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Donegal Castle, Donegal Town

4.2
#1 of 29 in Things to do in Donegal Town
Must see · Castle · Tourist Spot
Take a guided or self-guided tour of furnished and restored Donegal Castle to follow the history of the O'Donnell clan and other owners of the land from the 1470s to the present. First built in 1474 on the Eske River, the castle was burned in the early 1600s by the O'Donnells as they were fleeing after the Nine Years War. The castle and lands were given to Basile Brooke, an English Captain, who rebuilt and extensively expanded the buildings after the war. Examine the fine Persian rugs and French tapestries that adorn walls and floors, and read the information panels distributed throughout the castle, which explain the history and significance of the site. Put Donegal Castle and other Donegal Town attractions into our Donegal Town trip planning tool, and watch your holiday take shape.
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Tours to Donegal Castle

FROM $9,827 BOOK WITH VIATOR Self-Drive of Ireland - The Northern Way Tour
Duration: 7 days
Tours from $9,827 »
FROM $208 BOOK WITH VIATOR Highlights Of Donegal Day Tour
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Tours from $208 »

Donegal Castle reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.0
1,156 reviews
Google
4.4
TripAdvisor
  • By WorldWideUser482818
    Excellent tourist site in Donegal!!! Visited before pandemic arrived and it's a very historic site! Beautiful views. Great place.  more »
  • By Therese E
    Full of history but still quite a small castle. Prices a bit on the steep side for the attraction.Worth a visit if you want to find out more about the local history.  more »
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Google
  • By Patrick OCallahan
    Take the time to visit this castle. It's in ruins but they are in the process to getting it renovated. It has a interesting history and to walk around the grounds was enjoyable as well as the town with the shops and pubs. They dont take credit cards so make sure you have Euros.
  • By Cormac Neeson
    Great place located right in the middle of the town. It has lovely staff and you are able to see most of the intact castle. There is also lots of information inside explaining many of the different parts of the castle. It's also quite cheap.
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Hidden gems in Donegal Town

Lough Eske ©
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Lough Eske
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Bluestack Mountains Scenic Route
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Donegal Golf Club ©
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Donegal Golf Club
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Magee 1866 ©
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Side trips from Donegal Town

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Popular things to do in Donegal Town

Gola Island ©
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Barnesmore Gap
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Barnesmore Gap
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Abbey of the Four Masters (The Abbey)
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Historic Sites in Donegal Town

Church of the Sacred Heart ©
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4.3
Duration: 2 hours
Church of Ireland ©
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Duration: 30 minutes
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The Deserted Village of Port
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Duration: 1h 30 min

Nearby attractions in Donegal Town

The Reel Inn ©
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Donegal Bay Waterbus ©
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Nightlife
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Shopping in Donegal Town

Forget Me Not Craft Shop ©
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4.4
Duration: 2 hours
Giftworld
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4.0
Duration: 1h 30 min

Featured attractions

Biddy’s O’Barnes ©
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Duration: 2 hours
Donegal Castle ©
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Donegal Castle
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Duration: 2 hours
Spa Solis
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Duration: 2 hours
Hornhead Loop
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Hornhead Loop
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