Donegal Town

Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal in northwest Ireland. With a population of 2700 in 2022, it's neither the county town — that's tiny Lifford — nor the county's largest - that's Letterkenny. It's a small place clustered around its plaza "The Diamond", with the River Eske flowing out of the Bluestack Mountains into the bay. It makes a good base for touring south County Donegal.

Understand

The centre of the town, known as The Diamond, is a hub for music, poetic and cultural gatherings in the area. There is a memorial to the Four Masters in the centre of the Diamond.

Donegal is in South Donegal at the mouth of the River Eske and Donegal Bay, which is overshadowed by the Blue Stack Mountains ("the Croaghs"). The Drumenny Burn, which flows along the eastern edge of Donegal Town, flows into the River Eske on the north-eastern edge of the town, between the Community Hospital and the Northern Garage. The Ballybofey Road (the R267) crosses the Drumenny Burn near where it flows into the River Eske. The town is bypassed by the N15 and N56 roads.

1 Donegal Tourist Information Centre is on The Quay, open Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM.

Get in

Old graveyard at Donegal Abbey

The nearest railway stations are Sligo with trains from Dublin Connolly, and Derry with trains from Belfast.

Bus Éireann X30 / 30 runs every couple of hours from Dublin Busáras, taking 3 hr 30 min via Dublin Airport, Virginia, Cavan Town, Enniskillen and Ballyshannon. From Cavan Bus 30 takes a slower route via Butlersbridge, Belturbet, Enniskillen and Belleek.

From Belfast travel via Enniskillen or Derry.

Expressway 64 runs every two hours from Derry via Letterkenny and Ballybofey to Donegal (90 min) and continues to Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Sligo, Charlestown, Knock airport and village, Claremorris, Ballyhaunis, Tuam and Galway.

Bus Feda 964 shares this route, running 2-3 times a day from Crolly to Letterkenny and Donegal Town then onward to Knock, Tuam and Galway.

Local Link Bus 292 runs every two hours from Ballyshannon, taking 40 min via Rossnowlagh and Laghy. Bus 982 from Sligo to Ballyshannon connects with this service.

1 The Diamond is the main bus stop, usually shown on timetables as Abbey Hotel.

By road from Dublin follow M3 then N3 via Cavan, crossing the border at Belturbet. The road is badged A509 then A46 through Enniskillen to Belleek, then you re-cross the border and take N15 into Donegal. There are no border checks, but you must ensure that your personal and car documents are valid for Northern Ireland.

Get around

The town is small enough to walk, but you need wheels for outlying attractions. There's no bike hire here, and the nearest car hire offices are in Letterkenny and Derry.

Local Link Bus 293 runs from Glencolmcille via Mainmore, Killybegs and Mountcharles to Donegal Town, with five M-Sa and three on Sunday.

Bus Éireann 492 runs 2 or 3 times a day from Dungloe via Lettermacaward, Glenties, Ardara and Killybegs, taking 90 min to Donegal Town.

Bus 994 makes one morning run M-F from Portnoo via Ardara and Meentinadea, heading back from Donegal Town in the afternoon.

Taxi operators include Bertie's Cabs +353 87 441 1030 and Happi Cabs +353 74 971 5092. Andy Quinn has minibuses suitable for families or tours, +353 87 262 0670.

See

• 1 Donegal Abbey, Glebe, Donegal. 24 hours. This was a Franciscan Priory established in 1474. It was the scene of a battle in 1601 during the Nine Year's War between the English Tudors and the area's Gaelic rulers: a gunpowder keg caught fire and that was the end of the abbey and anyone in the vicinity. So there's just a few shards of masonry and you mostly come for the scenic old graveyard overlooking the estuary. Free. (updated Aug 2021)
• The Diamond is town centre. The obelisk commemorates "The Annals of the Four Masters", a semi-historical catalogue compiled hereabouts in 1632-36. By then the abbey was in small pieces and its friars were making do in a nearby cottage and in a house near Ballyshannon. Only the chief author was a friar, but they became known as na Ceithre Máistrí, anglicised as "Four Masters".
• St Patrick's Church of the Four Masters east end of The Diamond is Roman Catholic, in sort-of-Romanesque with a Round Tower, but it only dates from 1935.
• Parish church next to the castle is Church of Ireland, built in confident Gothic in 1828.
• 2 Donegal Castle, Castle St F94 P996 (north side of Diamond). Apr-Oct: daily 10AM-6PM; Nov-Dec: Th-M 9:30AM-4:30PM. It wasn't just the Normans who built substantial stone castles, this one was erected in 1474 by Red Hugh O'Donnell at the same time as the abbey. That dynasty held it until they fled Ulster in 1607 after the Nine Years War. They torched it to prevent its use against the local Irish, but it was soon restored and extended by the incomers in Jacobean style. It fell into ruin in the 18th century but was restored from the 1990s and is now an event space. Adult €5, conc €4, child €3. (updated Aug 2021)
• 3 Donegal Railway Heritage Centre, Old Station House, Tyrconnell St, ☏ +353 74 972 2655. Apr-Sep: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Two narrow-gauge railways huffed and puffed across the county from 1863 to 1959, connecting Donegal to Strabane, Derry and Letterkenny: the 36-inch gauge was cheaper to construct than standard Irish gauge of 63 inches. The Centre displays their history and has a steam locomotive and a railcar from that era, though not in working order. Adult €5, conc €4, child €3. (updated Aug 2021)

St Patrick's Church

• 4 The Famine Graveyard is on Upper Main St by the hospital.
• 5 Lough Eske is a scenic lake 15 km northeast of town, surrounded by the Bluestack Mountains. The River Eske flows from it through town to Donegal Bay.
• Magherabeg Friary is a ruin 3 km south of town off R267: it's on private land and not usually accessible. It was built around 1430 so it pre-dates the main abbey, but its friars were lowly "Third Order Franciscans"; lay brothers not ordained as priests. It was abandoned and handed over to English landowners along with the main abbey around 1607.
• 6 Murvagh Beach is a 4.5-km sandy beach backed by dunes and the golf course. Dogs on leash only.
• 7 Rossnowlagh Beach is 4 km long. It's exposed to the Atlantic, which funnels into the bay and can generate big surfing waves. At low tide you can walk all the way to Murvagh. Many people park on the beach, but beware the speed of the incoming tide.
• 8 Mountcharles is a village straggling along N56 six km west of Donegal. The estuary marshes to its south were historically used for salt extraction. The main attraction, near the pier, is Salthill Gardens, open Apr-Sep: M-Sa 2-6PM.
• 9 St John's Point is a long rat's-tail peninsula starting ten km west of town. McSwyne's Castle and Ballysaggart Friary are just stumps of masonry. Near the tip is a sheltered sandy beach, and the peninsula ends with the EIRE 70 wartime aviation marker and a lighthouse - this is still active and you can't go in.
• Killaghtee Old Church just west of the start of the peninsula is a 12th-century ruin with an unusual "Maltese Cross" gravestone from 650 AD.

Do

• What's on? For local events check Donegal Democrat (south edition), published twice a week.
• The Waterbus putters round the bay on 75 min tours, adult €20. They're 2 or 3 times a day in summer, but sailing times vary with the tides. The boat is wheelchair accessible; dogs are permitted on leash on the lower deck.
• The riverbank walk starts from the bridge in town and follows the west bank of the Eske for 3 km.
• Angling: There's game- and coarse-fishing on Lough Eske and the Eske, Eany, Downes and Finn rivers.

Shore angling is available at multiple points on the coast, and anglers' boats put out from Killybegs, Teelin and Creevy.

• Horse riding: try Ballyshannon, there are no centres close to town.
• 1 Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh Lower, ☏ +353 74 973 4054. This is an 18-hole championship links course, blue tees 6819 m, par 73. Visitor round €50 winter - €150 midsummer. (updated Aug 2021)
• Other golf courses in the area include Bundoran and Ballybofey-Stranorlar.

Buy

Railcars plied the Donegal railway: this one's now in the Ulster Transport Museum

• Donegal Shopping Centre is 500 m south of The Diamond, with SuperValu open M-Sa 8:30AM-9PM, Su 10AM-8PM.
• Aldi is east side of The Diamond, open M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa Su 9AM-9PM.
• Lidl is 1 km northeast on Ballybofey Rd at the junction with N56 bypass, open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
• Donegal Craft Village is 3 km south on R267.
• ATMs are outside the four banks, all near The Diamond: AIB, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Credit Union.

Eat

Budget

• Blueberry Tea Room on Castle St serves snacks and light meals M-Sa 9AM-7PM.
• Chandpur serves Bangladeshi food. They're on Main St, open M-Sa 4:30-11PM, Su 1-10PM.
• Four Lanterns on Quay St serves burgers and similar fast food, M-Th 12:30-11PM, F Sa 12:30-02:00, Su 4:30-10:30PM.
• Shamrock is a Chinese takeaway on Quay St.

Mid-range

• Harbour Restaurant on Quay Street serves pub-style meals M-Sa 5-9:30PM, Su 1-9:30PM.
• Dom's Pier One, Quay St F94 XWV9, ☏ +353 74 972 2719. Daily 11AM-9PM. Lively bar and waterside restaurant, the food usually pleases. (updated Jul 2021)
• Olde Castle Bar & Red Hugh's Restaurant, Castle Street F94 AKC2, ☏ +353 74 972 1262. Daily 11AM-8PM. Good pub grub, with seafood and steaks. (updated Jul 2021)
• La Bella Donna, 2 Bridge St, ☏ +353 74 972 5790. Daily 5-10PM. Good Italian fare. (updated Jul 2021)

Splurge

• The very best dining is in the upscale hotels, so see Sleep for Mill Park, Harvey's Point and Lough Eske Castle.

Drink

Donegal Castle

• 1 The Reel Inn, Bridge St F94 R590 (by castle), ☏ +353 85 841 6213. M-Sa 10:30AM-1AM, Su 10:30AM-midnight. Friendly bar with trad music most nights. (updated Aug 2021)
• 2 The Forge, 7 Meetinghouse St F94 P9K7. M-Th 5PM-11:30PM; F Sa 5PM-midnight; closed Sundays. Cosy old bar. (updated Aug 2021)
• 3 McCafferty's, The Diamond F94 E003, ☏ +353 74 974 2656. M-Sa 10:30AM-11:30PM, Su 12:30-11:30PM. The original, opened in 2016, of what's become a small chain of trad-style Irish pubs. (updated Aug 2021)
• Abbey Bar is within Abbey Hotel and has a disco until late at weekends.
• Others near The Diamond include Annie Lynn's, O'Donnell's and The Reveller.

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Donegal Town Independent Hostel, Doonan F94 HH94, ☏ +353 74 972 2805. Clean welcoming hostel 1 km west of town. In 2021 the dorm isn't open but they have private rooms. (updated Aug 2021)
• 2 Blue Stack Centre, Drimarone (in hills 8 km northwest of town), ☏ +353 74 973 5564. 28-bedded hostel out in the hills. (updated Aug 2021)
• Boortree Touring, Rossnowlagh campsite, Rossnowlagh Lower, ☏ +353 851655917. 22 pitches for touring vans, camper vans and motor homes beside the beach. 16-amp electricity outlets, toilet and shower facilities, exterior sink for dish washing, chemical disposal & grey water waste disposal, fresh water refill. (updated Jul 2024)

Mid-range

St John's Point

• Atlantic Guest House, Main St F94 RKF3, ☏ +353 74 972 1187. Old style guesthouse, small but clean and welcoming. B&B double €80. (updated Jul 2021)
• 3 Donegal Manor, Letterkenny Rd F94 XV60, ☏ +353 74 972 5222. Eight-roomed guest house, but in 2021 it's only available for self-catering lets. (updated Aug 2021)
• Abbey Hotel, The Diamond F94 AP8W, ☏ +353 74 972 1014. Very central, usually comfy enough but at weekends the nightclub makes a racket until 2AM, and in the hot July 2021 rooms were poorly ventilated. B&B double €150. (updated Jul 2021)
• Central Hotel, The Diamond F94 X79D, ☏ +353 74 972 1027. Comfy central place but old-fashioned, feels kind-of 1980s. B&B double €150. (updated Jul 2021)
• 4 Ard na Breatha, Railway Park, Middle Drumrooske F94 VF89 (off Lough Eske Rd, no access from N56), ☏ +353 74 972 2288. Pleasant welcoming B&B north edge of town. (updated Aug 2021)
• 5 Harvey's Point, Lough Eske F94 E771, ☏ +353 74 972 2208. Comfy upscale place with great lakeside setting. B&B double €140. (updated Jul 2021)

Splurge

• 6 Mill Park Hotel, The Mullins F94 HD99 (off N56), ☏ +353 74 972 2880. Beautiful edge-of-town hotel, with 110 large rooms en suite, child friendly, and fitness centre and pool. B&B double €170. (updated Jul 2021)
• 7 Lough Eske Castle, Lough Eske F94 HX59, ☏ +353 74 972 5100. A Tudorbethan manor was built in 1868 and owned by Major-General Henry George White (1835-1906), who's buried by the nearby Celtic Cross. It was ruined by a fire in 1939 but re-built as the present hotel in 2007, hence the squeaky-clean "castle". It gets rave reviews for comfort and service. B&B double €500. (updated Jul 2021)
• Castle Murray House on the coast 12 km west of town is closed for renovation in 2021.

Self-catering

• 8 Donegal Estuary Holiday Homes (2 km west of Donegal Town), ☏ +353 74 972-1773, donegalestuary@eircom.net. Detached cottages that sleep 5, available for weekly rental. Prices vary by month. 

Connect

As of July 2021, the town has 5G with Vodafone, and 4G with Eir and Three.

Go next

• Ballyshannon south is a small market town. Continue south for the brooding limestone crags and prehistoric sites of Sligo.
• Enniskillen is between the two Erne lakes. These are connected by navigable waterways all the way to Limerick, Waterford and Dublin.