Newmills Corn and Flax Mills

Newmills Corn and Flax Mills is a working watermill complex in County Donegal featuring two separate milling operations powered by a single water supply system. The site includes the original machinery, waterwheels, and canal network that still function to demonstrate how grain and linen were processed together.

The mills began operating in the early 1800s and continued processing grain and flax for over a century. Significant machinery upgrades occurred in the early 1900s, modernizing the facility while keeping its traditional methods intact.

The mills represent how rural communities once depended on local processing facilities to turn harvested crops into usable materials. Walking through the site, you can see the scale of work that went into supporting the farming families of the region.

The mills are located on a rural road west of Letterkenny and are best reached by car. Guided tours walk you through the working machinery and explain how the water-powered systems operate step by step.

One of Ireland's largest functioning waterwheels still turns at the site, having been built in 1867 and never requiring replacement. This working example shows the durability and engineering skill that went into 19th-century machinery.

Location: County Donegal

GPS coordinates: 54.92934,-7.80833

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:23