The Northwest —
Donegal Town

Photos: (from left) Donegal Castle, Donegal Abbey, and Donegal Bay Waterbus

Most visits to the Northwest start in Donegal Town, the tweed capital of Ireland and home to the Magee Tweed Store and factory.

Donegal Town is the most remote of Ireland's major towns — almost 140 miles out of Dublin and nearly 180 miles from Shannon, but well worth the journey from any direction. Established as a fort in the 9th century by the Vikings, Donegal takes its name from the Irish language "Dun na nGall," meaning "Fort of the foreigners."

After the Vikings left, Donegal became the domain of the O'Donnells, powerful Gaelic chieftains. It is a very picturesque and easily walkable town, sitting on a sheltered curve of land where Donegal Bay meets the River Eske. Highlights of the town include:

Donegal Castle, Castle St. (tel. 074-972-2405) — is the town's major national monument. It was built in c.1470 as a four-story tower house in the Norman style by the O'Donnells, and extended during the 17th century Plantation Era by Sir Basil Brooke who added gables, mullioned windows, and a Jacobean wing. The castle was completely restored and opened to the public in 1996, and is furnished inside with authentic period pieces. Open daily from mid-March until the end of October and some weekends leading up to Christmas. Web site: www.heritageireland.ie

Donegal Abbey, Sligo Road — Although now in ruins, this once-great building was erected in 1474 along the banks of the River Eske on the south side of town for the Franciscan friars by Red Hugh O'Donnell and his wife Nuala. It prospered for over 150 years as a scholarly hub, and produced one of Ireland's most important records of history, "The Annals of the Four Masters" (housed today in the National Library in Dublin). The abbey is accessible at all times.

The Diamond — This is Donegal Town's centerpiece, a triangle-shaped pedestrian area, laid out in the 17th century as a market square for livestock and produce. No trace of the original market house or market yard remain, but now there are benches, flower beds, and walkways. The focal point today is the Four Masters Memorial Obelisk, a 25-ft. red granite Irish Romanesque structure erected in 1937 in honor of the four 17th century scholars who wrote the famous "Annals of the Four Masters."

Donegal Bay Waterbus — The two-deck 160-seat Donegal Bay Waterbus offers daily sightseeing cruises from Donegal Harbour into the waters of Donegal Bay. The narrated tours include views of the shoreline including abbeys, estates, the old coast guard station, castles, and even a wind farm and oyster/mussel farm, as well as islands and a seal colony. 60 mins. May-Sept., schedule depends on the tides. For reservations and more information, contact: Donegal Bay Waterbus, Harbour Office, The Quay, Donegal Town, tel. 074-972-3666. Web site: www.donegalbaywaterbus.com

Donegal Craft Village, Ballyshannon Road (tel. 074-972-1110) — is a cluster of seven small cottages set on a hillside south of town. Each cottage is occupied by a different craftsperson or team who practice traditional and modern crafts, ranging from porcelain and ceramics to hand-weaving, batik, crystal, jewelry, metalwork, and visual and musical arts. Open May-September, Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. More limited schedule in October-April period; phone for details in advance.

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