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Donegal in the northern Republic of Ireland, is the northernmost part the country, bounded on the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean and covers an area of 4830 sq km (1865 sq mi). It is mountainous and boggy and has many small lakes and rivers. Numerous islands lie off the long and deeply indented shoreline of the county.

The soil is not fertile but small crops of barley and wheat are grown in cultivated areas. About 35 percent of the land is in pasture, and cattle, sheep, and poultry are raised extensively.

The chief manufactures are linens, muslins, and woolens, including the well-known Donegal homespun. The county also has sandstone and granite quarries and important deep-sea and salmon fisheries. Known as Tyrconnel in ancient times, Donegal was long ruled by the O'Donnell family that ruled much of the area before the 17th century. It was one of the last parts of Ireland to come under English rule (1603). Although part of the province of Ulster, it was awarded to the Irish Free State (later the Republic of Ireland) in the partition of 1920-22.

Along the coast are many ruins of castles, including that of the early northern Irish kings, at the head of Lough Swilly, and Kilbarron Castle, near Ballyshannon.

THE INISHOWEN PENINSULA : A PLACE APART

The Inishowen Peninsula is the most northerly land-mass in Ireland, situated in North-East Donegal. The Peninsula is unique in that it is surrounded on three sides by water, whilst its southerly boundary is a shared link, both the remainder of Donegal and the international border with Northern Ireland, at Derry. This geographical positioning places Inishowen at the extremes of peripherality in both Irish and European contexts. The Peninsula encompasses 313 square miles and a population of approximately 30,000, serviced by the three medium sized towns of Buncrana, Carndonagh and Moville. For seven centuries Inishowen was ruled by the O'Doherty family who had close alliances with the O'Donnells of West Donegal and the O'Neills of Tyrone.

Buncrana
Buncrana is the largest town in Inishowen and the centre of the textile industry in Donegal. The town is situated on Lough Swilly and is popular with visitors throughout the year.

Carndonagh ia a busy market town. The Donagh High Cross, an 8th century Celtic Cross, is situated on the Ballyliffen road in Carndonagh. The Cross measures 11ft 6ins and is considered one of the best examples of low relief carving from the early medieval period in Ireland. On the east face of the cross there are several clerics and on the west face there is a female figure representing the virgin. There are two pillar stones on either side of the cross; one shows a bard playing a harp on one side and a warrior on is carved on the other side and the second pillar stone has a cleric with a bell carved on it.

Clonmany
Clonmany is a picturesque village in the west of the peninsula while the small towns of Moville and Culdaff with nearby sandy beaches are popular with summer visitors.

Slieve Snaght (2018ft) is the highest mountain in Inishowen but Raghtin More's (1647ft) also has spectacular views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. On the summit of Bulba mountain (1621ft) near Clonmany is situated a large cross erected to celebrate the Eucharistic Congress of 1932. Inishowen's most celebrated monument is Grianan of Aileach situated at the base of the peninsula.