heritage centres donegal

Unique interpretative exhibition featuring the life and times of St. Comcille (Columba) Patriarch of the Irish monastic system and founder of the Scottish Church....

Ardara Heritage Centre tells the story of Donegal tweed from the shearing of sheep to the manufacture and completion of the beautiful woven cloth....

Situated at the carpet factory building in Killybegs. It offers a fascinating audio visual insight into the history of the fishing and the famous hand knotting carpets also home to the longest loom in the world. Enjoy a hands on experience ina fishing trawlers wheelhouse and live demonstrations of the hand knotting carpets. Craft and coffe shop on the premises....

Visit the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre and find out just what it was like to travel on the narrow gauge railways of County Donegal. Stretching from Derry and Strabane to Glenties and Ballyshannon, the County Donegal Railway provided the essential transport for farmers and fishermen, businessmen and builders, housewives and schoolchildren - everyone who needed to get about.

The Donegal Railway Heritage Centre, which includes an historical presentation artefacts and sales shop, is ded...

A complex of industrial buildings which includes both corn and flax mills powered by the river Swilly. The visitor to Newmills can experience the pleasure of seeing one of the largest waterwheels in Ireland in action as it drives the machinery of the corn mill....

Lurgyvale Thatched Cottage is a 150 year old thatched cottage with an open hearth fire on a flagged floor. Scones and tea are served daily in an old kitchen. Visitors can tour the house and see the charming bedrooms with their lace curtains and sloping ceilings. Outside there is a landscaped picnic area and children's play facilities.

The thatched craft shop sells local crafts and there is a museum of domestic and farm appliances. Visitors can also take a walk behind the cottage with pat...

The Flight of the Earls Heritage Centre is located along the harbour. The last two great Celtic chieftains, Hugh O'Donnell and Hugh O'Neill are commemorated here. They departed Ireland from Rathmullan Harbour in 1607 after their defeat at Kinsale by the forces of Elizabeth I under Mountjoy in 1601. This was a real turning point in Irish history, because the death of Celtic Ireland and its Brehon Laws rapidly followed their departure. The repressive laws, confiscations of lands and massive p...

Welcome to the Dunlewey lakeside centre. With a wide range of facilities for all the family, the centre provides a facinating insite into life in the area during the middle of the century....

This Visitors Centre tells the story of Grianan Ailigh, an ancient stone ring fort. It's origins date back to the time of myth and legend when it was said to be built by the Dagda, an ancient King of the Tuatha De Danann, in 1700 B.C. The circular ramparts date back as far as 5000 years ago. It later became the Royal Residence of the Ui Neills, overlords of Ulster and High Kings of Ireland, circa 5th Century A.D.

This ancient site's long and interesting history is told in the new cen...

Welcome to the Seat of Power Visitors Centre, Old Courthouse, Lifford. Built in 1746 by famous Dublin architect Michael Priestly, this magnificent building ceased to be used as a courthouse after the last court was held here in 1938.

Thereafter it began to fall into decay. With a grant from the International Fund for Ireland, the building was completely refurbished....