Donegal & Sligo
Donegal Town whose name in Irish means "Fort of the Foreigners"
is situated at the point where the river Eske flows into Donegal
Bay. Today, this bustling small town is still very popular with
tourists and is an ideal base from which to explore the south
and west of the County. The attractive centrepiece of the market
is known as the Diamond, it is here that you will find a tall
obelisk dedicated to the memory of the Four Masters. This was
the name given to the four fiars, led by Michael O'Cleary, who
in the 17th century complied the Annals of the Four Masters,
one of the earliest historical texts recording the early history
of Ireland. The town is a main centre for the tweed industry
in Ireland and is home to John Magee, world-renowned manufacturers
of Donegal Tweed.
Local Places of Interest and Activities
Donegal
Castle — Built by the O Donell chieftains in
the 15th century on the River Eske at the centre of Donegal
Town. Rebuilt in Jacobean style in 16th century by Sir Basil
Brooke after Hugh O Donell burnt it to the ground rather than
let the castle fall to enemy hands. Information panels chronicle
the history of the castle and guided tours are available. The
castle opens each season from mid March to the end of October.
Glenveagh
Castle & National Park — is a 19th century
castellated mansion and was built between 1867 and 1873. Its
construction in a remote mountain setting was inspired by the
Victorian idyll of a romantic highland retreat. John Townsend
Trench, a cousin of its builder and first owner, John George
Adair, with whom he had been raised in County Laois, designed
it. Although not a professional architect, Trench had a hand
in at least one other building: he designed the Gothic town
hall in Arklow, built in 1878. Some 16,500 hectares of mountains,
lakes, glens and woods with a large heard of red deer. The central
feature is a 19th century castle surrounded by the famous Glenveagh
Gardens. The visitor centre is accessible for visitors with
disabilities.
Slieve
League Cliffs — On the R263, an 8km detour at
the village of Carrick will bring you to the eastern end of
Slieve League Mountain, whose sea cliffs are the highest in
Europe (756ft). At McGinley’s Pub in the village of Carrick
turn left and follow the road signposted Bunglas and Slieve
League. This bumpy drive will take you to Irish-speaking village
of Teelin. Just before the school in Teelin turn right for Bunglas
and follow the rising road, which leads to a car park. By the
car park is a farm gate through which you can drive –
ensuring that you close the gate behind you. The panorama is
truly spectacular as you traverse the mile and a half to the
next car park at the cliff top. However, the drive is not for
the faint-hearted.
Triona
Design — A family run business situated in Ardara-Home
of Donegal Tweed in a building, which is built in 1908 and has
housed generations of weavers. They still today manufacture
all the fabric where you have the opportunity to learn and observe
the art of hand weaving. The shop then consists of all the handmade
produce of the finest quality also manufactured on the premises.
The coffee shop caters a wide range of refreshments and our
tourist information displays an important selection of all interests
and services in the local area.
Tours of Surrounding Area
Magee
of Donegal — Founded in Donegal Town in 1866,
the original Magee store has developed from a small draper’s
to a reputable clothing store. Always one of Donegal’s
most important attractions and famous for its hand-woven tweeds,
Magee has also kept abreast of fashionable trends with the launch
of a new Casual Collection in addition to other leading brands.
Our Giftware department specialises in authentic Irish gifts
including Irish Linens, Waterford Crystal, Newbridge, Nicholas
Mosse and Bellek Living.
Donegal
Craft Village — Established in 1985 and has
become a showcase for contemporary arts and crafts in the county.
It consists of a cluster of small units grounded around a common
courtyard. Professional craft workers who work here all year
round lease individual workshops of various sizes. The crafts
include metalwork, batik, jewellery, sculpture, a stone carver
and a glass blowing workshop. There is also a picnic area and
a coffee shop specialising in fresh baking in the beautiful
landscaped craft village grounds.
Killybegs
— situated on County Donegal's South West Coast about
18 miles from Donegal Town. The picturesque approach to the
town is dominated by many gentle slopes rolling down to the
beautiful Donegal Bay. It is Ireland's premier fishing port
and the majority of it's 3000 population are employed in the
fishing industry. During the fishing season cargo ships flying
flags from all over the world are a common sight in the modern
harbour. For decades Killybegs was famous for it's famous hand-tufted
carpets, examples of which can be seen in The Vatican and The
White House, to mention but a few. For the traveller Killybegs
could be described as the gateway to the villages of Kilcar,
Carrick, Teelin and Glencolmcille and some of Ireland's most
rugged and beautiful scenery and well known Gaeltacht region.
Sligo (Yeats Country)
Sligo is a busy market town on the short River Garavogue which
drains Lough Gill into the sea. It is surrounded by beautiful
and varied scenery, green and wooded valleys and lofty mountains.
The beauty of the landscape is reflected in the poetry of W.B
Yeats and in the paintings of his brother Jack.B.Yeats. W.B
Yeats is recognised as one of the greatest poets of the English
language, a prominence which was acknowledged by his confirmation
as Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1923. His continuing
impact on literature can be evidenced from his influence on
subsequent poets which has guaranteed Yeats an honoured place
in the canon of English literature. You will enjoy touring the
many sites connected to Yeats in the Sligo area. Be sure to
walk through Sligo Town, with its many bars and restaurants
and historic buildings from when Sligo was a bustling trading
port.
Local Places of Interest and Activities
Lissadell
House — Chiefly remembered as the childhood
home of Constance Markievicz, one of those condemned to death
for their part in the 1916 Easter Rising, and of her sister,
the poet and suffragette Eva Gore-Booth, and for their friendship
with the young W.B. Yeats, immortalised in the poem he wrote
in their memory after both sisters had died. " The light
of evening, Lissadell, Great windows open to the South...."
Yeats
Grave — Although he died on France, he was eventually
buried at Drumcliff Church. Tidly maintained, the plain grave
of the poet lies within the shadow of the flat topped Benbulben
Mountain. The headstone bears an inscription from his final
poem.
Yeats
Memorial Building — Located between the top
of O Connell St and Hyde Bridge this is one of the most picturesque
buildings in Sligo. Built in 1898 by the Belfast Banking Co.
the building was donated to the Yeats Society of Sligo in 1973
and is now home to a photographic and audiovisual centre on
WB Yeats. There is also a library of Anglo-Irish writings. Sligo
Art Gallery is located on the first floor, where it plays host
to visiting exhibitions.
Sligo
Abbey — Known locally as the "Abbey"
this abbey survives from the medieval days. It was built by
Maurice Fitzgerald for the Dominicans in 1252 and was accidentally
burnt down in 1414, when a candle left carelessly in the building
set it on fire, and it was further damaged during the 1641 rebellion.
Legend says that worshippers saved the Abbey's silver bell which
was thrown into Lough Gill and only those free from sin can
hear it peal. The site contains a great wealth of carvings including
Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculpture, well preserved cloisters
and the only sculptured 15th century high altar to survive in
any Irish monastic church.
Carrowmore
Megalithic Cemetery — The largest and one of
the most important megalithic sites in Europe. Over 60 tombs
have been located by archaeologists, the oldest pre-dates Newgrange
by 700 years and is older than the pyramids. A restored cottage
houses a small exhibition relating to the site.
Boat
Trip to Inishmurray Island — The remote and
mystical Inishmurray Island four miles from the coast of Sligo
is uniquely preserved as an early Christian site and as a wildlife
sanctuary. Here amidst a wild panorama of mountain and sea St
Molaise founded a Christian monastery in the 6th century. It
remains remarkably intact to this day. The monks, and the islanders,
are gone now but Inishmurray still captures the imagination.
Here we can still see Molaise's monastic settlement with it's
several curious artefacts - many of which may well have their
origins in pre-Christian times. Vestiges of pagan and Christian
beliefs abide in harmony. Inishmurray is an island shrouded
in romance and mystery, a repository of culture and customs
lost and gone forever on the more accessible mainland.
Benbulben Pottery — Started by Dave
McLoughlin in 1996 in Rathcormac. Since then many other units
have been added to form Rathcormac Craft Village. The pottery
produces a wide range of functional pottery and one off ceramic
pieces. Visitors are welcome to see the pottery being made on
the potters wheel as well as seeing the finished product in
our showroom.
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PerryGolf
