Donegal

Donegal ( Irish: Dún na nGall; German as " stronghold of the foreigners" ) is a city in the northwest of the Republic of Ireland.

Although its name to the northern Irish County, in its southwest lies the city, Donegal neither the capital nor is the administrative seat (which is Lifford ) is still the largest town of the county (which is Letterkenny ). In Census 2006, the population of Donegal was ( with close surrounding areas ) identified 2339 persons.

Geography

Donegal is located near the tip of Donegal Bay and is drained by the River Eske, which flows south-west of Donegal in the Atlantic. North of Donegal are the Blue Stack Mountains, which as a natural barrier between the southern and northern part of the county extend.

History

In later times in Donegal was the seat of the O'Donnell clan, who played a pivotal role in Irish history and represented the main opposition against the English invaders from the 15th to the 17th century.

The O'Donnell family founded in the 15th century on Donegal Bay, the Franciscan monasteries Magherabeg and Donegal south of the city center.

Traffic

Despite its small size and lack of administrative importance Donegal widely known as the city is passed by all the tourists who arrive via Sligo and Ballyshannon from the Irish west to County Donegal. Following the expansion of the road system in Ireland in the 1990s and 2000s through traffic flows in the meantime, however, on the N15 or N56 to Donegal over the N56 starts in Donegal and, as a circular route via Killybegs, Glenties, Dungloe, Gweedore, Gortahork Falcarragh and Dunfanaghy the west and north of the county opens up and then back via Letterkenny and Stranorlar as N15 to Donegal.

About the small airport in Dungloe Donegal County is the twice daily connected by Aer Arann to Dublin route and three times a week with Glasgow in Scotland (2010 ). The bulk of the public transport, but operated as anywhere in Ireland by Bus Éireann, the Donegal via Enniskillen (NI ) to Dublin and Letterkenny with Derry in Northern Ireland and Galway via Sligo in the central west of Ireland combines; two small private companies also drive (usually once a day ) also places in County Donegal on, do not operate the Bus Éireann. On the rail transport in Ireland, the nation's only marginal importance, Donegal is no longer connected since 1960. In the former station building today the " Donegal Railway Heritage Centre " is housed, a railroad museum, illustrating the history of the two narrow gauge railways in County Donegal 1863-1959.

Infrastructure

As a starting point and fixed quarters for tourist excursions Donegal has indeed a larger number of hotels for the local population, however, the social infrastructure is rather unsatisfactory due to the lack of public facilities. Even major shopping centers are missing locally.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Davey Arthur (born 1954 ), folk musician and singer-songwriter
• Mary Coughlan (born 1965 ), politician Fianna Fáil, since 1987 throughout Teachta Dala for " Donegal South -West", several times minister since May 2008 Tánaiste
• Séamus Coleman (* 1988), football player

Attractions

• Donegal Castle
• Donegal Abbey
• Eske Castle