Donegal Dún na nGall Dinnygal
Location
WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54°39′00″N 8°07′01″W / 54.65, -8.117
Irish Grid Reference G924789
Statistics
Province:	Ulster
County:	County Donegal
Population ( )	2,339 (2006)
Website: www.donegal.ie

Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall)^[1] is a town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Donegal (IPA: /dʌniːgɒl/) is not the county town (capital) of County Donegal, despite being its namesake. Rather, the county town is Lifford, and Letterkenny is the county's largest town. Donegal town is situated at the mouth of Donegal Bay and is overshadowed by the Bluestack Mountains. The town has been bypassed by the N15 and N56 roads. The Irish name translates into English as Fort of the Foreigners (Vikings). Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Bullet for locations in Ireland, displays location and not area. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... GPS redirects here. ... The Irish national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Ireland. ... When under Gaelic rule, Ireland was divided into provinces to replace the earlier system of the túatha. ... This article is about the nine-county Irish province. ... For much of its history, the island of Ireland was divided into 32 counties (Irish language contae or condae, pronounced IPA: ). Two historical counties, County Desmond and County Coleraine, no longer exist, while several county names have changed. ... Statistics Province: Ulster Dáil Éireann: Donegal North East, Donegal South West County Town: Lifford Code: DL Area: 4,841 km² Population (2006) 146,956 Website: www. ... Statistics Province: Ulster Dáil Éireann: Donegal North East, Donegal South West County Town: Lifford Code: DL Area: 4,841 km² Population (2006) 146,956 Website: www. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Statistics Province: Ulster County: Dáil Éireann: Donegal North East Population (2006) Website: www. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference C167188 Statistics Province: Ulster County: Dáil Éireann: Donegal North East Dialling Code: 074, +000 353 74 Area: 307. ... Donegal Bay (Bá Dhún na nGall in Irish) is an inlet (or bay) in the north western region of Ireland. ... The Bluestack Mountains (Na Cruacha Gorma in Irish) are the major mountain range in the south of County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. ... The N15 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland, running through County Donegal and the northwest of Ireland to connect Sligo to Stranorlar, Lifford and onwards to Strabane and Derry. ... A National Secondary Route is a category of road in the Republic of Ireland. ... A directional road sign in the Republic of Ireland on an other road (not a national road) at Portlaoise, County Laois, including patches for national roads and advance warning of bridge height restrictions. ...

History

There is evidence for settlements around the town dating back to prehistoric times including the remains of round forts and other earth works. There is a record of an early Danish fortress being destroyed by Muirchertach MacLochlainn, High King of Ireland in 1159. This Viking settlement is possibly the origin of the town's name. Muirechertach mac Lochlainn (died 1166) was king of the Cenél nEógain (of modern County Tyrone) and High King of Ireland from around 1154 to 1156, following Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (died 1156). ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... In the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinals are given the right of election of the Pope. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ...

Donegal castle showing keep built by the O'Donnell clan and wing added by Basil Brooke

Donegal Town itself is famous for being the former home to the O'Donnell clan, who played a pivotal role in Irish history. From the 15th to the 17th century, they provided the main opposition to the colonisation of Ireland by England. The town itself contains Donegal castle and the remains of a Franciscan abbey which dates back to the 15th century. The Annals of the Four Masters are traditionally thought to have been started in the abbey in the early 17th century. The story of Red Hugh O'Donnell, Lord of Tyrconnel, was the inspiration behind many books and films, not least, Disney's The Fighting Prince of Donegal (1966). Image File history File links Donegalcastle. ... Image File history File links Donegalcastle. ... ODonnell Coat of Arms Alternative ODonnell Coat of Arms ODonnell (Irish: Ó Dónaill or Ó Dómhnaill), which is derived from the forname Domhnaill (meaning world ruler, Rex Mundi in Latin, Modern Irish spelling, Dónall) were an ancient and powerful Irish clan, kings, princes, and lords of... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Donegal Castle showing keep, on right, and Jacobean wing. ... The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. ... Signature page from the Annals of the Four Masters Entry for A.D. 432 The Annals of the Four Masters or the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history. ... Red Hugh ODonnell (Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill in Irish) (1572- 10 September 1602) was an Irish lord who led a rebellion against English government in Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years War, a revolt against English occupation, from 1595 to 1603. ... Tyrconnell can refer to: a territory in Ireland, now more commonly referred to as County Donegal (see Tír Conaill), although the Kingdom and later Principality of Tyrconnell was broader than that, including parts of Sligo, Leitrim (Republic of Ireland), and Fermanagh (United Kingdom). ... Disney redirects here. ...

After the Flight of the Earls in 1607 the castle and its lands were given to an English captain, Basil Brooke, as part of the Plantation of Ulster. Brooke carried out major reconstruction work and added a wing to the castle in the Jacobean style. The current plan of the town was also laid out including an attractive town square or Diamond. From the late 17th until the early 20th centuries, Donegal Town formed part of the vast estates of the Gore family (from 1762 Earls of Arran) and it while in their ownership that the town took on its present appearance. Donegal returned two members to the Irish Parliament until the Act of Union (1800). Evidence of the Irish Famine still exists including a workhouse, whose buildings are now part of the local hospital, and a famine grave. The Flight of the Earls (Irish: Teitheadh na nIarlaí) refers to the departure from Ireland on 14 September 1607 of Hugh ONeill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and Rory ODonnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. ... Year 1607 (MDCVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Plantation of Ulster was a planned process of colonisation which took place in the northern Irish province of Ulster during the early 17th century in the reign of James I of England. ... The term Jacobean refers to a period in English history that coincides with the reign of James I (1603 – 1625). ... 1762 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Starvation during the famine The Irish Potato Famine, also called The Great Famine or The Great Hunger (Irish: An Gorta Mór), is the name given to a famine which struck Ireland between 1846 and 1849. ... Former workhouse at Nantwich, dating from 1780 A workhouse was a place where people who were unable to support themselves could go to live and work. ...

Industry and tourism

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Part of the Diamond in Donegal

There are many sandy beaches in the area of Donegal boasting good surfing conditions. Donegal is also used as a base for hill-walking in the nearby Bluestack Mountains. Despite the town's many hotels catering for visitors, it suffers from a lack of social amenities for its local population. Many have to travel to nearby towns such as Letterkenny for facilities like public swimming pools, cinemas and large shopping centres.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... For other uses, see Surfing (disambiguation). ... The Bluestack Mountains (Na Cruacha Gorma in Irish) are the major mountain range in the south of County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Irish Grid Reference C167188 Statistics Province: Ulster County: Dáil Éireann: Donegal North East Dialling Code: 074, +000 353 74 Area: 307. ...

Traditionally the largest employer in the town has been Magee of Donegal, who are manufacturers of tweed garments, some of which could, in the past, be seen being woven by hand on small looms in the company's department store.^{[citation needed]} Like most clothing manufacturers in Ireland, the size of the workforce has been in decline for many years. Magee of Donegal is a Donegal-based clothing manufacturer and retailer, best known for their tweed, but also manufactures items from linen, wool and other materials. ... Tweed is a type of fabric using the twill weave. ... For the graphical adventure game, see LOOM. A Turkish woman in Konya works at a traditional loom. ...

Transport

Donegal railway station opened on 16 September 1889 and finally closed on 1 January 1960.^[2] is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Sport

Main Street, looking north towards Roman Catholic Church, made with local red granite

Donegal town is home to many amateur sports clubs. The most popular sport in the area is Gaelic football and the local Gaelic Athletic Association club is The Four Masters.^[3] The club also has been developing hurling. Other popular sports clubs include football (Finn Harps), rugby union, basketball and athletics. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Gaelic Football (Irish: Peil, Peil Gaelach or Caid ), commonly referred to as football, or Gaelic , is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. ... For other uses, see GAA (disambiguation). ... For the Cornish sport, see Cornish Hurling. ... Soccer redirects here. ... Finn Harps FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... This article is about the sport. ... A womens 400 m hurdles race on a typical outdoor red rubber track in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland. ...

Media

The town is home to the regional newspapers Donegal Democrat and Donegal Post and the local Donegal Times^[4] newspaper. Ocean FM, an independent regional radio station, has one of its three studios in the town, which broadcasts to most of south County Donegal. // Democrat history Founded by the late Mr. ... The Donegal Post is a local newspaper published in County Donegal, Ulster. ...

See also

• Abbey Vocational School
• List of towns in the Republic of Ireland

There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... This is a link page for cities and towns in the Republic of Ireland, including larger villages, and villages and townlands of note, as well as towns, townships or urban centres in Dublin. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official town website
• Donegal Public Art