Planning a Trip

Getting There

Aer Arann (tel. 01/814-5240; www.aerarann.ie) operates regularly scheduled flights from Dublin to tiny Donegal Airport, Carrickfinn, Kincasslagh, County Donegal (tel. 074/954-8284; www.donegalairport.ie), about 65km (40 miles) northwest of Donegal Town on the Atlantic coast.

Bus Éireann (tel. 074/912-1309; www.buseireann.ie) operates daily bus service to Donegal Town from Dublin, Derry, Sligo, Galway, and other points. All tickets are issued on the bus. The pickup and boarding point is in front of the Abbey Hotel on The Diamond.

If you're driving from the south, Donegal is reached on N15 from Sligo or A46 or A47 from Northern Ireland; from the east and north, it's N15 and N56; from the west, N56 leads to Donegal Town.

Visitor Information

The Donegal Tourist Office, Quay Street (tel. 074/972-1148), is open Easter through September, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday noon to 4pm, with extended hours in July and August. For online tourist information, go to www.donegaltown.ie.

Town Layout

The town is laid out around the triangular central mall called "The Diamond," where the roads from Killybegs, Ballyshannon, and Ballybofey converge. Main Street and Upper Main Street, which form the prime commercial strip, extend northeast from The Diamond.

Getting Around

Easily walked, Donegal has no local bus service within the town. If you need a taxi ask at your hotel, or call Jim Johnston (tel. 074/972-1349) or Brendan McBrearty (tel. 074/913-3420).

There is a pay parking lot along the quay beside the tourist office and off Main Street.

A booklet outlining the signposted walking tour of Donegal Town is available at the tourist office and most bookshops.

Fast Facts

In an emergency, dial tel. 999. Donegal District Hospital is on Upper Main Street (tel. 074/972-1019). The local Garda Station is on Quay Street (tel. 074/972-1021).

Donegal County Library, Mountcharles Road (tel. 074/972-1705), is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 3 to 6pm, Saturday 11am to 1pm and 2 to 6pm. Internet access is free (for the time being), but there is a limit of 1 hour per session. Book ahead.

The Donegal Post Office on Tirconnail Street (tel. 074/972-1024) is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm, Wednesday 9:30am to 5:30pm.