Slieve League Cliffs

Slieve League Cliffs (or Sliabh Liag in Gaelic), situated on the south west coast of County Donegal, are said to be the one of the highest and finest marine cliffs in Europe. To fully enjoy the spectacle of Sliabh League it is best to leave your car at the car park and walk the few miles to the cliffs so as not to miss the exciting scenery of the area. 

There are terrific views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Sligo Mountains and Donegal Bay as you walk towards the terrifyingly high top of Sliabh League, where the cliff face of Bunglas rises over 600m above the raging ocean. Experienced walkers only should venture beyond the viewing point onto One Man's Pass which loops around onto the Pilgrim's Path. 

This is a sacred mountain, for over a thousand years there was a Christian pilgrimage, no doubt Sliabh League was a sacred mountain before the Christians arrived here. You should remember this when visiting, so please do not disturb these monuments of Irish cultural heritage. There's much to know about Sliabh League, like the monks who went to Iceland or the eagle and the baby. To learn more visit the award winning Slieve League Cliffs Centre which is all about local culture, food and crafts served with a real warm Donegal welcome and sense of humour.

Mary From Dungloe Festival

“Oh, then fare ye well, sweet Donegal, the Rosses and Gweedore.

I'm crossing the main ocean, where the foaming billows roar,

It breaks my heart from you to part, where I spent many happy days.

Farewell to kind relations for I'm bound for Amerikay.”

When Pádraig MacCumhaill wrote these lyrics in 1936 about the courtship of Mary Gallagher way back in 1861, little did he realise how his song would capture the imagination of generations of Irish across the world. In doing so, he put the small town of Dungloe in West Donegal, situated on the northwestern tip of Europe, firmly on the map of consciousness for millions of Irish and their Diaspora.

Today, the Mary from Dungloe International Festival continues to go from strength to strength. Now in its 47^th year, previous ‘Marys’ have come from places as far and near as Melbourne, Philadelphia, Manchester, Edinburgh, Armagh, Kildare, and Dungloe itself, to name but a few. Each year the festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the area and many cross the foaming billows to get there; although it may be more across the clouds these days. 

Dungloe is part of the large Gaeltacht region of West Donegal and is also known by its Gaelic name of An Clochán Liath which means ‘The Grey Stepping Stone’. This name originates from a grey granite slab that lay on the riverbed at the bottom of the town that was used to cross the river before the erection of a bridge in 1762. It is the commercial hub of the area known as the Rosses, which along with the neighbouring districts of Cloughaneely and Gweedore, are collectively known as the ‘three parishes’, an area which boasts 16,000 Irish speakers. This area of outstanding beauty in West Donegal has to be experienced rather than just seen. 


You need to feel the ground beneath your feet, engage with the friendliest people on Earth, and wine and dine just as proposed by the protagonist of that famous song. This year’s festival takes place from 26^th July – 4^th August, 2014 and could be your stepping stone to West Donegal with its many wonders of natural landscape and culture.

“And I wish I was in sweet Dungloe and seated on the grass.

And by my side a bottle of wine and on my knee a lass.

I'd call for liquor of the best and I'd pay before I go

And I'd roll my Mary in my arms in the town of sweet Dungloe.”

Local business ‘Larkins of Newmills’ launch ‘Larkins Wild Atlantic Way Tours

The Wild Atlantic Way initiative aims to package the west of Ireland experience and establish a route of international standing that can be ranked alongside the great driving routes of the world.

It has the potential to become the European equivalent of the Great Ocean Road in Australia and the Garden Route in South Africa.  Larkins Wild Atlantic way tours will link the Donegal coastline and landscapes which it has influenced.  Donegal has so much to offer in areas of the history, heritage and culture of the beautiful places and people along the way. Larkins of Newmills would like to open tourism up to parts of the county that are forgotten by most tour operators.  So many tours/tourists come as far as Donegal town or may venture to Glenveagh but the rest of the county is not as well promoted, so does not attract tourists.

Larkinn's aim by these tours that we will showcase the amazing hidden jewels from Slieve Leauge to Kilclooney Dolmen, to Fanad Lighthouse, Doon Rock, Lough Salt, Rathmullan, Inishowen and Bloodyforeland etc. the list is endless, and that the rest of Donegal may benefit from Tourism also and end the use of the term for Donegal as ‘the forgotten county’.   This is our chance to show the world that Donegal is one of the most beautiful places on our planet. 

If businesses would like to promote themselves on our map then please get in touch with Larkins of Newmills on 0749126697.  Also they are looking for local craft workers to get in touch to display crafts for sale in our premises.  Further golfing & fishing tours as well as other products that aim to promote Donegal are awaiting launch over the coming weeks.  We are inviting all businesses to our new product launch evening on Thursday 26^th June 2014 at 8pm in Larkins of Newmills.