museums donegal

Donegal County Museum is based in a fine old stone building which was once part of the Letterkenny Workhouse built in 1846.


The Museum houses both temporary and permanent exhibitions which chart the history of Donegal from Stone Age to the Twentieth Century.


Disabled access....

The Waterwheels founded by the Cistercians in the 12th century are located 1km outside the town of Ballyshannon.

The once derelict site now houses the impressive waterwheels and an interpretative centre where an audio-visual presentation traces the legacy of the medieval Cistercians in Ireland....

Established in 1967, the folk museum was the brainchild of Fr. James McDyer, who moved to Glencolmcille in 1951. On his arrival, Fr. McDyer recognized the lack of proper services in the area and set about promoting industry and providing better facilities within the parish. The Folk Museum was central to Fr. McDyer's plan in maintaining the traditional culture of the Glencolmcille area....

Tullyarvan Mill is an old mill which through the efforts of a local community enterprise group has been restored to provide a beautiful visitors centre....

Visitors to the centre are assured of friendly and hospitable welcome to a place where they can step back in time to experience the atmosphere of a bygone age.


Saint Connell's is located in Glenties, Ireland's tidiest town and set in a backdrop of beautiful mountain scenery. It includes a number of rooms, including a wildlife exhibition, the Donegal railways collection, the local writer's corner and the commemoration of the Great Famine of 1845-47 which saw Donegal's potato crop...

Come and rest a while…

You will have the possibility of listening and being listened to, on your own or with others, in the beautiful setting of La Verna....

Dunfanaghy Workhouse opened in 1845 on the eve of the great famine - one of the greatest disasters ever to affect Ireland. The Workhouse soon proved its worth as people fled there to escape from the distress caused by the failure of their staple food - the potato.

This exhibition recalls the desperate days of the famine period and examines what life was like in the Workhouse.

Facilities include café, coach parking, shop, facilities for disabled and toilets....