Letterkenny (Leitir Ceanainn, "Hillside of the O'Cannons"), county town of Donegal county, lies on rising ground above the River Swilly in the far north of Ireland, overlooking the outflow of the river into Lough Swilly, a 25mi/40km long inlet opening off the Atlantic.
The principal landmark of Letterkenny, a long straggling town on the slopes of the O'Cannon Hills, is the 215ft/65m high spire of St Eunan's Cathedral (1901), finely decorated with Celtic motifs and stained glass by Harry Clarke and Michael Healy.
Ionad Cois Locha is the award-winning center and demonstrates in spinning, weaving and carding of wool. There are storytelling boat trips on Dunlewey Lake.
1mi/1.5km west of the village by Gartan Lough stands Glebe House, worth visiting on account of its fine furnishings. The adjoining stables house the Glebe Gallery with landscapes and portraits together with a collection of modern painting (Degas, Renoir, Picasso, Yeates) and contemporary British and Irish art.
Address: Glebe House and Gallery, Church Hill, Letterkenny , Ireland
Hours:
April 15 to April 22: 11am-6:30pm
May 15 to September 30: 11am-6:30pm; Closed: Fri
Tips: Last tour one hour before closing. Access to house by guided tour only.
The Colmcille Heritage Centre in Gartan near Letterkenny is devoted to the life, work and times of St Columba the Elder (also known as St Colm Cille). Gartan, not far west of Church Hill, was the birthplace of St Columba.
Hours:
May 1 to September 30: 10:30am-6:30pm; Sun:1pm-6:30pm
The Rock of Doon is found 2mi/3km west of Kilmacrenan, northeast of Gartan Lough. It is a large slab of stone with a flattened upper surface which was the place of coronation of the O'Donnell kings. It is well worth climbing the rock for the sake of the extensive views of the surrounding moorland from the top. At the foot of the rock is the Holy Well, visited by pilgrims for the sake of its healing powers.
From Letterkenny the R245 runs north to Rathmelton (8mi/13km), a friendly little fishing center with an attractive harbor flanked by fine Georgian houses. The 17th C. Old Meeting House serves both as an exhibition hall and as a library (opening hours given).
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Glenveagh National Park
