Mountcharles

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.

Getting there

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.

Getting 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 standa

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

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