The town of Donegal is a bustling tourist and shopping town located in the south of Donegal County where River Eske is flowing to Donegal Bay.  

The Vikings invaded the town and used this as a port during the 8th century. This invasion inspired the Gaelic name of the town Dun na nGall or “Fort of the Foreigners.” 

A garrison was built by the Vikings in Donegal believed to have been in the same spot where the Donegal Castle or O’Donnells Castle stands today. There were recently human remains discovered in the Castle grounds that were thought to be Vikings. The town of Donegal continued to be a port until 1960s when the final commercial boat sailed away from the harbor to Scotland loaded with electricity poles. 

The town’s center is known as “The Diamond” and until 1967, this is where markets were held every second Friday of the town. This is when the town was filled with farmers who sell and buy sell cattle together with other traders who sell their wares. This market day was an amazing social event where locals were able to catch up on news about each other. An Obelisk made in honor of The Four Masters is also located in the Diamond.   

With its ideal location close to the mouth of the Donegal Bay, the town of Donegal boasts of a scenic   backdrop offered by the Blue Stack Mountains, a plethora of restaurants and hotels fit for every taste and every traveler, a regal castle, and a welcoming population.  

Donegal Town is a wonderful base camp to explore all of the untamed areas by the coast. The town also served as the residence of the powerful clan of the O’Donnell’s who ruled for two centuries in the northwest as great chieftains of the 15th through 17th centuries. Even though the town is the namesake of Donegal County, it is not its county town nor is it the biggest town, spots that are held by Lifford and Letterkenny respectively.   

Situated at the head of Donegal Bay, there is also an expected conclusion that the town of Donegal boasts of a lively marketplace. But, this also serves as the heart of tourism because it is located at the junction of three primary roads from Derry, West Donegal, and Sligo. Boating, fishing, and swimming are some of the area’s recreational offerings. Some of the outdoor activities you can try here include tennis, golf, and horseback riding while cinema and dancing are Donegal’s forms of indoor entertainment.   

As the biggest small village in Northwest Ireland, there are approximately 3,000 inhabitants in Donegal Town and serves as the entryway to the country’s untamed wilds. There is a selection of shops in the area and numerous choices for takeaway and classic dining. There are some highly rated hotels and many pubs in the area offer nightly entertainment.   

Donegal Town is truly vibrant with an exceptional array of cosmopolitan offerings and unique culture.  Whether you crave for sandy beaches or outdoor adventures, this is the best place to be.