AND.. Another five great reasons to visit Donegal

1. Great, Great Food

Dotted throughout Donegal are many iconic restaurants, each with their own wonderful history, style, traditions, charm and picturesque surroundings. Collectively, they aim to bring you a genuine taste of Donegal by obtaining the very best fresh, local ingredients and serving them with lashings of pride.

Donegal offers famous Tirconnell whiskey and McDaid’s beverages, local seafood, meat and homegrown vegetables. Restaurants offer an array of mouth watering dishes including traditional stews and fresh local oysters. By following the trail of Donegal Good Food Taverns, you will also find an itinerary of traditional Irish music, seven evenings a week at different points throughout the trail.

But don't take our word for it, come and see for yourself!

2. The Gealtacht 

Irish culture has survived and flourished in Donegal in a way it has failed to do elsewhere. Irish language and culture are still vibrant throughout the Gaeltacht areas of the county and foremost among these traditions is the one of welcoming strangers.

The Gaeltacht has a strong sense of its own identity and uniqueness and the land contains a wealth of cultural strengths which is rich in heritage and folklore. The scenery is truly breathtaking with mountains and lake-filled valleys fringed by the unpolluted seas of the Atlantic Ocean with white sandy beaches. Visit the The Language School and Heritage Centre and is just a beginner in the tongue, you will be encouraged to persist and take your skills to a new level!

3. Walk  in Donegal

Donegal is a natural centre for the avid walker and hiker. You will be spoilt for choice with fine beaches, stunning mountain ranges, and spectacular scenery around every corner. With such a variety in landscape, hundreds flock to Donegal each year on walking holidays.

Walk the highlands and headlands of North Donegal. Fanad coast, Glenveagh National Park and Errigal – our highest and most beautiful mountain.

Good for heart, body and soul!

4. Glenveagh National Park

Glenveagh is the second largest national park in Ireland. The park covers 170 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the shore of Lough Veagh.

Natural woodlands of Oak and Birch clothe the slopes of the deep valley that bisects the Park. These woods are inhabited by badgers, foxes and stoats, whilst woodland bird life includes Siskins, Treecreepers, Redstarts and Wood Warblers. On the uplands of the Park, birds more likely to be encountered include Ravens, Peregrines, Stonechat and Grouse, and the upland slopes are dotted with the yellow flowers of Tormentil and Bog Asphodel.

Perhaps the outstanding feature of Glenveagh is its wilderness character with the sense of remoteness and solitude that it conveys to the visitor.

5. Festivals and Events

Donegal is home to a number of spectacular arts, film, cultural, music, food and sports festivals. In Donegal we love to celebrate just about anything, so whatever your interests might be, chances are that there's a festival dedicated to it and some great craic to be had. Attending a festival is a great way to see the county and the residents at their finest.

So start planning now……

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5 Good Reasons to Visit Donegal

1. Beautiful Beaches

Portsalon Blue Flag Beach, Donegal 

Donegal has 13 Blue Flag Beaches. This is the highest number of Blue Flag beaches of any county in the country.

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels and only beaches that meet specific criteria relating to water quality, beach management, environmental information and safety services achieve this accolade.

So whatever your taste in beaches, Donegal has the perfect spot to throw down your towel!

Visit here for more information

1. 1. 
      
   Golfing

Murvagh Golf Club, Donegal

Here in Donegal, we have 7 of the top 50 courses in Ireland. When you consider that there are more than 400 courses across the country, it really shows just how much Donegal is to the forefront of quality golf facilities in Ireland.  However be mindful, the scenery is so beautiful that it can distract even the most focused golfer! 

 Visit here for more information

       

Island Hopping

Tory Island, Donegal 

The rugged coastline of Donegal is dotted with off-shore islands, most of which are no longer inhabited on a year round basis, but all of which hold a certain fascination for both locals and tourists alike. First settled during Prehistoric times, these islands offer an exhilarating experience. Whether you want to learn a few words of Irish, take a walk, do a spot of bird watching or explore ancient historic sites while watching passing dolphins, the islands of Donegal has an experience to offer everybody, particularly the chance to engage with the friendliest islanders in the world!

Surfing

Surfing in Rossnowlagh, Donegal 

Not only is Donegal is one of the most beautiful 
counties in Ireland, it also has the best surfing in the country. The beautiful coast around Donegal provides some of the best waves that the Atlantic Ocean has
 to offer for surfers anywhere in Europe. With a fantastic range of good quality beaches and reefs to surf on there is plenty of choice for beginners and experts alike. Donegal also offers a host of quality, informal surf schools to bring you to the next level, whatever that may be!
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       Sliabh Liag Cliffs

Sliabh Liag cliffs are the highest and the finest in

Europe. 

The six hundred metre drop into the wild Atlantic waves below creates a breathtaking and extremely exhilarating view creating a memory that will live forever.  A sheer drop of roughly 2,000 feet separates the Atlantic Ocean from the highest point of the cliffs. Spectacular views of the coast and the cliff face are a sheer delight.

It is definitely worth a visit, you will be left feeling refreshed and relaxed and pleased that you have a life-long memory of the awesome cliffs at Slieve League.

Sliabh Liag will take your breath away and that is a promise!

A day in the life of a Donegal Beach Lifeguard

A day in the life of a Donegal Beach Lifeguard

GoVisitDonegal.com wanted an excuse to get out of the office and enjoy some of this amazing weather, so decided it was about time that we took a trip to Culdaff, one of 13 Blueflag Beaches in County Donegal to speak to the Lifeguards about their day-to-day job.
 

Did you know?

• Donegal County Council employs 40 Beach Lifeguards every summer to look after the County's 13 Blue Flag Beaches.
• In the last number of years, the Beach Lifeguards have had to deal with incidents ranging from bomb scares to helicopter rescues.
• Donegal has achieved the highest amount of Blueflags of any county in the Country.

Our Beach Lifeguards

GoVisitDonegal.com arrived at Culdaff Blue flag Beach on the Inishowen Peninsula on Thursday 11th July. It was evident upon arrival that the beach was busy. All Car Parks were verging on full and there was a steady flow of people coming and going in Culdaff village. The temperature in the car was measuring a balmy 26C and it was definitely time for a cooling dip in the sea and walk on beach.


Malachy and Stephen Striking a Pose

GoVisitDonegal.com met Malachy Kelly (30) and Stephen McCabe (24), the beach lifeguards on duty at the time and got an insight into the typical day on Culdaff Beach.
 
GoVisitDonegal.com - "Malachy, tell me about an average day here in Culdaff Beach."

Malachy - "Our shift starts normally at 12pm every day. But I try to arrive at least 30 minutes early to ensure that everything is in order. I generally open the hut, check and erect the flags, empty the recycle bins, check our equipment and begin the beach patrols. Every day is different as a lifeguard and naturally enough much depends on the weather and sea conditions as to how the day is going to go. For example, a day like today is completely different than on an overcast or wet day. We have alot of families and young children on the beach and in the water. But on other days, the beach will be alot quieter but with perhaps surfers or swimmers in the water. As Beach Lifeguards we need to be ready for any eventuality."

GoVisitDonegal.com - "Its obviously been extremely warm for the last couple of weeks, have you had to carry out any rescues this summer so far?

Stephen - " We have had a couple of rescues to carry out. One involved a child getting stuck out on the rocks, and injured them self. And the other was two children (12 & 8 Year Old), getting into difficulties having swam from one side of the bay to another. But typically, we have encountered a number of lost children due to the crowds coming in the good weather."

GoVisitDonegal.com "What advice would you give to anyone using the Blue flag Beaches?"

Stephen - "Always swim between the flags, talk to the lifeguards on duty about the conditions on any given day and respect the water"

GoVisitDonegal.com - "Have you had any out of the ordinary incidents this year?"

Malachy - "We actually had a red flag (meaning it is unsafe to use the water) earlier in the week when a dense fog descended on the beach and visibility was reduced to less than a couple of feet. We had to get people out of the water for their own safety. That isn't something that happens every day".

GoVisitDonegal.com - " As you may know, GoVisitDonegal.com is the official tourism website for County Donegal, therefore, I have to ask you where is your favourite part of County Donegal?

Malachy - "It has to be Harvey's Point, Lough Eske. It is where I got married."
 
Stephen - "Anywhere in Inishowen. My girlfriend is from Buncrana, so I will say there!"
 

And that was that. After our chat with the Beach Lifeguards, GoVisitDonegal.com took the opportunity to take a dip in the warm Inishowen water and is happy to report that it was definitely pleasant.

If you are planning a trip to Donegal this summer, check out GoVisitDonegal.com for all your holiday needs.