Donegal Castle, Donegal Town

4.2

#1 of 30 in Things to do in Donegal Town

Must see · Castle · Tourist Spot

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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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Donegal Castle reviews

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1,191 reviews

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4.4

By Ann C

Donegal castle is a restored 540+ year old Celtic castle, it is not a must see. It is located in the middle of Donegal town.

Donegal castle is a restored 540+ year old Celtic castle, it is not a must see. It is located in the middle of Donegal town. more »
By Jim A

Touring Ireland for a couple of weeks, one can get castled out! Kind of happened here. I love the exterior look, great photos. I love the town and the fact that the castle is right in the middle of..... more

Touring Ireland for a couple of weeks, one can get castled out! Kind of happened here. I love the exterior look, great photos. I love the town and the fact that the castle is right in the middle of..... more »
By 63christag

This was my favorite castle I visited. For a small town castle, it was great. You take it at your own pace, it was not crowded, and we learned a lot. I loved that the castle was finished inside so...

This was my favorite castle I visited. For a small town castle, it was great. You take it at your own pace, it was not crowded, and we learned a lot. I loved that the castle was finished inside so... more »

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By Sibeesh Venu

We enjoyed our time here. It is worth a visit once. The entree fee is 5 EUR. You can spend as much time as you wish here. The place is not crowded at all. There is a hidden cell you can reach there if you use the concrete stairs. The employees are very friendly and I recommend this place.

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By David Dancey

A nicely restored small castle Originally a castle of the O’Donnell family, this small, but well-fortified castle, was taken over by an English lord after the Flight of the Earls and was transformed into a more stately home. The castle itself has been restored and for a small fee you can enter and do a nice self-guided tour. It’s not the biggest castle in Ireland, but it is a pleasant place and worth a visit.

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By Margaret Willis

Me, my hubby and two children (aged 8 & 10) visited today (17th Aug) and it was just beautiful. The walkway is rocky and uneven so be mindful of this. So many artifacts and stunning pieces. Stairs are quite steep. I love history so it's been one of my favourite spots. Don't visit without stopping off. Entrance fees are: adults €5 Senior €4 Student £3 Family €13 Kids go free.

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By Jon Monahan

Donegal Castle is interesting, it's very well preserved. The walls surrounding the castle are also intact. The interior only has a few rooms that are accessible, but each have lots of information and artifacts to view. The guide we had was on his first ever tour, but did a great job and was very knowledgeable.

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By Gina Brady

Truly magnificent and beautifully maintained gardens, Simply stunning. Excellent bus service from car park to the gardens and Castle . Will definitely return next year

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