Doagh Famine Village is a journey into the past, where the story of Irish traditions and the Irish Famine and the recent history of Northern Ireland are related as you walk through the rooms and houses of the people who lived them. The village is situated on the Isle of Doagh – worth a visit in and of itself – and is ten minutes from the hostel.www.doaghfaminevillage.com
Dunree Fort was a British Fort which had been an important defensive site down through history, used from 1798 until just before the second world war when it was handed to the Republic. There is a military museum, a small sea-life museum and regular art exhibitions from national and international artists. The fort is set on cliffs at the western entrance to Lough Swilly, with stunning scenery and a possibility for spotting dolphins, seals and porpoises.www.dunree.pro.ie
Grianan of Aileach is a round stone hill-top fort, dating from as far back as 1700 BC. The view from the top gives an amazing panorama of a large swathe of Donegal and has been historically important throughout the ages. www.discoverireland.ie,www.visitbuncrana.com
The nearby towns of Buncrana and Moville are both principal towns on the peninsula and offer many cultural and social activities for visitors.
Please seewww.visitbuncrana.com,www.movilleinishowen.com
Derry/Londonderry is a forty minute drive away, but is worth visiting for its historical and cultural development, both past and, of course, recent. The city offers many guided walks and has a burgeoning gallery and music scene – as City of Culture 2013 it hosted the Turner Prize.www.visitderry.com
Other festivals of note include : Clonmany Festival in the next-door village; Errigal Arts Festival – a Donegal-wide fiesta of art, performance, song, dance and theatre; traditional song festival from the Inishowen Singing Group. Please seewww.inishowensinging.ie,www.clonmanyfestival.com,www.eaf.ie.
Cultural, social and points of interest
Doagh Famine Village is a journey into the past, where the story of Irish traditions and the Irish Famine and the recent history of Northern Ireland are related as you walk through the rooms and houses of the people who lived them. The village is situated on the Isle of Doagh – worth a visit in and of itself – and is ten minutes from the hostel.www.doaghfaminevillage.com
Dunree Fort was a British Fort which had been an important defensive site down through history, used from 1798 until just before the second world war when it was handed to the Republic. There is a military museum, a small sea-life museum and regular art exhibitions from national and international artists. The fort is set on cliffs at the western entrance to Lough Swilly, with stunning scenery and a possibility for spotting dolphins, seals and porpoises.www.dunree.pro.ie
Grianan of Aileach is a round stone hill-top fort, dating from as far back as 1700 BC. The view from the top gives an amazing panorama of a large swathe of Donegal and has been historically important throughout the ages. www.discoverireland.ie,www.visitbuncrana.com
The nearby towns of Buncrana and Moville are both principal towns on the peninsula and offer many cultural and social activities for visitors.
Please seewww.visitbuncrana.com,www.movilleinishowen.com
Derry/Londonderry is a forty minute drive away, but is worth visiting for its historical and cultural development, both past and, of course, recent. The city offers many guided walks and has a burgeoning gallery and music scene – as City of Culture 2013 it hosted the Turner Prize.www.visitderry.com
Other festivals of note include : Clonmany Festival in the next-door village; Errigal Arts Festival – a Donegal-wide fiesta of art, performance, song, dance and theatre; traditional song festival from the Inishowen Singing Group. Please seewww.inishowensinging.ie,www.clonmanyfestival.com,www.eaf.ie.