County Donegal

County Donegal is an administrative division in northern Ireland that spreads between jagged Atlantic bays and rolling hill ranges. The landscape alternates among wide beaches, rocky cliffs, moorland areas and green valleys that reach up to the border with Northern Ireland.

The administrative division emerged in the 16th century from the ancient kingdom of Tyrconnell, governed by the O'Donnell clan. The family left Ireland after their failed rebellion in 1607, leaving the territory under English administration.

The Irish language is spoken daily across the western districts and appears first on road signs throughout those areas. Local pubs hold regular music sessions where fiddle playing follows a fast, rhythmic style that differs from patterns heard elsewhere in the country.

The coastal roads wind narrow and steep through much of the northwest, especially along the peninsulas. Public connections between smaller settlements are limited, so hiring or bringing a vehicle makes exploring the remote bays and headlands easier.

Slieve League cliffs rise over 600 meters (2000 feet) directly from the sea on the southwestern coast, ranking among the highest in Europe. A narrow walking trail along the summit follows the ridgeline, offering views across several neighboring counties on clear days.

Location: Ulster

Capital city: Lifford

Elevation above the sea: 749 m

Part of: Northwest Ireland and Lakelands

Shares border with: County Leitrim, County Fermanagh, County Tyrone, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Website: http://donegal.ie

GPS coordinates: 54.92000,-8.00000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:54