Discover Donegal's Heritage
As well as a beautiful coastline, County Donegal is blessed with a wealth of historic sites that hold the key to Ireland’s Gaelic Past. Organizing a cultural trip to Donegal couldn’t be easier, especially if you book online. Try lastminute.com for a range of low cost accommodation and flights, Aer Arann for scheduled flights, leaving you to plan your cultural pilgrimage around the county. Ranging from ancient castles, to historic houses and Heritage Centres, here is a selection of Donegal’s Best.
The Iosas Centre
In the amusingly named town of Muff, this six-acre garden is laid out in the shape of Ireland, and depicts the lives of the major saints of Ireland's Golden Age (5th to 12th Century). You can visit the dry stone cell of St Columba, St Canice's straw-bale built oratory and St Columbanus' replica cave, or simply bask in the peaceful atmosphere and outstanding natural beauty.
Saint Eunans Cathedral
Saint Eunan's, a Victorian Gothic Cathedral, was built in Letterkenny between 1890 and 1900 is one of the most ornate cathedrals in Ireland. With a spire of 212 feet high, a pulpit carved with the ‘Four Masters’ (men who chronicled Ireland's history up to the 1600s), stained glass windows from Munich and decorated ceilings from Rome, this is one show-piece of a cathedral.
Glenveagh National Park and Castle
Hidden by the remote mountains of Glenveagh National Park, the Castle is more a19th century castellated mansion, surrounded by famous gardens; 16,500 hectares of mountains, lakes, glens and woods with a large heard of red deer. Access to the castle is by guided tour only, with a maximum of 20 visitors at a time.
Doe Castle
Doe Castle is a bit more low key than Glenveagh, a National Monument in a desolate spot 1 mile off the Carrigart-Creeslough road. The castle is surrounded by the sea on three sides with a moat hewn from the rock, and has a turbulent history, changing ownership several times in the 17th century before settling into English hands. A Church of Ireland minister was the last occupant, but the castle fell into disrepair and ruin when he left, before the being sold to the Irish Land Commission in 1922.
The Workhouse Famine & Heritage Centre
For those who like a bit of hand-on history, The Workshouse is on the outskirts of Dunfanaghy overlooking Sheephaven Bay, and details the disastrous famine that gripped the Irish population in previous centuries. With a schools programme, adult craft courses and weekend workshops as well as heritage events and walks, this fascinating centre is far more cheering than its name suggests, with a Fair Trade coffee shop, an art gallery; a craft and book shop and a wild-life garden.
Newmills Corn And Flax Mills
This oldest surviving building at this Mills complex is said to be 400 years old, an emblem of Ireland’s rural past and industrial development. Situated three miles west of Letterkenny, the corn and flax mills here are still in operation, with one of the largest waterwheels in Ireland powered by the River Swilly.
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