Donegal Town

Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal in northwest Ireland. With a population of 2618 in 2016, 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.

is on The Quay, open Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00.

Get in
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.

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

 * 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 RC, in sort-of-Romanesque with a Round Tower, but it only dates from 1935.
 * Parish church next to the castle is C of I, built in confident Gothic in 1828.
 * Parish church next to the castle is C of I, built in confident Gothic in 1828.
 * The Famine Graveyard is on Upper Main St by the hospital.
 * 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.
 * is a 4.5 km sandy beach backed by dunes and the golf course. Dogs on leash only.
 * 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.
 * 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-Sept M-Sa 14:00-18:00.
 * 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.
 * Other golf courses in the area include Bundoran and Ballybofey-Stranorlar.
 * Other golf courses in the area include Bundoran and Ballybofey-Stranorlar.

Buy

 * Donegal Shopping Centre is 500 m south of The Diamond, with SuperValu open M-Sa 08:30-21:00, Su 10:00-20:00.
 * Aldi is east side of The Diamond, open M-F 09:00-22:00, Sa Su 09:00-21:00.
 * Lidl is 1 km northeast on Ballybofey Rd at the junction with N56 bypass, open M-Sa 08:00-22:00, Su 09:00-21:00.
 * 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.

Budget

 * Blueberry Tea Room on Castle St serves snacks and light meals M-Sa 09:00-19:00.
 * Chandpur serves Bangladeshi food. They're on Main St, open M-Sa 16:30-23:00, Su 13:00-22:00.
 * Four Lanterns on Quay St serves burgers and similar fast food, M-Th 12:30-23:00, F Sa 12:30-02:00, Su 16:30-22:30.
 * Shamrock is a Chinese takeaway on Quay St.

Mid-range

 * Harbour Restaurant on Quay Street serves pub-style meals M-Sa 17:00-21:30, Su 13:00-21:30.

Splurge

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

Drink

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * Others near The Diamond include Annie Lynn's, O'Donnell's and The Reveller.
 * Others near The Diamond include Annie Lynn's, O'Donnell's and The Reveller.

Budget

 * Rossnowlagh campsite is closed in 2021; they accept touring caravans but offer no on-site facilities. Hayes the other site here is for caravan sales and long-lease static caravans and isn't open to tourers.
 * Rossnowlagh campsite is closed in 2021; they accept touring caravans but offer no on-site facilities. Hayes the other site here is for caravan sales and long-lease static caravans and isn't open to tourers.
 * Rossnowlagh campsite is closed in 2021; they accept touring caravans but offer no on-site facilities. Hayes the other site here is for caravan sales and long-lease static caravans and isn't open to tourers.

Mid-range

 * In normal times the town has over 30 B&Bs, but they mostly didn't open in 2020-21 because of the impracticality of covid precautions. Check with the TIC (above) for a listing.



Splurge

 * Castle Murray House on the coast 12 km west of town is closed for renovation in 2021.
 * Castle Murray House on the coast 12 km west of town is closed for renovation in 2021.
 * Castle Murray House on the coast 12 km west of town is closed for renovation in 2021.

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.