Restaurant Jude (located in the Courtyard Centre on the square)is a new place that specialises in fish, including lobster and salmon. Main course from under €20.
• Galfee's is also located in the Courtyard Shopping Centre and serves food all day.
• Sienna is an upmarket café and wine bar by night.
• Mr. C Gold, located on the High Road, is a curious mix of old-fashioned chipper-style café and mid-priced restaurant. Because of this it is family friendly, catering for most tastes of the young and old.

Cafés and Snackbars

There are many other cheaper cafés that serve food and snacks all day at reasonable (€5.00 to €10.00) prices:

• The Quiet Moment (2 outlets, one at Upper Main St. and the other at Lower Main St.)
• Munchies (Pearse Road)
• Subway (Upper Main St.)
• The Bakehouse (Main St.)
• Charlie's Café (Pearse Road)
• Café Blend (High Road ...Very child-friendly, with a special menu avalable)

Pub food

• The Old Orchard Inn is hard to beat for value, main courses starting at around €8.00 . Carvery lunches served 12.00 noon to 3.00 pm. Located on High Road Tel: +353 (0)74 9121615
• The Brewery located on the Market Square, also serves "pub grub" at about the same prices. Carvery lunches also. Tel: +353 (0)74 9127330 Letterkenny.
• Voodoo Lounge Club New bar serving food all day

Fast Food

Fast Food lovers are spoiled for choice in Letterkenny.

• McDonald's 200 metres from Main St.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken Drive-thru, not suitable for walkers as it's outside the town on the Derry road.
• Abrakebabra Two outlets on the Main Street
• Mr. Chippie Two outlets, one across the road from the Bus Éireann terminal and the other on High Road, known as Mr. C Gold (see above).
• Pat's Pizzas Two outlets, one on the Main St. and the other on the Market Square)
• Four Lanterns The Donegal version of KFC, located in the Market Square and also on Port Road.
• Domino's Pizzas The worldwide franchise has a branch on the Pearse Road

Letterkenny also has ethnic eating places, with Indian (at least 3 different places at last count) and Chinese (3) restaurants. Most of these type of restaurants do not open until early evening, around 5.30 pm.

Drink

Bars

• Josie's Bar Lower Main Street Tel: +353 (0)74 9120800

Caters for the over 40 years of age customers.

• Glencar Inn Circular Road Tel: +353 (0)74 9129151

More locals than tourists drink here. Nothing spectacular about it.

• The Orchard Inn High Road Tel: +353 (0)74 9121615

Good all-round atmosphere with a mix of clientele of all ages. Worth visiting.

• Tír Na nÓg Ballymacool Tel: +353(0)74 9168883

Out of the main stream, very quiet area.

• Arena 7 Ballyraine Retail Park

Tel: +353 (0)74 9128853 Email:info@arena7.ie

Noisy and family orientated!

• Gleneany House Port Rd

Tel: +353 (0)74 9126088 Email:gleneanyhouse@eircom.net

Hotel-type bar, but nice for a quiet drink.

• The Drum Bar Lower Main St Tel: +353 (0)74 9121961

Locals only

• The Cavern Lower Main St Tel: +353 (0)74 9126733

Pub that caters for sport-lovers, big screens abound when games are on.

• Central Bar Main Street Tel: +353 (0)74 9124088

Has a lovely, whitewashed courtyard, resurrected to cater for smokers since the Smoking Ban came in, worth a visit

• Dillons (Part of the Letterkenny Court Hotel) Main Street

Tel: +353 (0)74 9122977 Lots of stag parties and noisy hens on weekends!

• The Brewery Bar Market Square Tel: +353 (0)74 9127330

Good atmoshere and worth a visit, but bands can drown out conversations at times

• Mc Clafferty's Bar Main Street Tel: +353 (0)74 9121581

Indistinctive adn unwelcoming

• Blake's BarMain St.

A quaint bar with plenty of character, and characters!

• The Cottage Bar Main St.

Built to look like an old Irish cottage, with an open turf fire, worth a visit.

Price for the traditional pint of stout are about €3.70 to €4.00. Most pubs have no cover charge for music, and these sessions range from the mediocre singalong type of bands, to rock outfits and traditional Irish music sessions.

Nightclubs

• The Orchard Inn (High Road) has a disco bar (FUBAR) and night club, with live music in the lounge.

• The Golden Grill (Port Road) is one of the longest established nightclubs, opening from 11.30 pm until 3.00 am.

• The Pulse Nightclub (Port Road) is also popular with younger people, open 11.30 pm to 3.00 am.

• The Voodoo Club (Main St.) has an earlier discobar starting around 9.30 pm

• Milan (Upper Main St.) is a recent addition to the town's nightlife and is a late-night disco as well.

Entry prices for nightclubs range from €10.00 upwards, depending on the night you go there. Midweek special admission prices of €5.00 can be available at certain times. Drink is much more expensive in the nightclubs than in the ordinary bars, especially for spirits.

Sleep

There are plenty of top class hotels to stay in, as well as numerous Bed and Breakfasts and guesthouses.

• Radisson SAS (On the Neil T. Blaney link road)

• Gallagher's Hotel (At the traffic lights at the top of Upper Main Street.)

• Clanree Hotel (On the road from Derry and the main road from Ballybofey and Sligo)

• Ramada Hotel (Located on the Oldtown/Pearse Road.)

• Gleneeny House (At Station Roundabout)

• Letterkenny Court Hotel (Formerly called the Quality Court Hotel in town centre and can be noisy at night as lots of stag parties stay there)

• Mount Errigal Hotel (Ramelton/Rathmullen Road from the Derry Road)

All of these hotels offer good facilities as you would expect, and many have leisure and gym facilities. Prices vary but,in general, compare favourably with other Irish towns and cities. Special weekend and midweek packages can be good value (around €50 per person sharing per night) are are usually available off-peak season.

Backpackers can avail of two hostels, one within the town and the other a short distance out on the road towards Glenties and Fintown, at cheaper rates (around €15.00 per night).

The ubiquitous Irish "Bed and Breakfast" houses abound on every road into Letterkenny and you can expect to pay in the region of €25-€40 for a single room, with full Irish breakfast.

Pre-booking is advisably at peak times such as when the Donegal International Rally is in town (June every year).

Stay Safe

Letterkenny is relatively safe to walk around. However, like all major towns, and given the Irish fondness for alcohol, it is best to take care in the early hours of the morning, particularly when nightclubs are emptying. The crowded Port Road area, where two nightclubs and a fast food restaurant are located in close proximity, should be avoided after midnight, from Thursday to Saturday nights, as many drunken brawls erupt without warning.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!