County Donegal
From World travel guide
County Donegal, in the Republic's part of Ulster is the northernmost county in Ireland, stretching further to the north than any part of "Northern" Ireland.
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Regions
Donegal has a number of regions, defined on traditional grounds going back hundreds of years, and often overlapping. The Rosses is probably the best defined, encompassing much of the Irish speaking areas of the county to the north west, including the inhabited islands of Arranmore and Cruit.
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.
Cities
- Letterkenny (Leitir Ceanainn)
- Donegal Town (Dún na nGall)
Other destinations
- Dungloe (An Clochán Liath)
- Gweedore (Gaoth Dobhair)
- Ballyshannon (Béal Atha Seanaidh)
- Bundoran (Bun Dobhrain)
- Ballybofey(Bealach Féich)
- Anagry (Anagaire)
- Arranmore Island (Árainn Mhór)
- Tory Island (Oileán Toraigh
Understand
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. 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
Car
Donegal is not well served by the Irish road network. The N3 national primary road, which passes through Northern Ireland, terminates in Ballyshannon, and the N15 national primary road links Sligo to Donegal Town.
Bus
Bus Éireann, a nationally owned bus service, run limited services throughout the county, as well as services to Dublin from Letterkenny and Donegal Town. A number of private operators, most notable McGeehan and McGinley, operate services from Donegal Town and Letterkenny 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 a s 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 incorrect.
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 seen as scenic, however stunning sights can be seen at 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 countries 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 counties 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. 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 shops, including branches of many international fashion boutiques, including Benetton. 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 Irelands 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 bar on sand dunes, many of the courses are links.
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 parents of Enya and her siblings band, Clannad.
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. Prices are significantly lower than in Dublin, with a pint of stout usually averaging €3.35 in rural areas. The selection of drinks available is different, and lower than in the rest of the country, with more traditionally Ulster or Scottish drinks such as Harp Lager and Tennants replacing European beers such as Amstel and Carlsberg at the taps. 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.
