The Cathedral Town

The largest town in County Donegal, Letterkenny boasts a good nightlife with plenty of college students to create a lively atmosphere. It has plenty of decent pubs, and more than enough places to eat, to suit all ages. It is popular with hen and stag parties. Letterkenny is arguably the shopping capital of the North-west, though Derry in Northern Ireland is larger.

Image: Letterkenny skyline

What to see

Market Square - has a nice monument commemorating the times when "Hiring Fairs" were held there, called "The Rabble Children". These fairs were held so that farmers could hire people, including young children, to live and work on their farms, for periods of six months or more.

Letterkenny Town Park - is located at the Hospital Roundabout and is a nice place for a relaxing stroll away from the hubbub of the town. The park has a herb garden, flower beds, new and mature trees, an orchard area, playing areas, bowling green, walks, playgrounds and a Garden of Rememberance.

St. Eunan's Cathedral - the only cathedral in the county, dominates the skyline and is well worth a visit. Also at Cathedral Square you can see the newly erected Celtic Cross, which is the largest in Europe.

There is also a designated signposted walk-way (Slí na Sláinte) which takes you out along the Swilly River, which runs through the town. It starts at the Station Roundabout near the bus depot and continues out the Derry road, looping around to come back into the town by Ramelton road.

If you are entering Letterkenny via the Derry Road, you cannot miss a sculpture called Polestar, erected in the centre of the Port Roundabout, near the Tourist Centre. This monument commemorates the fact that Letterkenny was once an important sea port and railway depot.