Top Ten Cultural Activities to enjoy in Inishowen!
1. Take a day trip to the museums of Inishowen, explore our fascinating seafaring history at the Inishowen
Maritime Museum & Plantetarium, Greencastle. The museum is host to some amazing artefacts from the
Spanish Armada, WWII Battle of the Atlantic and the era of mass emigration during the Famine years.
2. Fort Dunree, History, Walks and Wildlife. Another Inishowen Museum that fully demonstrates life at
Fort Dunree, showing its vital role in coastal defence and neutrality protection; and a complete expose of
coastal artillery. The underground bunkers house a collection of artefacts giving meaning and insight into
the operation of this excellent relic of military history. In its natural spectacular setting, Fort Dunree is rich
in wildlife, some of it unique to the area
3. Pack your rain coat and umbrella and take one of many Nature Walk routes including Buncrana,
Moville and Greencastle. Follow the paths along the shoreline and watch out for birds of all kinds and
maybe even a Seal. To entertain the kids there are impressive, recently built play parks at Buncrana and
Moville shorefront and also Culdaff beach so you can rest your weary legs after enjoying the scenic routes.
4. Visit the Doagh Island Famine Village. A fascinating exhibition of 18th Century Ireland. The Famine
Village tells the story of a family and community living on the edge and surviving, from the Famine of the
1840s to the present time. Learn how these people adapted and survived through the 1900s to the present day.
5. Drive the wild and beautiful Inishowen 100 scenic route. The route follows the coast line of the peninsula
and will bring you to some of the most unspoilt and undiscovered scenery in Donegal. Pack a picnic as you
will be tempted to stay a while at each location to take in all that this route offers in terms of local
knowledge, placards and information signs. Call in to one of the Tourist Offices located in Carndonagh
and Buncrana for maps on the route.
6. Stop off for Lunch in one of the quaint villages and make your way to Malin Head, Irelands most
Northerly Point. The area is steeped in history and folklore and is an area for all tastes, including walking,
fishing, swimming, photography, studying rock formations or rare flora. At low tide, see if you can spot the
wreck of the Twilight, which sank in 1889 on its voyage to Derry. The circuit of the Head will take you past
the radio station, built in 1910, and round the coast to Banba’s Crown, the northern tip of Ireland. Here, a
tall derelict building known locally as The Tower, was constructed in 1805 by the Admiralty and later used
as a Lloyds signal station which served as a most important news link connecting America and Europe.
7. Feeling creative? Get in touch with your artistic side with a guided tour of Moville Pottery and paint your
own mug. Or you can visit Glendowen Craft Shop and Studio, Clonmany. They stock a wide range of
locally produced crafts such as bogwood, jewellery, ladies and gentlemen knitwear and hand made soap.
They also provide Tourist Information. Anchor Arts Gallery in Moville also gives visitors the chance to meet
artists at work during weekday morning so feel free to pop in and see something inspirational.
8. Discover the heritage of Inishowen by taking in the many Hisotrical sights such as An Grianan Ailigh
Fort (Burt, the Grianán was a historical centre of culture and politics during the rule of early Irish
chieftains), Northburg Castle in Greencastle which you can view by taking the Greencastle walk (entrance
at greencastle carpark), Fort Dunree (Buncrana, which also boasts amazing walking routes) and by
walking Pollen Beach at Ballyliffen you can access the remains of Carrickabraghey Castle the location
of a vicious and bloody battle for the lordship of Inishowen in the 16th Century.
See www.visitinishowen.com for more information on locations
9. Challange yourself and test your families fitness levels by walking the new Looped walking routes over
Clonmany, Ballyliffen and Urris. Starting of at the entrance to Glenevin waterfall you have the choice to
wander up to the beautiful waterfall and lounge at the many pinic table areas where you can enjoy a picnic
lunch available from The Glen House located at the foot of the waterfall walkway or you can walk one of the
three other routes. You can set your own pace as you can choose the walk most suited to your fitness levels.
For a copy of the recently launched brochure on the Clonmany, Ballyliffen and Urris walks call into The
Glen House.
10. Take a trip down to The Old Pier on Moville’s shorefront to view The Fid, a monument that has its
inspirations within the village’s powerful connections to the sea and seafaring. The artist’s conversations
with local people uncovered tales of the beacon fires, which were once lit on the hills of Inishowen to mark the
passage down the River Foyle of emigration ships. It is located beside the new Anchor Arts Gallery.. The Old
Pier is an emblem of Moville’s rich maritime heritage: the Anchor Line ticket Office for the emigration boats
was located just off the pier; and the pier itself is one of the last complete 1880’s – 1890’s Congested Districts
Piers extant in Donegal.