Donegal - Welcome To Ireland Donegal County Donegal History: At various times in its history, it has been known as County Tirconaill, County Tirconnell or County Tyrconnell (Irish: Contae Thír Chonaill). The former was used as its official name during 1922–1927. This is in reference to both the old túath of Tír Chonaill and the earldom that succeeded it. County Donegal is famous for being the home of the once mighty Clann Dálaigh, whose most famous branch were the Clann Ó Domhnaill, better known in English as the O'Donnell Clan. Until around 1600, the O'Donnells were one of Ireland's richest and most powerful Gaelic (native Irish) ruling-families. Within the Province of Ulster only the Clann Uí Néill (known in English as the O'Neill Clan) of modern County Tyrone were more powerful. The O'Donnells were Ulster's second most powerful clan or ruling-family from the early 13th-century through to the start of the 17th-century.

For several centuries the O'Donnells ruled Tír Chonaill, a Gaelic kingdom in West Ulster that covered almost all of modern County Donegal. The head of the O'Donnell family had the titles An Ó Domhnaill (meaning The O'Donnell in English) and Rí Thír Chonaill (meaning King of Tír Chonaill in English). Based at Donegal Castle in Dún na nGall (modern Donegal Town), the O'Donnell Kings of Tír Chonaill were traditionally inaugurated at Doon Rock near Kilmacrenan. O'Donnell royal or chiefly power was finally ended in what was then the newly created County Donegal in September 1607, following the Flight of the Earls from near Rathmullan. The modern County Arms of Donegal (dating from the early 1970s) was influenced by the design of the old O'Donnell royal arms. The County Arms is the official coat of arms of both County Donegal and Donegal County Council. The modern County Donegal was shired by order of the English Crown in 1585.

The English authorities at Dublin Castle formed the new county by amalgamating the old Kingdom of Tír Chonaill with the old Lordship of Inishowen. However, the English authorities were unable to establish control over Tír Chonaill and Inishowen until after the Battle of Kinsale in 1602. Full control over the new County Donegal was only achieved after the Flight of the Earls in September 1607. The county was one of those 'planted' during the Plantation of Ulster from around 1610 onwards. County Donegal was one of the worst affected parts of Ulster during the Great Famine of the late 1840s in Ireland. Vast swathes of the county were devastated by this catastrophe, many areas becoming permanently depopulated. Vast numbers of County Donegal's people emigrated at this time, chiefly through the Port of Derry. Huge numbers of the county's people who emigrated were to settle in Glasgow in southern Scotland. The Partition of Ireland in the early 1920s was to have a massive direct impact on County Donegal.

Partition cut the county off, economically and administratively, from Derry, which had acted for centuries as the county's main port, transport hub and financial centre. Derry, together with West Tyrone, was henceforward in a new, different jurisdiction officially called Northern Ireland. Partition also meant that County Donegal was now almost entirely cut off from the rest of the jurisdiction it now found itself in, the new dominion called the Irish Free State. This dominion became fully independent in April 1949 when it left the Commonwealth and became the Republic of Ireland. Only a few miles of the county is physically connected by land to the rest of the Republic. The existence of this border, cutting Donegal off from her natural hinterlands in Derry City and West Tyrone, has greatly exacerbated the economic difficulties of the county since partition. The county's economy is particularly susceptible, just like that of Derry City, to the currency fluctuations of the Euro against Sterling. Added to all this, in the late 20th-century, County Donegal was, by the standards of the rest of the Republic of Ireland, to be adversely affected by The Troubles in Northern Ireland. The county was to suffer several bombings and at least two assassinations.

In June 1987, Constable Samuel McClean, a Donegal man who was a serving member of the R.U.C., was shot dead by the I.R.A. at his family home near Drumkeen. In May 1991, the prominent Sinn Féin politician Councillor Eddie Fullerton was assassinated by the U.D.A. at his home in Buncrana. This added further to the economic and social difficulties of the county. However, the Good Friday Agreement (G.F.A.) of April 1998 has been of great benefit to the county. It has been labelled the 'forgotten county' by its own politicians, owing to the increasing regularity with which it is ignored by the Irish Government, even in times of crisis. Geography and political subdivisions: In terms of size and area, it is the largest county in Ulster and the fourth largest county in all of Ireland. Uniquely, County Donegal shares a border with only one other county in the Republic of Ireland – County Leitrim. The greater part of its land border is shared with three counties of Northern Ireland: County Londonderry, County Tyrone and County Fermanagh.

This geographic 'isolation' from the rest of the Republic has led to Donegal people maintaining a distinct cultural identity and has been used to market the county with the slogan Up here it's different. While Lifford is the County Town, Letterkenny is by far the largest town in the county with a population of 19,588. Letterkenny and the nearby city of Derry form the main economic axis of the north-west of Ireland. Baronies: There are eight historic baronies in the county: Banagh (Báinigh) Raphoe North (Ráth Bhoth Thuaidh) Raphoe South (Ráth Bhoth Theas) Tirhugh (Tír Aodha) Informal districts: The county may be informally divided into a number of traditional districts. There are two Gaeltacht districts in the west: The Rosses (Irish: Na Rosa), centred on the town of Dungloe (Irish: An Clochán Liath), and Gweedore (Irish: Gaoth Dobhair).

Another Gaeltacht district is located in the north-west: Cloughaneely (Irish: Cloich Chionnaola), centred on the town of Falcarragh (Irish: An Fál Carrach). The most northerly part of the island of Ireland is the location for three peninsulae of outstanding natural beauty: Inishowen, Fanad and Rosguill. The main population centre of Inishowen, one of Ireland's largest peninsulae, is Buncrana. In the east of the county lies the Finn Valley (centred on Ballybofey). The Laggan district (not to be confused with the more famous Lagan Valley in the south of County Antrim) is centred on the town of Raphoe. Demographics: According to the 1841 Census, County Donegal had a population of 296,000 people. As a result of famine and emigration, the population had reduced by 41,000 by 1851 and further reduced by 18,000 by 1861.

By the time of the 1951 Census the population was only 44% of what it had been in 1841. The 2006 Census, undertaken by the State's Central Statistics Office, had County Donegal's population standing at 147,264. According to the 2011 Census, the county's population had grown to 161,137. Physical geography: Physically, the county is by far the most rugged and mountainous in Ulster. The county consists chiefly of low mountains, with a deeply indented coastline forming natural loughs, of which both Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle are the most notable. The famous mountains (often known as 'the Hills of Donegal') consist of two major ranges, the Derryveagh Mountains in the north and the Bluestack Mountains in the south, with Mount Errigal at 749 metres (2,457 ft) the highest peak. The Slieve League cliffs are the sixth-highest sea cliffs in Europe, while Donegal's Malin Head is the most northerly point on the island of Ireland.

The climate is temperate and dominated by the Gulf Stream, with warm, damp summers and mild wet winters. Two permanently inhabited islands, Arranmore and Tory Island, lie off the coast, along with a large number of islands with only transient inhabitants. Ireland's second longest river, the Erne, enters Donegal Bay near the town of Ballyshannon. The River Erne, along with other Donegal waterways, has been dammed to produce hydroelectric power. The River Foyle separates part of County Donegal from parts of both counties Londonderry and Tyrone. Botany: A survey of the macroscopic marine algae of County Donegal was published in 2003. The survey was compiled using the algal records held in the herbaria of the following institutions: the Ulster Museum in Stranmillis, Belfast; Trinity College, Dublin; University College, Galway; and the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London. Slieve League cliffs, the second tallest in Ireland.

Irish language: Much of the county is seen as being a bastion of Gaelic culture and the Irish language, the county holding the second-largest Gaeltacht area in the country with a population of 24,744 16% of the county's population lives in the Gaeltacht. There are about 25,000 Irish speakers in County Donegal. According to the 2011 Census, 17,132 say they can speak Irish in the County Donegal Gaeltacht. There are 1,005 attending the 5 Gaelscoileanna and 2 Gaelcholáistí in the rest of the county. According to the 2006 Census, there are also 7,218 people who identify as being daily Irish speakers outside the Gaeltacht in the rest of the county. Gweedore is the largest Irish-speaking parish with over 4,000 inhabitants. All schools in the region use Irish as the language of instruction. One of the N.U.I.G.'s constituent colleges, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, is based in Gweedore.

The version of the Irish language spoken in County Donegal is Ulster Irish. Government and Politics: Donegal County Council (which has officially been in existence since 1899) has responsibility for local administration, and is headquartered at the County House in Lifford. The County Council runs alongside Town Councils in Letterkenny, Bundoran, Ballyshannon and Buncrana. Both the County Council and Town Councils have elections every five years (alongside local elections nationally, and elections to the European Parliament), the last of which took place on 5 June 2009. Twenty nine councillors are elected using the system of Proportional representation-Singe Transferable Vote (STV), across five electoral areas (Inishowen – 7 seats, Letterkenny – 7 seats, Donegal – 5 seats, Stranorlar – 5 seats, and Glenties – 5 seats. For General elections, the county is divided into two constituencies, Donegal South–West and Donegal North–East, with both having three representatives in Dáil Éireann.

For elections to the European Parliament, the county is part of the North–West constituency (formerly Connacht–Ulster) Access: An extensive rail network used to exist throughout the county and was mainly operated by the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee and the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company (known as the L. & L.S.R. or the Lough Swilly Company for short). The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) L.t.d. (the G.N.R.) also ran a line from Strabane through The Laggan, a district in the east of the county, along the River Foyle into Derry. However, the railway network within County Donegal was completely closed by 1960. Today, the closest railway station to the county is Waterside Station in the City of Derry, which is operated by Northern Ireland Railways (N.I.R.). County Donegal is served by both Donegal Airport, located at Carrickfinn in The Rosses in the west of the county, and by City of Derry Airport, located at Eglinton to the east.

The nearest main international airport to the county is Belfast International Airport (popularly known as Aldergrove Airport), which is located to the east at Aldergrove, near Antrim Town, in County Antrim, around fifty-seven miles from Derry City and around seventy-five miles from Letterkenny. Culture: The variant of the Irish language spoken in Donegal shares many traits with Scottish Gaelic. The Irish spoken in the Donegal Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) is of the Ulster dialect, while Inishowen (parts of which only became English-speaking in the early 20th century) used the East Ulster dialect. Ulster Scots is often spoken in both the Finn Valley and The Laggan district of East Donegal. Donegal Irish has a strong influence on learnt Irish across Ulster. Like other areas on the western seaboard of Ireland, Donegal has a distinctive fiddle tradition which is of world renown. Donegal is also well known for its songs which have, like the instrumental music, a distinctive sound. Donegal musical artists such as the bands Clannad and Altan and solo artist Enya, all from Gaoth Dobhair, have had international success with traditional or traditional flavoured music.

Donegal music has also influenced people not originally from the county including folk and pop singer Paul Brady. Popular music is also common, the county's most acclaimed rock artist being the Ballyshannon-born Rory Gallagher. Donegal has a long literary tradition in both Irish and English. The famous Irish navvy-turned-novelist Patrick MacGill, author of many books about the experiences of Irish migrant itinerant labourers in Britain at around the turn of the 19th to 20th century, such as The Rat Pit and the autobiographical Children of the Dead End, is from the Glenties area. There is a literary summer school in Glenties named in his honour. The novelist and socialist politician Peadar O'Donnell hailed from The Rosses in west Donegal. The poet William Allingham was also from Ballyshannon. Modern exponents include the Inishowen playwright and poet Frank McGuinness and the playwright Brian Friel. Many of Friel's plays are set in the fictional Donegal town of Ballybeg. Authors in Donegal have been creating works, like the Annals of the Four Masters, in Gaelic and Latin since the Early Middle Ages.

The Irish philosopher John Toland was born in Inishowen in 1670. He was thought of as the original freethinker by George Berkeley. Toland was also instrumental in the spread of freemasonry throughout Continental Europe. In modern Irish Donegal has produced famous, and sometimes controversial, authors such as the brothers Séamus Ó Grianna and Seosamh Mac Grianna from The Rosses and the contemporary (and controversial) Irish-language poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh from Gortahork in Cloughaneely, and where he is known to locals as Gúrú na gCnoc ('the Guru of the Hills'). Although approximately 85% of its population is Catholic, County Donegal also has a sizeable Protestant minority. Most Donegal Protestants would trace their ancestors to settlers who arrived during the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th-century. The Church of Ireland is the largest Protestant denomination but is closely rivalled by a large number of Presbyterians.

The areas of Donegal with the highest percentage of Protestants are The Laggan area of East Donegal around Raphoe, the Finn Valley and areas around Ramelton, Milford and Dunfanaghy – where their proportion reaches up to 30–45 percent. There is also a large Protestant population between Donegal Town and Ballyshannon in the south of the county. In absolute terms, Letterkenny has the largest number of Protestants (over 1000) and is the most Presbyterian town (among those settlements with more than 3000 people) in the Republic of Ireland. Some County Donegal Protestants (mainly those concentrated in The Laggan, the Finn Valley, Inishowen and the Donegal Town/Ballintra areas) are members of the Orange Order. The Earagail Arts Festival is held within the county each July. It is considered to be one of the best arts festivals in Ireland, North or South. It is certainly one of the main arts festivals within Ulster. People from Donegal has also contributed to culture elsewhere. Francis Alison was one of the founders of the College of Philadelphia, which would later become the University of Pennsylvania. The Rev.

Francis Makemie (originally from Ramelton) founded the Presbyterian Church in America. The Rev. David Steele, from Upper Creevaugh, was a prominent Reformed Presbyterian, or Covenanter, minister who emigrated to the United States in 1824. The Right Reverend Dr. Charles Inglis, who was the first Church of England Bishop of the Diocese of Nova Scotia, was the third son of The Rev. Archibald Inglis, the Rector in Glencolumbkille. Glenveagh National Park. Places of interest: With its sandy beaches, unspoilt boglands and friendly communities, County Donegal is a favoured destination for many travellers, Irish (especially Northern Irish) and foreign alike. One of the county treasures is Glenveagh National Park (formerly part of the Glenveagh Estate), as yet (March 2012) the only official national park anywhere in the Province of Ulster. The park is a 140 km² (about 35,000 acre) nature reserve with spectacular scenery of mountains, raised boglands, lakes and woodlands.

At its heart is Glenveagh Castle, a beautiful late Victorian 'folly' that was originally built as a summer residence. The Donegal Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking district) also attracts young people to County Donegal each year during the school summer holidays. The three week long summer Gaeltacht courses give young Irish people from other parts of the country a chance to learn the Irish language and traditional Irish cultural traditions that are still prevalent in parts of Donegal. The Donegal Gaeltacht has traditionally been a very popular destination each summer for young people from Northern Ireland. Scuba Diving is also very popular with a club being located in Donegal Town. Education: Third-level education within the county is provided by Letterkenny Institute of Technology (L.Y.I.T.; popularly known locally as 'the Regional'), established in the 1970s in Letterkenny. In addition, many young people from the county attend third-level institutions elsewhere in Ireland, especially in Derry and also at the University of Ulster at Coleraine (U.U.C.), the University of Ulster at Jordanstown (U.U.J.), The Queen's University of Belfast ('Queen's'), and NUI Galway.

Many Donegal students also attend the Limavady Campus of the North West Regional College (popularly known as Limavady Tech) and the Omagh Campus of South West College (popularly known as Omagh Tech or Omagh College). Sport: Gaelic football and hurling The Gaelic Athletic Association sport of Gaelic football is very popular in Donegal. Donegal's inter-county football team have won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title once (in 1992). In 2007 Donegal won only their second national title by winning the National Football League. On 24 April 2011, Donegal added their third national title when they defeated Laois to capture the National Football League Division Two. There are 16 clubs in the Donegal Senior Football Championship, with many others playing at a lower level. Hurling, handball and rounders are also played but are less widespread, as in other parts of northwestern Ireland. The Donegal county senior hurling won the Lory Meagher Cup in 2011. Rugby Union: There are several rugby teams in the county.

These include Ulster Qualifying League Two side Letterkenny RFC, whose ground is named after Dave Gallaher, the captain of the 1905 New Zealand All Blacks touring team, who have since become known as The Originals. He was born in nearby Ramelton. Ulster Qualifying League Three sides include Ballyshannon RFC, Donegal Town RFC and Inishowen RFC. Finn Valley RFC and Tir Chonaill RFC both compete in the Ulster Minor League North. Association football: Finn Harps plays in the League of Ireland and won promotion to the Premier Division in 2007 following a 6–3 aggregate win in the playoff final. They are now back alongside their arch-rivals Derry City F.C., with whom they contest Ireland's North-West Derby. There are numerous other clubs in Donegal, but none has achieved the status of Finn Harps. Golf: Many people travel to Donegal for the superb golf links—long sandy beaches and extensive dune systems are a feature of the county, and many links courses have been developed.

Golf is a very popular sport within the county, including world class golf courses such as Ballyliffin (Glashedy), Ballyliffin (Old),both of whch are located in the Inishowen peninsula. Other courses to note are Murvagh (located outside Donegal Town) and Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) located in Downings (near Carrigart). The Glashedy Links has been ranked 6th in a recent ranking taken by Golf Digest on the best courses in Ireland. The Old links was ranked 28th, Murvagh 36th and Sandy Hills 38th. Mountain Biking: Because of Donegal's hilly and mountain landscape, Mountain Biking has become a significant and growing interest. The Donegal Mountain Bike Club is the newest Mountain Bike club in Donegal, and held its first race on 31 August 2011. The 'Bogman Race' was entered by more than 50 people from different backgrounds of cycling. Due to the overwhelming popularity of their first ever race, the club plans to organize more races in the near future over different seasons, and aims to make it a major tourist attraction throughout Donegal.

Cricket: Cricket is also played in County Donegal. This sport is chiefly confined to The Laggan district and the Finn Valley in the east of the county. The town of Raphoe and the nearby village of St. Johnston, both in The Laggan, are the traditional strongholds of cricket within the county. The game is mainly played and followed by members of County Donegal's Protestant community. Other sports: Donegal's rugged landscape lends itself to active sports like climbing, hillwalking, surfing and kite-flying. Rock climbing is of very high quality and still under-developed in the county. There is a wealth of good quality climbs in the county, from granite rocks in the south to quartzite and dolerite in the north; from long mountain routes in the Poisoned Glen to boulder challenges of excellent quality in the west and in the Inishowen Peninsula. Surfing on Donegal's Atlantic coast is considered to be as good as any in Ireland. The seaside resort of Bundoran, located in the very south of the county, along with nearby Rossnowlagh, have been 'reborn' as the centre of surfing in County Donegal.

Indeed, these areas are renowned as the main surfing centres in Ulster. People from County Donegal: See & Do, Donegal | Ireland.com See & Do Please enter details of your search Please amend your search to refresh results Types of thing to do No results match your search criteria Please enter details of your search Please amend your search to refresh results Donegal Craft Village Donegal Town, Donegal Donegal Craft Village is situated just outside the historic town of Donegal on the road to Ballyshannon and Sligo Read more Donegal County Museum Letterkenny, Donegal Donegal County Museum, in Letterkenny County Donegal, houses a fascinating range of artefacts covering all aspects of life in Donegal. Read more Glencolmcille Folk Village Glencolmcille, Donegal The Glencolmcille Folk Village Museum recreates Donegal's historic cottage dwellings, spanning over 300 years, in Glencolmcille, County Donegal. Read more Fort Dunree Military Museum Buncrana, Donegal Fort Dunree is a military museum with special emphasis on coastal artillery and the military history of the north west, in Buncrana County Donegal.

Read more Lifford Old Courthouse Lifford, Donegal Just 15 miles away from Letterkenny and 15 miles from Derry/L’Derry, lies Lifford, the historic capital of Donegal. The Old Courthouse was built in 1746 and was once home to some of the north west’s most wanted villains. Read more The Workhouse Famine & Heritage Centre Dunfanaghy, Donegal The Workhouse Famine and Heritage Centre is a restored workhouse building with famine exhibition. It is run as a community educational resource, exhibition space and craft training centre, in Dunfanaghy County Donegal. Read more Glebe House and Gallery Letterkenny, Donegal Art enthusiasts will love a visit to Glebe House and Gallery. Located 18km from Letterkenny, County Donegal, visitors can view the Derek Hill collection which includes more than 300 works by Picasso and Kokoshka, as well as Irish and Italian artists.

Read more Newmills Corn And Flax Mills Letterkenny, Donegal The visitor to Newmills, in Letterkenny, County Donegal, can experience the pleasure of seeing one of the largest water wheels in Ireland in action as it drives the machinery of the cornmill. Read more Glenveagh National Park and Castle Letterkenny, Donegal Glenveagh Castle was completed in 1873, taking its inspiration from the concept of a romantic highland retreat. Situated 24 kilometres north west of Letterkenny, Glenveagh is the most northerly of the nations' six national parks. Read more Inishowen Boating Malin, Donegal Inishowen Boating Company offer shark, bottom and wreck fishing on two purpose built, fast charter boats from Bunagee Pier, Culdaff on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal. Read more Donegal | county, Ireland | Britannica.com Donegal Alternative Titles: Dún na nGall, Tyrconnell Related Topics Donegal, Irish Dún na nGall (“Fort of the Foreigners”), most northerly county of Ireland , in the historic province of Ulster .

The small village of Lifford in eastern Donegal is the county seat. Gardens at Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal, Ulster, Ire. Geray Sweeney/Tourism Ireland Donegal is bounded on the west and north by the Atlantic Ocean , on the east by Lough (lake) Foyle and Northern Ireland , and on the south by Northern Ireland and the Irish county of Leitrim . The rugged coast is heavily indented in the north, major inlets being Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle, between which is the Inishowen Peninsula. The chief rivers are the Finn and Erne . The main mountain ranges are the Blue Stack, whose highest peak is Lavagh More (2,218 feet [676 metres]), and Derryveagh, which reaches 2,467 feet (752 metres) at Errigal. Evidence of extensive glaciation exists. The climate is temperate, with warm summers and mild, moist winters. Donegal’s population is concentrated largely along the coasts and river valleys. The main towns are Donegal , Buncrana, Ballyshannon, and Letterkenny.

With the exception of the county’s urban districts, Donegal is administered by a county council and county manager. The Foyle and Finn basins are intensively cultivated , but the rugged western seaboard is unsuitable for cultivation. Agriculture consists of tillage and the raising of cattle, sheep, and poultry; the chief crops are oats and potatoes . Killybegs on the southwest coast is the main fishing port and a fish-processing centre. Salmon are caught in the Rivers Finn, Foyle, Erne, and Gweebarra. With the county’s scenery and its many beaches and golf courses, tourism is important. In west Donegal, which remains an Irish - (Gaelic-) speaking region, woolen garments are made by hand, and Donegal tweeds are woven at Convoy. The county has light industry. Modern railway lines no longer serve Donegal, though railway enthusiasts in the county maintain a railway heritage centre. Similar Topics County Donegal - Wikishire County Donegal Irish: Contae Dhún na nGall Republic of Ireland Biggest town: Letterkenny The County of Donegal is the northernmost shire of the Republic of Ireland .

Located in the province of Ulster in north-west Ireland, it is named after its traditional county town of Donegal, although Lifford serves as the county town. The population of the county was 161,137 according to the 2011 census. Contents 6 Outside links Geography In terms of size and area, it is the largest county in Ulster and the fourth largest county in all of Ireland. Uniquely, County Donegal shares a border with only one other county in the Republic of Ireland – Leitrim . The greater part of its land border is shared with three counties of Northern Ireland: Londonderry , Tyrone and Fermanagh . This geographic 'isolation' from the rest of the Republic has led to Donegal people maintaining a distinct cultural identity [1] and has been used to market the county with the slogan Up here it's different. [2] While Lifford is the County Town, Letterkenny is by far the largest town in the county with a population of 19,588. Letterkenny and the nearby city of Londonderry form the main economic axis of the north-west of Ireland.

[3] The townland of Drumlongfield in the parish of Templecarn forms a detached part of the county locally situate in Fermanagh . [4] Baronies The Poison Glen, in North West Donegal. There are eight baronies in the county: Banagh Tirhugh Informal districts The county may be informally divided into a number of traditional districts. There are two Gaeltacht districts in the west: The Rosses, centred on the town of Dungloe, and Gweedore. Another Gaeltacht district is located in the north-west: Cloughaneely, centred on the town of Falcarragh. The most northerly part of the island of Ireland is the location for three peninsulas of outstanding natural beauty: Inishowen, Fanad and Rosguill. The main population centre of Inishowen, Ireland's largest peninsula, is Buncrana. In the east of the county lies the Finn Valley (centred on Ballybofey). The Laggan district (not to be confused with the more famous Lagan Valley in the south of County Antrim) is centred on the town of Raphoe.

Seen from Space: County Donegal with the Ulster coastline with Lough Swilly and Inishowen west of Londonderry and County Londonderry with Lough Foyle east thereof. Towns and villages Horse riding on Tramore Beach in Downings Slieve League cliffs, the second tallest in Ireland Ardara Map of County Donegal The county is the most mountainous in Ulster consisting chiefly of two ranges of low mountains; the Derryveagh Mountains in the north and the Bluestack Mountains in the south, with Mount Errigal at 2,457 ft the highest peak. It has a deeply indented coastline forming natural sea loughs, of which both Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle are the most notable. The Slieve League cliffs are the sixth-highest sea cliffs in Europe, while Malin Head is the most northerly point on the island of Ireland. The climate is temperate and dominated by the Gulf Stream, with warm, damp summers and mild wet winters. Two permanently inhabited islands, Arranmore and Tory Island, lie off the coast, along with a large number of islands with only transient inhabitants.

Ireland's second longest river, the Erne, enters Donegal Bay near the town of Ballyshannon. The River Erne, along with other Donegal waterways, has been dammed to produce hydroelectric power. The River Foyle separates part of County Donegal from parts of the counties of Londonderry and Tyrone. Botany A survey of the macroscopic marine algae of County Donegal was published in 2003. [5] The survey was compiled using the algal records held in the herbaria of the following institutions: the Ulster Museum, Belfast; Trinity College, Dublin; National University of Ireland, Galway, and the Natural History Museum, London. Zoology The animals included in the county include Badgers (Meles meles L.) [6] There are habitats for the rare Corncrake in the county. [7] History Donegal Castle, former seat of the O'Donnell clan. Kilclooney dolmen, which is over 4,000 years old. [8] At various times in its history, it has been known as County Tirconaill, County Tirconnell or County Tyrconnell.

The former was used as its official name during 1922–1927. [9] This is in reference to both the old túath of Tír Chonaill and the earldom that succeeded it. County Donegal is famous for being the home of the once mighty Clann Dálaigh, whose most famous branch were the Clann Ó Domhnaill, better known in English as the O'Donnell Clan. Until around 1600, the O'Donnells were one of Ireland's richest and most powerful Gaelic (native Irish) ruling-families. Within the Province of Ulster only the O'Neill Clan of modern County Tyrone were more powerful. The O'Donnells were Ulster's second most powerful clan or ruling-family from the early 13th-century through to the start of the 17th-century. For several centuries the O'Donnells ruled Tír Chonaill, a Gaelic kingdom in West Ulster that covered almost all of modern County Donegal.

The head of the O'Donnell family had the titles An Ó Domhnaill (meaning The O'Donnell in English) and Rí Thír Chonaill (meaning King of Tír Chonaill in English). Based at Donegal Castle in Dún na nGall (modern Donegal Town), the O'Donnell Kings of Tír Chonaill were traditionally inaugurated at Doon Rock near Kilmacrenan. O'Donnell royal or chiefly power was finally ended in what was then the newly created County Donegal in September 1607, following the Flight of the Earls from near Rathmullan. The modern County Arms of Donegal (dating from the early 1970s) was influenced by the design of the old O'Donnell royal arms. The County Arms are the official coat of arms of both County Donegal and Donegal County Council. A view of Lough Swilly with Muckish mountain in the background. Inch Island Causeway. The modern County Donegal was shired [10] by order of the English Crown in 1585.

The English authorities at Dublin Castle formed the new county by amalgamating the old Kingdom of Tír Chonaill with the old Lordship of Inishowen. However, the English authorities were unable to establish control over Tír Chonaill and Inishowen until after the Battle of Kinsale in 1602. Full control over the new County Donegal was only achieved after the Flight of the Earls in September 1607. The county was one of those 'planted' during the Plantation of Ulster from around 1610 onwards. County Donegal was one of the worst affected parts of Ulster during the Great Famine of the late 1840s in Ireland. Vast swathes of the county were devastated by this catastrophe, many areas becoming permanently depopulated. Vast numbers of County Donegal's people emigrated at this time, chiefly through Londonderry Port. The Partition of Ireland in the early 1920s had a massive direct impact on County Donegal. Partition cut the county off, economically and administratively, from Londonderry, which had acted for centuries as the county's main port, transport hub and financial centre.

Londonderry, together with west Tyrone, was henceforward in a new, different jurisdiction officially called Northern Ireland. Partition also meant that County Donegal was now almost entirely cut off from the rest of the jurisdiction in which it now found itself, the new dominion called the Irish Free State, which in April 1949 became the Republic of Ireland. Only a few miles of the county is physically connected by land to the rest of the Republic. The existence of a border cutting Donegal off from her natural hinterlands in Londonderry City and West Tyrone greatly exacerbated the economic difficulties of the county after partition. The county's economy is particularly susceptible, just like that of Londonderry City, to the currency fluctuations of the Euro against sterling. Glenveagh Castle. Places of interest Glenveagh National Park. County Donegal is a favoured destination for many travellers. One of the attractions is Glenveagh National Park (formerly part of the Glenveagh Estate), as yet (March 2012) the only official national park anywhere in the Province of Ulster. The park is a 35,000 acre nature reserve with scenery of mountains, raised boglands, lakes and woodlands.

At its heart is Glenveagh Castle, a late Victorian 'folly' that was originally built as a summer residence. The Donegal Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking district) also attracts young people to County Donegal each year during the school summer holidays. The three-week-long summer Gaeltacht courses give young Irish people from other parts of the country a chance to learn the Irish language and traditional Irish cultural traditions that are still prevalent in parts of Donegal. The Donegal Gaeltacht has traditionally been a very popular destination each summer for young people from Northern Ireland. Scuba diving is also very popular with a club being located in Donegal Town. References ↑ "Dolmen Centre, Kilclooney, Portnoo, Co.Donegal" . Dolmencentre.com. . Retrieved 9 July 2013. ↑ Renamed "County Tirconaill" 1922 by resolution of the county council.(Place Name Confusion — Donegal or Tirconaill, The Irish Times, 24 April 1924).

After historians and Gaelic scholars pointed out that the historic territory of Tirconaill did not include the whole county, the name Donegal was re-adopted in 1927 (Back to "Donegal", The Irish Times, 22 November 1927). ↑ Connolly, S.J., Oxford Companion to Irish History, page 129. Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 978-0-19-923483-7 Further reading Seán Beattie (2004). Donegal. Sutton: Printing Press. ISBN 0-7509-3825-0 . (Ireland in Old Photographs series) Morton, O. 2003. The marine macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bull. Ir. biogeog.soc. 27: 3–164.

Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland (Annála Ríoghachta Éireann) by the Four Masters, from the earliest period to the year 1616, compiled during the period 1632–36 by Brother Michael O'Clery, translated and edited by John O'Donovan in 1856, and re-published in 1998 by De Burca, Dublin. Parks, H.M. 1958. A general survey of the marine algae of Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal. Ir. Nat. J. 12: 277–83. Parks, H.M. 1958. A general survey of the marine algae of Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal: II Ir. Nat. J. 12: 324–30. Brian Lalor (General Editor), The Encyclopaedia of Ireland. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 2003. Jonathan Bardon, A History of Ulster (Paperback Edition). Blackstaff Press, Belfast 2005.

Willie Nolan, Máiread Dunleavy and Liam Ronayne (Ed.'s), Donegal: History & Society. Geography Publications, Dublin 1995. Alistair Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster (Pevsner Guides). Yale University Press, London 1979. Jim MacLaughlin (Editor), Donegal: The Making of a Northern County. Four Courts Press, Dublin 2007. John McCavitt, The Flight of the Earls. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 2005. Seán Beattie, Ancient Monuments of Inishowen, North Donegal. Lighthouse Publications, Carndonagh, Inishowen, County Donegal, 1994 & 2009. Carole Pollard, Liam McCormick: Seven Donegal Churches. Gandon Editions, Kinsale, County Cork, 2011. Lios-seachas o iar Thir Chonaill, A.J. Hughes, Donegal Annual 37, 1985, pp. 27–31.

Orthographical evidence of developments in Donegal Irish, A.J. Hughes, Eigse 22, 1987, pp. 126–34. Rang scoile a teagascadh i dTir Chonaill?, A.J. Hughes, Donegal annual 39, 1987, pp. 99–102 John Crowley, William J. Smyth and Mike Murphy (Ed.'s), Atlas of the Great Irish Famine. Cork University Press, Cork, 2012. DONEGAL (IRELAND) - Holiday Destinations - Online travel guide and ideas Online travel guide and ideas Contact Us Donegal - Ireland Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall) is a town in County Donegal, in the Province of Ulster, in Ireland. Donegal (pronounced /ˈdɒnɨgɔːl/) is not the county town (capital) of County Donegal, despite being its namesake. Rather, the county town is Lifford, and Letterkenny 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. The town has been bypassed by the N15 and N56 roads. The Irish name translates into English as Fort of the Foreigners (Vikings). Donegal Pictures Discussion on Donegal kaeswarvenkat : Donegal is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. We , Indian People from Ireland wanted to Visit Donegal ,Some of them are saying that Donegal is a northen ireland so visa is required for visting , Please help us with the information. Thanks in Advance barbara b : "Donegal is part of the Irish Republic, while it is in Ulster, and in the north of Ireland it is not part of the UK. There are 9 counties in the province of Ulster 6 of which are under British rule, but there are 3, Donegal include which are part of the South. Monaghan and Cavan are the other 2" Kevin K : "Donegal is not part of Nothern Ireland it is in the Repubilic of Ireland.

However if you do wish to visit the North a visa is not required just cross over the border no checks are made." Fleadh Cheoil : "Donegal, both Town and County,are part of the Republic" notbreda : "it is a part of Ulster, the northern province of the island, but it is not part of northern ireland. confusing, I know. my family is from cavan, another county in the same unique position." kevin19713 : "Donegal is the most northerly county in Ireland. Malin Head being the most northerly point in Ireland. However due to gerrymandering and the large percentage on catholics in Donegal, it is not part of "Northern Ireland"." sar : "Donegal is geographically in the north of Ireland, it is in Ulster, the northern province of Ireland but is is not part of Northern Ireland. It is a county of the Republic of Ireland, one of the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. No as far as I know you dont need a visa to visit, not if you arre travelling from within Ireland" anne k : Any Irish people here ?

A long time ago, Irish friends called me "an Irish woman by heart" because I loved so much their beautiful country. I was 22 when I first visited Ireland, and since then I feel an attraction which is difficult to describe in my own language, let alone in English... I haven't been in Donegal for a long time, unfortunately I spent many years with a fisherman who wasn't interested in this county. I plan to go back next Spring. How is Donegal now? is it still possible to walk for hours and meet nobody except white headed sheep? are people still nice to foreigners or just waiting for tourists' money? Do the pubs close earlier? My favourite places in Donegal: Tra-na-Rossan, Mount Errigal, Aran island, Glencolumbkill and many more. Thank you for your answers! poetrygirl on line : "Yes Donegal is still thesame, I visit quite often as my favourite singer is Daniel O Donnell. it is a beautiful part of Ireland, as you say one can walk for miles without seeing a soul.

I now live in Spain but prefer Ireland anyday." edison : "I haven`t been to Donegal but I have a CD track about it, it is one of my favourites,My father was Irish & came from Longford I have been to Ireland but, it was a long,long time ago, what I still remember is the Greens were Greener & the purple colour deeper than here as regards nature the air was purer as well & your English on here is fine.." 13caesars : "Take a long walk north from Letterkenny up the shores of Lough Swilly and on beautiful summer's day and drink a pint of Bass at Martha's bar at Port Salon. If you walk that far, you'll be deserving of a few more! Or Fly into Donegal airport, hire a care and take your time exploring the far north west. Really off the beaten track and as pretty as southern Norway. Or Simply find a bar and just relax!" Deana : "Try these sites they might help answer a few questions for you " leef : "I live in Donegal, and right now it is being overwhelmed by holiday houses being allowed in the most scenic spots, spoiling it for everybody else.

There has to be a flaw in your memory, Donegal hill sheep always used to have black heads and legs, but even that is vanishing since they crossbreed with Newzealand Texel. There are still lovely walks around Erigal and Dunlewy, also on Fannad and Inishowen, but the essential Donegal is on the wane. If you still want a taste of it, you'll have to get a move on. In a few years from now it will look like any other suburb of Dublin. Aran More is still there, and not much building going on there. Glencolumkill is too far away for me to know much about, sorry. But there is still traditional music on in Hudi Beag's in Bunbeg every Tuesday night, and Leo Brennan is still occasionally playing for the foreigners in his pub in Meenaleck although he must be 90 by now!" Angel : "Donegal is still as beautiful as ever!!! I go there every year as my 94 year old grandmother lives there. Its the most beautiful county in Ireland.

Go back as soon as you can, you'll see nothing ever changes there, just the way i like it!!!!" Super : "j'ai pas le cerveau en état pour te répondre dans cette charmante langue ce matin , mais ça fait envie" Melok : "I was there earlier this year and it has not changed at all. Trust me on this. I'm from Cork myself and I really enjoyed it. Have a good holiday." Dr. Zeuner : If you've ever been to Donegal, live in Donegal or are going to Donegal then pay this site a visit:> Jenny : Ireland Geographical Facts, Figures and Physical Extremities This page gives some of the physical extremities of Ireland Most northerly point* The most northerly point is Inishtrahull Island, situated in the Atlantic Ocean 7 km north of Inishowen Peninsula, county Donegal. It lies at latitude 55.43�N. Of mainland Ireland, the most northerly point is a headland 2 km northeast of Malin Head, Inishowen Peninsula, county Donegal. It lies at latitude 55.38�N.

Most easterly point The most easterly point is Big Bow Meel Island, which is a rock situated 900 metres off the Ards Peninsula, county Down, at longitude 5.42�W. Of mainland Ireland, the most easterly point is Burr Point, Ards Peninsula, county Down at longitude 5.43�W. It is situated 2 km southeast of the village of Ballyhalbert. Most southerly point The most southerly point is Fastnet Rock, which lies in the Atlantic Ocean 11.3 km south of mainland county Cork. It lies at latitude 51.37�N. Of mainland Ireland, the most southerly point is Brow Head, county Cork, which lies 3.8 km east of the marginly more northerly Mizen Head. It lies at latitude 51.43�N. Most westerly point* The most westerly point is Tearaght Island, which lies in the Atlantic Ocean 12.5 km west of Dingle Peninsula, county Kerry. It lies at longitude 10.70�W.

Of mainland Ireland, the most westerly point is Garraun Point, Dingle Peninsula, county Kerry which is 2.5 km northwest of Slea Head. It lies at longitude 10.51�W. Geographical Centres The geographical centre of Ireland is to be found in eastern county Roscommon, at a point 3km (2 miles) south of Athlone town. The centre of Ulster is in county Tyrone, at a point 20km (14 miles) east of Omagh town, near the village of Pomeroy. The centre of Munster is in the north of county Cork, at a point 9km (6 miles) south-west of the village of Rath Luirc. The centre of Leinster is in western county Kildare, at a point 5km (3 miles) south-west of Kildare town. The centre of Connaught is in county Mayo, 6km (4 miles) south-east of the pilgrim village of Knock. The centre of Northern Ireland is in eastern county Tyrone, at a point 6km (4 miles) south-east of the town of Cookstown.

The centre of the Republic of Ireland is in south-eastern county Galway, at a point 3km (2 miles) south-west of the village of Eyrecourt. Highest altitude The summit of Mt Carrantuohill, county Kerry, rises to 1,041 metres (3414 feet) above sea level. The second highest point is the summit of Mt Beenkeragh, county Kerry, which rises to 1,010 metres (3314 feet) above sea level. The highest point in Northern Ireland is the summit of Slieve Donard, county Down, which rises to 852 metres (2796 feet) above sea level, and is the 8th highest peak in Ireland. Tallest sea cliffs The sea cliffs at Croaghaun, Achill Island off western Ireland fall 668 metres (2,192 feet) into the Atlantic Ocean. Slieve League in county Donegal has a drop of 601 metres (1,972 feet) into the same ocean. Both cliffs are almost twice the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

However, as there is no vantage point to see the cliffs at Achill Island the Donegal cliffs are more famous. (thanks to Michele of irelandyes.com for this information) Most populated county The most heavily populated county is county Dublin, with 1,056,666 inhabitants at the last estimate. The next most heavily populated county is Antrim, with 566,400 inhabitants. Most densely populated county The most densely populated county is county Dublin, with 1147.3 inhabitants per square kilometre at the last estimate. The next most densely populated is county Antrim, with 199.2 inhabitants per square kilometre. Least populated county The county with the fewest inhabitants is county Leitrim with just 25,032 inhabitants at the last estimate. The next lowest is county Longford with 30,128 inhabitants. Most sparsely populated county The most sparsely populated county in Ireland is Leitrim, with a mere 15.8 inhabitants per square kilometre at the last estimate. The next most sparsely populated is county Mayo, which has 19.9 inhabitants per square kilometre.

Largest settlements The largest city in Ireland is Dublin, which at 859,976 inhabitants, is home to almost 1 in 5 Irish people, and more than 1 in 4 in the Irish Republic. The next 9 largest settlements are Belfast (counties Down and Antrim, 475,968), Cork (county Cork, 174,400), Limerick (county Limerick, 75,436) Derry (county Londonderry, 72,334), Newtownabbey (county Antrim, 56,811), D�n Laoghaire (county Dublin, 55,540), Bangor (county Down, 52,437), Galway (county Galway, 50,853) and Lisburn (county Antrim, 42,110). More towns . Largest county In terms of area, the largest county in Ireland is county Cork at 7,457 km�. The next largest is county Galway, at 6,148 km�.

The largest county in Northern Ireland is county Tyrone, at 3,155 km�. Smallest county The smallest county in Ireland is county Louth, which is just 820 km� in area - 9 times smaller than county Cork. The next smallest is county Carlow, which is 896 km�. The smallest county in Northern Ireland is county Armagh, at 1,254 km�. Longest river The longest river in Ireland is the river Shannon whose source is Shannon Pot, county Cavan, and which enters the sea between counties Clare and Limerick after a journey of 386 km (240 miles). It is, in fact, the longest river in the British Isles. The longest river within Northern Ireland is the river Bann, whose source is in the Mourne Mountains, county Down and which enters the sea in county Londonderry after 122 km (76 miles). Largest lake Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, which is 396 km� (153 miles�) in area. It forms part of counties Tyrone, Londonderry, Antrim, Down and Armagh.

It is, in fact, the largest lake in the British Isles. Closest to Britain The closest point that Ireland comes to Britain is Torr Head, county Antrim, which is just 23 km (14 miles) from the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. On most days, fields in Scotland can be seen clearly across the North Channel. Largest island Besides Ireland itself (82,463 km�) the largest offshore island in Irish waters is Achill island, county Mayo, with an area of 148 km� (57 miles�). Tallest waterfall Ireland's tallest waterfall is Powerscourt Falls, county Wicklow, where the water drops 106 metres (350 feet). It is the third tallest waterfall in the British Isles. Sunniest town The town in Ireland which enjoys the most sunshine is Rosslare, county Wexford which has over 1600 hours of sunshine per year (4 hrs, 20 mins per day). Cloudiest town The town in Ireland which receives the least sunshine is Omagh, county Tyrone which has less than 1200 hours of sunshine per year (3 hrs, 20 mins per day).

Wettest place The wettest place in Ireland is the area of the Maumturk and Partry mountains of counties Mayo and Galway, which receive annually over 2400 mm of rain. Driest place The driest place in Ireland is Dublin city which receives less than 800 mm of rain per year. *Excludes Rockall Island, which is situated in the north Atlantic 440 km northwest of county Donegal. Although it is merely an uninhabited outcrop of rock a few tens of metres across, it is important in that whoever owns it can claim the fishing and oil rights around it. It is currently in dispute between Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and Denmark. Rockall Island is at latitude 57.61�N, longitude 13.70�W. Donegal - Credo Reference Topic Page: Donegal Definition: Donegal from Philip's Encyclopedia County in NW Republic of Ireland, bounded by Northern Ireland (E) and the Atlantic Ocean (N and W). The county town is Lifford. There is a rocky, indented coastline and much of the county is hilly. The chief rivers are the Finn, Foyle and Erne.

Agriculture is the main activity, but only 33% of the land is fertile. Tourism and fishing are also important. Area: 4,830sq km (1,865sq mi). Pop. (2002) 137,383. Summary Article: Donegal from The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide Mountainous county in the northwest of the Republic of Ireland, surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, and bordering the counties of Londonderry, Tyrone, and Fermanagh (Northern Ireland), and Leitrim (Republic of Ireland); area 4,830 sq km/1,864 sq mi; county town Lifford; population (2002) 137,600. Ballyshannon is the largest town, and the market town and port of Donegal is at the head of Donegal Bay in the southwest. The severe climate renders much of the county barren, although the soil is suitable for potatoes, oats, and barley (in places). Commercial activities include sheep and cattle raising, tweed, linen, and carpet manufacture, and some salmon and deep-sea fishing.

Tourism is also very important; the county is noted for dramatic scenery and geology as well as archaeological and historic remains, and the castles of Donegal and Glenveagh as well as Glenveagh National Park are among the top visitor attractions in the county. The River Erne hydroelectric project (1952) involved the building of a large artificial lake (405 ha/1,000 acres) and a power station at Ballyshannon. Features The county is rich in early remains from the Bronze Age and the early Christian period, as well as early fortifications. The most interesting historical remains are perhaps those of the Grianan of Aileach, a large circular stone fort, built about 1700 BC as the stronghold of the kings of Ulster, the O'Neills. The famous St Patrick's Purgatory pilgrimage takes place on Station Island in the middle of Lough Derg. At Donegal Abbey (founded 1474) an important early literary work, The Annals of the Four Masters, was written between 1632 and 1636, and is an important source for early Irish history and mythology.

Colum Cille (St Columba) was born at Garton, where there is a heritage centre depicting his life; a flagstone on a hill near Lough Gartan is reputed to mark his birthplace. He founded an abbey at Kilmacrenan (of which nothing remains, although there are ruins of a 15th-century Franciscan friary on the site). Other sites include Glencolumkille, named after the saint who was reputed to have a retreat in the Glen; a large, high cross reputed to have been erected by St Colmcille in Myrath churchyard; the ruined monastery on Tory Island reputed to have been funded by Colum Cille. Physical Donegal is mainly mountainous with dramatic cliff scenery, being geologically a continuation of the Highlands of Scotland. The coastline is very irregular, being broken by Lough Swilly, Sheep Haven, Boylagh Bay, Gweebarra Bay, and Donegal Bay; there are high-cliffed peninsulas to the north. There are many islands off the coast, the main ones being Inistrahul, Tory Island, and Aran Island.

The chief rivers are the Foyle, the Finn, the Swilly, the Erne, the Gweebarra, the Gweedore, and the Owenea, and the chief lakes Loughs Derg, Deele, Gartan, Eask, and Glen. The highest mountain is Mount Errigal (752 m/2,467 ft), and the glaciated Derryveagh Mountains have a series of peaks over 610 m/2,000 ft. At Malin Head in the west of Donegal Bay there is a sea cliff 600 m/1,969 ft in height. Malin Head is the most northerly point of Ireland. weblinks Donegal | Ireland.com Donegal Dunfanaghy Golf Club Dunfanaghy, Donegal This links course offers a challenge to the experienced golfer and an enjoyable round to the novice. Read more Rosapenna Golf Resort Downings, Donegal Quality Approved Golf Course | Approved to Fáilte Ireland standards, which means the services and facilities have been independently checked out before you tee-off.

Read more Donegal Golf Club Murvagh, Donegal A golf links that offers the greatest challenges, unsurpassed beauty and tranquility that is almost impossible to find in the modern world. Read more Donegal Craft Village Donegal Town, Donegal Donegal Craft Village is situated just outside the historic town of Donegal on the road to Ballyshannon and Sligo Read more Donegal County Museum Letterkenny, Donegal Donegal County Museum, in Letterkenny County Donegal, houses a fascinating range of artefacts covering all aspects of life in Donegal. Read more Glencolmcille Folk Village Glencolmcille, Donegal The Glencolmcille Folk Village Museum recreates Donegal's historic cottage dwellings, spanning over 300 years, in Glencolmcille, County Donegal. Read more Fort Dunree Military Museum Buncrana, Donegal Fort Dunree is a military museum with special emphasis on coastal artillery and the military history of the north west, in Buncrana County Donegal.

Read more Lifford Old Courthouse Lifford, Donegal Just 15 miles away from Letterkenny and 15 miles from Derry/L’Derry, lies Lifford, the historic capital of Donegal. The Old Courthouse was built in 1746 and was once home to some of the north west’s most wanted villains. Read more The Workhouse Famine & Heritage Centre Dunfanaghy, Donegal The Workhouse Famine and Heritage Centre is a restored workhouse building with famine exhibition. It is run as a community educational resource, exhibition space and craft training centre, in Dunfanaghy County Donegal. Read more Glebe House and Gallery Letterkenny, Donegal Art enthusiasts will love a visit to Glebe House and Gallery. Located 18km from Letterkenny, County Donegal, visitors can view the Derek Hill collection which includes more than 300 works by Picasso and Kokoshka, as well as Irish and Italian artists. Read more

Question: With the county town of Lifford, which is the most northerly of the counties of the Irish Republic?
Answer: Donegal