| Isaac Butt Heritage Centre |
Contact: Mr K. Homer
Tel: +353(0)74-91-33108 |
www.glenfin.com |
For the Parochial History of Kilteevogue
(including the Education section) we are indebted
to Keith Homer (Commeen), John Gallagher, Cathal
Bonner (both Ardlaghan) and indeed, to all the members
of the Isaac Butt Heritage Committee, who have done
such a tremendous job of documenting the history
of Glenfin. Although Brockagh Heritage Centre houses
a wealth of local history, artefacts and information
(including the 1901 Census for the parish), old
photographs, etc., the work of these dedicated Committee
members is an ongoing 'work in progress'. Plans
are currently afoot to extend the present premises
which will enable the many objects of interest to
be displayed to their best advantage.
For a more 'hands-on' experience of Glenfin, visitors
to the area can learn more of our past by visiting
the Isaac Butt Heritage Centre, housed in the refurbished
old Brockagh National School, Cloghan, open all
year round. |
|
| Fintown Historic Railway |
Tel: +353(0)74 95 46280 |
- |
Donegal's only operational narrow
gauge railway. Here, nestling deep in the heart
of spectacular mountainous scenery steeped in tradition,
myth and folklore and running along the crystal
clear waters of Lough Finn. You are invited to relive
those nostalgic days when Donegal had about 250
miles of narrow gauge railway operated by the County
Donegal and Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway
Companies. This unique journey is a three mile return
trip right along the shores of Lough Finn.
The railway will be in operation for three days
each week, between June 12th and September 12th. |
|
Biddy and Joe's Cottage
Cloghan, Co. Donegal |
Contact: Mr M. Gallagher
Tel: +353(0)74-91-33301 |
www.finnvalley.ie/biddyandjoe/ |
|
Situated in the heart of Glenfin, this cozy little
one-roomed cottage is furnished in the traditional
style, with an open hearth, fire crane, griddle
irons, bastable, iron crocks...in short, everything
that was once necessary for heating the home and
cooking meals for the large families of the time.
Click
here to visit their website...
|
|
| Slieve League |
Tel: +353(0)66-915-2423 |
http://www.gaelsaoire.ie/ |
| Regarded as being the highest sea
cliffs in Europe (756ft), one can access the sea
cliffs via the small villages of Carrick and Teelin.
The cliff face, extending for about 3km has been
carved by the Atlantic to give a variety of shapes
and colours. Bunglas is a spectacular place to view
the sea cliffs and experienced walkers can spend
a day walking from Bunglas, through the somewhat
spine-chilling One Man’s Path, to Malinbeg
near Glencolumbkille. This is for experienced climbers
only but if you’re not fit for that challenge,
there are terrific views from the track. |
|
| St Connell's Museum & Heritage
Centre, Glenties |
Tel: +353(0)86-394-5389 |
- |
|
The object of this centre is to
preserve local historical information, as well
as artifacts of interest. In pursuing this ideal,
St Connell's Museum have amassed a huge collection
of interesting memorabilia: photographs, documents,
books, videos, etc.
Click
here to read more...
|
|
| Donegal Castle |
Tel: +353(0)74-97-22405 |
Fax: +353(0)74-97-22436 |
|
Built in 1474 on the banks of the River Eske
by the O'Donnell Chieftain Hugh Roe O'Donnell,
the castle has extensive 17th century additions
by Sir Basil Brooke. The castle is furnished throughout,
and includes Persian rugs and French tapestries.
Information panels chronicle the history of the
castle owners, from the O'Donnell chieftains to
the Brooke family. Limited access for visitors
with disabilities to the ground floor. Location:
in the centre of Donegal Town.
To
read more about the history of Donegal Castle,
click here
|
|
| Railway Museum, Donegal Town |
Tel: +353(0)74-97-22655 |
Fax: +353(0)74-97-23843 |
|
Take a step back in time to a bygone age with
a visit to the heritage museum. By means of audio-visual
displays, you can learn about the history of the
once extensive railway network that used to serve
the county. The centre houses a museum, restored
carriages, models and memorabilia from a time
when rail travel truly was an adventure.
To
read about the history of County Donegal Railways,
click here
|
|
| Waterbus, Donegal Town |
Tel: +353(0)74-97-23666 |
- |
| The visitor can appreciate the beauty
of Donegal Bay by taking a trip out from Donegal
Town. These trips last approximately ninety minutes
and take place on a daily basis throughout the summer
season. |
|
| Waterworld, Bundoran |
Tel: +353 (0) 72 41172 |
Fax: +353 (0) 72 42168 |
| An award winning aqua adventure playground
for children of all ages. For maximum fun, enjoy
two leisure pools, a wave pool with five wave patterns
and rapids, plus a slide pool with the "Tornado
Flume" and the super fast "Whizzer Slide".
In addition, adults can enjoy the sauna and steam-room,
or relax and enjoy the Atlantic view. Open Easter
to September. |
|
| Deane's Open Farm, Equestrian &
Golf Centre, Darney Bruckless |
Tel: +353(0)74-97-37160 |
- |
| Deane's Open Farm is located on the
North-west coast of Ireland, between the rolling
Donegal hills and the majestic Atlantic Ocean. The
Deane family have farmed this 100 acre farm since
1790. This is your chance to capture Irish country
lifestyle at its best! Meet the Deane family, feed,
nurse and walk the animals, both large and small.
|
|
| Glencolmcille Folk Museum Glencolmcille
|
Tel: +353(0)74-97-30017 |
Fax: +353(0)74-97-30334 |
| Founded by Father McDyer, the Folk
Museum offers the visitor the chance to relive life
as experienced by the people of south-western Donegal
in 18th, 19th and 20th century Ireland. A visit
to the Folk Village makes an ideal family day out,
you can undertake a guided tour and there is also
a Teahouse and Craft Shop. |
|
| Fintown Scenic
Railway |
CLOSED DUE TO LACK OF
GOVERNMENT FUNDING |
|
UPDATED: 4th April 2003
Original article deleted because Dun-na-nGall
on the net's Director, P. Sharkey, has just accused
FinnValley.ie of "plagarising" her work.
Well readers, according to the Oxford Dictionary:
PLAGIARISM: To
take and use another person's (thoughts, writings,
inventions) as one's own.
The article (relating to the closure of Fintown
Scenic Railway) was originally submitted to me
by Maureen Gallagher (our best contributor and
moderator of our forums) and in my ignorance I
placed it here in this page, thinking tourists
should be made aware of the railway's closure.
There was no question of plagiarism because the
article was fully credited to it's source.
Ms Sharkey's email came in on 2/4/03 - and like
Michael Green's much publicised debacle, took
me completely by surprise...and not a pleasant
one, I might add. Can you believe that anyone
would be so small-minded as to object to a few
sentences (fully credited to them) which was after
all news in the public domain since July/August
2002???
From the tone of her emails it would seem that
we should have sought her permission to use her
article and then were expected to give her a hyperlink...as
well as crediting the article to her. Well folks,
at the inception of FinnValley.ie, I wrote to
her info@ address requesting a link to what was
after all another Donegal website. I wasn't given
the courtesy of a reply, so judge for yourselves.
Lil (webmaster)
lil@finnvalley.ie
PS: Whereas the header states "Closed
due to lack of Government Funding", this
is only partly the truth. The other major contributing
factor to the closure of this wonderful tourist
attraction is simply the prohibative cost of insurance
premiums for public liability cover. Many small
businesses and tourist attractions are similarly
affected.
PPS: Has anyone else noticed how the free information
available on some websites seems to annoy those
commercial businesses who offer gimmicks to draw
people in? I would be interested to hear your
comments on this one.
PPPS: Keep watching our website for this year's
Bumper Bundle of FREEBIES!!! You won't be disappointed
;o)
|
|
| Cavanacor Historic House &
Craft Centre, Lifford |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-41143 |
- |
| Cavanacor House is one of the oldest
inhabited houses in Donegal. King James 2nd dined
at Cavanacor on April 20th 1689 at the time of the
Siege of Derry. It is also the ancestral home of
U.S. President James Knox Polk (1845 1849). Take
a guided tour of the 17th century house, stroll
round the old fashioned walled garden, watch pottery
demonstrations, browse through the gallery and museum.
The children's play area and craft shop are also
open. |
|
| Seat of Power Visitors Centre,
Lifford |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-41733 |
Fax: +353(0)74-91-41228 |
|
Housed in the restored 18th century courthouse,
this award-winning heritage centre attracts thousands
of visitors every year. There are audio-visual
displays of famous trials, and you can visit the
dungeons below the centre where the prisoners
once awaited their fate.
Click
here to read more...
|
|
| Millbridge Open Farm, Convoy |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-47125 |
- |
| Situated in just outside the Finn
Valley along the River Deele, Millbridge Farm has
been in the Witherow family for four generations.
Bought in 1897, it was a mixed farm with various
small animal enterprises, along with two scutch
mills and one corn mill. Today, the farm is a working
dairy and open farm, where the visitor can wander
around and see Clydesdale horses, pedigree Suffolk,
Jacob, Greyface and Dorset sheep, Goats, Fancy Fowl,
Ducks ,Turkeys and Pigs. There is also a Tea-room,
Boating Pond and Souvenir Shop and Riverside Picnic
area. |
|
| Grianan of Ailigh Visitors Centre,
Burt |
Tel: +353(0)74-93-68000 |
Fax: +353(0)74-93-68512 |
The Visitor Centre tells the tales
of Grianan of Ailigh...over 4000 years of history.
- Experience the Celtic elements of Earth,
Wind and Water
- See where the fairies live and learn where
they came from
- The end of the old Pagan faith and the coming
of Christianity
- The founding of the O'Neill dynasty by Eoghan
and Conal
- Meet our hero Muricheartaigh and Gormlaith,
his step-mother
- Follow her life from rags to riches, daughter,
mother wandering poetress.
|
|
| Flax and Corn Mills, New Mills,
Letterkenny |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-25115 |
- |
| Just outside the town of Letterkenny
is the village of Newmills, where visitors can see
one of the largest working waterwheels in Ireland.
The 1km long millrace powered two separate millwheels,
one for flax and the other for grinding oats and
barley. The latter is one of the few surviving Irish
mill wheels, and was made by the Stevenson Foundry
of Strabane in 1867. Open daily, June to end September
10am - 6pm.
|
|
| County Museum, Letterkenny |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-24613 |
- |
| Housing an array of both permanent
and temporary exhibitions, including artifacts dating
from pre stone-age era, the museum also provides
an exhibition charting the history of the town and
locality over the last three hundred years. Located
on the High Road, the building has boasted a varied
existence, from its opening as a workhouse in 1843
through to a period of housing a hospital and administrative
offices, until it's complete renovation in 1987.
Admission free. Open all year: Mon - Friday, 10am
-4.30pm. Sat: 1pm-4.30pm. Closed for lunch 12.30pm
-1pm. |
|
Glebe House & Gallery, Churchill
The Derek Hill Collection. |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-37071 |
- |
| Glebe House and Gallery is a Regency
house built in 1828. Set in woodland gardens, it
is decorated with William Morris textiles, Islamic
and Japanese art. The Derek Hill collection includes
over 300 works of art by leading 20th century artists
including Picasso and Kokoshka, and Irish and Italian
artists. Open daily, except Friday, mid May to late
September, 11am-6.30pm. |
|
| Colmcille Heritage Centre, Churchill
|
Tel: +353(0)74-91-37306 |
- |
| Interpretive exhibitiion featuring
Saint Colmcille (Columba), Patriarch of the Irish
monasticism and Scottish Church. The story is told
with artistically designed banners, stained glass,
illustrated panels, artifacts, a wax model with
authentic clothing and a step by step illustration
of ancient manuscript fabrication. Restaurant/tea-room
situated on lakeside site on 100 acre estate with
nature walks. Open Easter week and from 1st Sunday
in May to last Sunday in September . Weekdays 10.30
am -6.30pm Sunday 1pm -6.30pm |
|
| Dunlewey Outdoor Centre, Ionad
Cois Locha, Dunlewey |
Tel: +353(0)74-95-31699 |
- |
- Weaving displays
- Story telling
- Boat trips
- Artificial lake with canoes
- Adventure and indoor play area
- Lakeside walks
Open Easter to end October Mon-Sat 10.30 am - 6pm,
Sunday 11am -7pm. |
|
| Glenveagh National Park |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-37088 |
- |
| 10,000 hectare park with mountains
and glens to be explored. Guided visits through
Glenveagh Castle, self-guiding nature trail, nature
walks and garden tours, visitor centre with audio
visual show and displays explaining the park. Restaurant
and traditional teas. Location 14 miles north-west
of Letterkenny. |
|
| The Workhouse, Dunfanaghy |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-36540 |
- |
| Visit the Dunfanaghy Workhouse and
see and hear "Wee Hannah" tell the true
story of her long life. In a series of tableaux,
"Wee Hannah" talks of her harsh upbringing
on a farm in the 1830's, a grave illness, her time
in the Workhouse and eventually a more peaceful
old age. Use the study area to do further research
into the Famine, The Workhouse or local history.
Coffee shop, Craft shop and exhibition area are
also open. Open Mon-Friday 10am -5pm, Sat-Sun 12
noon -5pm.
|
|
| The Gallery, Dunfanaghy |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-36224 |
- |
| Located on the outskirts of the village
of Dunfanaghy is the building that used to house
the old Fever Hospital. It now houses the gallery,
providing paintings, artist's materials, antiques
and crafts.
|
|
| Flight of the Earls Heritage Centre,
Rathmullan |
Tel: +353(0)74-91-58229 |
- |
| Located by the harbour in Portnamurray
the Flight of the Earls Heritage Centre tells the
story of the O'Neill and O'Donnell chieftains flight
from Ireland to Spain in 1607.
To
Read about the Flight of the Earls, click here
|
|
| Fort Dunree Military Museum, Buncrana
|
Tel: +353(0)74-93-61817 |
- |
| The strategic position of the fort,
set on the shores of Lough Swilly, affords dramatic
and breathtaking views of the Lough and its shoreline.
The fort also houses the heritage museum. Opened
in 1986, it has an audio-visual theatre and underground
bunkers, housing an extensive collection of military
artifacts and memorabilia. Open May to September
Mon - Sat, 10.30 am - 6pm. Sunday 1pm - 6pm.
|
|
| Doagh Visitors Centre, Inishowen
|
Tel: +353(0)74-93-78078 |
- |
| Typical dwellings, from those lived
in earlier times such as Sod or Turf Houses, to
a house lived in up until the 1970's, complete with
samples of local food, plants and herbs used for
cures. Famine village, including examples of a typical
pre-famine cabin, Landlords Mansion, Leinster House
etc. Re-live a lifestyle from the past by visiting
the Wake House, the Hedge School, the Mass Rock,
the Eviction Scene, the Presbyterian Meeting House
and a typical example of a two storey dwelling,
where the occupants shared the building with livestock.
Open Easter to 30th September, 10am - 5.30pm. |
|
| Maritime Museum, Greencastle |
Tel: +353(0)74-93-81363 |
- |
| The museum has a number of exhibits
associated with sea-faring traditions of what was
one of the busiest fleets in Ireland, including
a variety of sailing boats, a 19th century "Rocket
Cart" used to aid survivors of wrecks, and
maritime memorabilia.here is also a Craft and Coffee
Shop. A recent addition to the centre is a state
of the art planetarium where the visitor can learn
about the history of navigation and view the stars.
|
|
| Tullyarvan Mill, Buncrana |
Tel: +353(0)74-93-61613 |
- |
| This Mill dating from the 19th century,
has been restored and is now home to a textile museum.
|
|
| Babogai Chroicshli (Crolly Dolls)
|
Tel: +353(0)74-95-48649 |
- |
| Visit our showroom and see our famous
collection of exquisitely designed porcelain dolls.
Open Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm. |
|
| Ballymagroarty Historical Centre,
Ballintra |
Tel: +353(0)74-97-34996 |
- |
| The Ballymagroarty Historical Centre
is a tribute to St Columcille. This original Columban
monastic site was home to the kings of Ireland for
over 150 years. The centre has many rare artifacts
and has created a tribute to the monk. Only 6 miles
from Donegal Town, the Columcille Foundation has
developed an important visitor's centre. While there,
why not enjoy the restored Staging Post (c. 1698).
|
|
| Visitors Centre Pettigo (Lough
Derg) |
Tel: +353(0)71-98-61546 |
|
| Dolmen Eco Tourism Centre, Narin,
Portnoo |
Tel: +353(0)74-95-41444 |
|
| Heritage Centre, Ardara |
Tel: +353(0)74-95-41704 |
|
| Vintage Car & Carriage Museum,Buncrana
|
Tel: +353(0)74-93-61130 |
|
| Gartan Outdoor Centre, Churchill
|
Tel: +353(0)74-91-37032 |
|
| County Donegal Historical Society
Museum, Rossnowlagh |
Contact: Mr L. Emerson (Curator)
Tel: +353(0)71-98-51267 |
|
|
|
