County Donegal is blessed with some of the most impressive scenery in the Republic of Ireland, so you need to make sure you find the best base from which to explore it all from. Donegal Town, with its wide range of hotels, shops, pubs and restaurants, is perfect.
If you want to make the most of your stay in one of the most popular parts of the country, why not opt for a luxurious stay in one of the area’s four star hotels? Many of the best ones, offering beauty, spa and fitness facilities, along with fine dining restaurants, can be found dotted around nearby Lough Eske, one of the most beautiful lakes in Ireland.
Sparkling Hotels in The Diamond
In Donegal Town itself, most of the action is centred around an area known as The Diamond. It is the hub of the town, a spacious, open, pedestrianised area surrounded by hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops and coffee houses. Once you have returned from a hard day’s sightseeing you can rest assured that you’ll have no problem finding somewhere to soak up the welcoming atmosphere Ireland is so famous for.
Set in a strategic spot and featuring a pretty little harbour where the Eske River enters Donegal Bay, the town’s proximity to some of Ireland’s most dramatic coastal scenery ensures its popularity. As a result, when it comes to accommodation and entertainment, standards are high. If you want a bit of Irish culture, traditional music can be enjoyed at various pubs in the town almost every night during the summer months.
Hotels Close to Local Attractions
One of the main advantages of Donegal Town is that everything you need for an enjoyable and relaxing break is close to hand, including its main attractions.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Bluestack Mountains, Donegal Town was once home to the O’Donnells, the powerful chieftains who ruled the north-west of Ireland from the 15th to 17th centuries.
Situated on a bend on the River Eske, Donegal Castle is an atmospheric fortress filled with fine French tapestries and Persian rugs. It was originally constructed by the O’Donnells in 1474 but was burnt to the ground in 1607. Sixteen years later it was rebuilt, along with a neighbouring three-storey Jacobean house, and some major restoration work in the 1990s has turned into a must-see attraction.
Donegal’s links to the past are also revealed at the Old Graveyard, housed in the ruins of a former friary at the end of the town’s quay. It was here that the Annals of the Four Masters, one of the most important sources of early Irish history, was created. An obelisk was unveiled in The Diamond in 1937 to honour the work, copies of which are on display in the National Library in Dublin.
Four Star Hotel Luxury
With so much to see and do in Donegal Town and the surrounding area you need to make sure you get the most out of your visit - a stay in a four star hotel will ensure you have an unforgettable experience.
