Letterkenny Tourist Attractions
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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
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.
Surroundings
The surroundings of Letterkenny have interesting sights.
Rathmelton
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).
Church Hill
A side road leads from Kilmacrenen to Church Hill 10mi/16km north of Letterkenny.
Glebe House and Gallery
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.
Gartan - Colmcille Heritage Centre
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.
Glenveagh National Park
West of Gartan Lough stretches Glenveagh National Park. The entrance and the Visitor Center are on the northern shore of Lough Beagh, reached along the R251. The park of 38sq.mi/100sq.km was founded in 1986; its center is formed by Lough Beagh which is surrounded by impressive mountain and moorland scenery.
Glenveagh Castle
Glenveagh Castle, 2mi/3km away, a neo-Gothic building dating from 1870, has beautiful grounds with a Mediterranean aspect. The kitchen garden is particularly attractive.A number of gardens are spread across the 900ha of land that the estate rests on. In these gardens can be found a wonderful variety of flowers, herbs, woodland trails and palm trees.
Kilmacrenan
Northeast of Gartan Lough on the N56, reached on minor roads, we come to the fishing center of Kilmacrenan, where Columba founded a monastery. Only the ruins of a 15th C. Franciscan abbey and an old parish church are to be seen today. 2mi/3km west is the Rock of Doon, 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.
Holy Well
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.
Newmills Corn and Flax Mills
This industrial building is 400 years old and is a reminder of the industrial development of the country.
