County Donegal

County Donegal is a county in the Republic of Ireland, located in the province of Ulster. It is the northernmost county of Ireland and mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small border with the rest of the Republic. The county is named after the town of Donegal, found in the southern part of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconnell or Tirconaill, named after an old territory that covered the area.

The local council for County Donegal is called the Donegal County Council, and the main town, known as the county town, is Lifford. According to the 2022 census, the population of County Donegal was 167,084 people. This makes it an important and interesting place to learn about in Ireland.

Name

County Donegal is named after the town of Donegal. The name comes from the Irish words Dún na nGall, which means "fort of the foreigners."

The county has also been called County Tyrconnell or Tirconaill. This name, Tír Chonaill, means "Land of Conall" and was used officially from 1922 to 1927. It refers to an old Irish kingdom that the county was based on.

History

County Donegal was home to the powerful O'Donnell family, one of Ireland's most important ruling families until around 1600. The O'Donnells led the kingdom of Tír Chonaill, which covered most of what is now County Donegal. Their rule ended in 1607 after a major event known as the Flight of the Earls.

The modern County Donegal was created in 1585 by combining two older areas. It faced many challenges, including a terrible famine in the 1840s that caused many people to leave the county.

During the Irish Civil War from 1922 to 1923, Donegal's wild landscape helped some fighters hide. The county also felt the effects of political changes and difficult times in nearby Northern Ireland, which added to its economic struggles.

Geography and subdivisions

County Donegal is located in the northwest corner of Ireland and is the northernmost county of the island. It is the largest county in the Ulster province and the fourth-largest in all of Ireland. Donegal shares a small border with one other county in the Republic of Ireland, County Leitrim, but most of its land border is with three counties in Northern Ireland: County Tyrone, County Londonderry, and County Fermanagh. This unique border has helped Donegal keep a special cultural identity. While Lifford is the county town, Letterkenny is the largest town, with almost 20,000 people.

Donegal is known for its varied landscapes, from green hills in summer to brown fields in winter. It has Ireland’s longest mainland coastline and some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The county includes several islands, like Arranmore and Tory Island, and many rivers and lakes, such as the River Erne and Lough Swilly. The land is mostly mountainous, with the Derryveagh Mountains in the north and the Blue Stack Mountains in the south. The highest peak is Errigal at 751 meters.

Donegal is home to many different plants and animals. Forests cover about 11% of the county, with trees like Scots pine, birch, and oak. The county has many birds, mammals, and sea creatures, including seals, dolphins, and whales. Some animals, like the golden eagle, have been brought back to the area after disappearing for a time.

Demographics

Letterkenny is the largest town in County Donegal, with a population of over 22,000. It is the biggest town in the Border Region and the 21st largest urban area in the Republic of Ireland.

Donegal is the most rural county in Ireland, with less than one-third of people living in towns and over 70 percent living in the countryside.

County Donegal has a strong Irish language presence. It is home to the second-largest Irish-speaking area in Ireland, known as the Donegal Gaeltacht. Many schools in this area teach lessons in Irish. According to recent counts, over 59,000 people in Donegal can speak Irish.

Government and politics

Local government

The Donegal County Council has managed local areas since 1899 and is based in County House, Lifford. Every five years, people elect 37 councillors using a fair voting system called proportional representation with the single transferable vote. The county has several areas for voting, such as Buncrana, Carndonagh, and Letterkenny.

Former districts

Before 2014, there were smaller councils in towns like Letterkenny and Bundoran. These were closed, and their work was taken over by the Donegal County Council.

National elections

Most of Donegal is part of one group for choosing national leaders, called the Donegal constituency. In the past, Donegal had many different groups for elections, but now it is mostly one group.

Referendums

People in Donegal often vote differently from the rest of Ireland on important questions. For example, they have voted against changes that most of Ireland supported. This pattern started in 1958 and has continued in many votes since then.

European elections

Donegal is part of the Midlands–North-West area for choosing representatives for the European Parliament. In the 2024 election, two people from Donegal tried to be chosen.

Freedom of Donegal

The Freedom of Donegal is a special award given to people who have done great things to help the people of County Donegal. Some of these people include Daniel O'Donnell, Phil Coulter, Shay Given, Packie Bonner, Paddy Crerand, Seamus Coleman, the Brennan family, and Jim McGuinness. In 2009, members of the 28th Infantry Battalion of the Irish Defence Forces also received this award from the Donegal County Council for their long service to the county.

Transport

County Donegal used to have many train lines run by different companies. These trains used special track sizes, which made moving goods between them tricky. Over time, roads became more popular, and the train services stopped running by 1960.

Today, people in County Donegal can use airports like Donegal Airport in the west and City of Derry Airport in the east. The closest big international airport is Belfast International Airport, which is a bit farther away.

Culture and religion

County Donegal has a rich cultural history. The Irish language spoken here shares many features with the language in Scotland. The area has its own special style of fiddle music and famous songs. Musicians from Donegal, like the bands Clannad and Altan, have become well-known around the world for their traditional music.

The county also has a strong literary tradition. Writers such as Patrick MacGill and Brian Friel have created important works set in Donegal. The people of Donegal have made contributions to culture in other places too, such as helping to start universities and churches in America. Each July, the Earagail Arts Festival celebrates the arts in the county.

Places of interest

County Donegal has many special places to visit. One of these is Glenveagh National Park, a big nature area with beautiful mountains, lakes, and forests. In the park, you can find Glenveagh Castle, a grand old building that looks like a castle. Another interesting spot is the Shuffling Stone, a big rock near a village. In 2017, County Donegal was chosen as a top place to visit by a travel magazine.

Each summer, the Donegal Gaeltacht offers special classes for young people who want to learn the Irish language and about Irish traditions. Many young people from other parts of Ireland and from Northern Ireland come to these classes. Donegal Town is also a great place for scuba diving, with a club that enjoys exploring underwater.

Education

County Donegal has a place called Letterkenny where people can go to college at the Atlantic Technological University. This school used to be called the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Many students from Donegal also go to other colleges in nearby places like Derry, Coleraine, Jordanstown, Belfast, and Galway to study. Some also go to schools in Limavady and Omagh.

Sport

The Gaelic Athletic Association sport of Gaelic football is very popular in County Donegal. Donegal's team has won the big All-Ireland Football Championship twice, in 1992 and 2012. They also won the Ulster Football Championship ten times. In 2012, they won the All-Ireland Final and took home the Sam Maguire Cup. Donegal has three national titles in football, winning the National Football League in 2007 and 2019, and another league title in 2011.

Hurling, handball, and rounders are also played but less often. Donegal's hurling team has won two big cups in 2011 and 2013.

There are several rugby teams in the county, such as Letterkenny RFC.

Finn Harps is the county's only team in the League of Ireland. They play at Finn Park and won the FAI Cup once in 1973–74.

County Donegal has many golf courses, like Ballyliffin Golf Club and Rosapenna (Sandy Hills).

Cricket is mainly played in the Laggan district and Finn Valley, especially in Raphoe and St Johnston. These places have strong cricket traditions.

Athletes from Donegal have done well in international competitions. Some have won medals in big events like the World Cross-Country Championships and the European Championships.

The county's landscape is great for active sports such as climbing, mountain biking, hillwalking, surfing, and kite-flying.

People

See also: Category:People from County Donegal

Main article: List of people from County Donegal

County Donegal has been home to many famous people throughout history. These individuals have come from all walks of life and have made their marks in various fields. For a closer look at some of the notable figures, you can explore the list of people from County Donegal.