https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/templates/thematicblue/img/logo.gifhttps://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/As Donegal’s largest town, Letterkenny is the ideal base or a holiday in Ireland’s beautiful North-West Region. Letterkenny took its name from the Gaelic Irish “Leitir Ceannain” meaning “Hillside of the O’Cannons”. It began life as a humble fishing village, on the banks of Lough Swilly, where the River Swilly drains into the lough. By the 17th century it had grown into a prosperous market town and regional capital. Today it is the largest and most densely populated town in all of Donegal, and is a vibrant youthful town, particularly at night when its many restaurants, pubs, and clubs, are in full party mode. But it is as the centre of a vast array of wonderful holiday destinations that Letterkenny really hits the mark. Whether you are touring Donegal’s wild wonderful West Coast, or enjoying the thousands of beautiful beaches, coves, and inlets of its North Coast, Letternenny is the ideal base for operations. On those days when you don’t wish to lose yourself in nature, Letterkenny can offer its new “Arena 7 Centre”, its Aura Leisure Complex, or a selection of activity centres specializing in karting, paintballing, and climbing. And for those who wish to take things a little easier, there’s always Letterkenny’s many restaurants, galleries, and historical tours. Letterkenny is the hub of an array of fascinating attractions. They range from the beautiful Newmills Corn and Flax Mill on the outskirts of the town, to the superb County Museum. Other treasures of the area include the extraordinary “Grianan of Aileach” ancient fort site on the roadway to Derry, and the immense Glenveagh National Park which lies to the west somewhere between Letterkenny and Mount Errigal. And of course, Letterkenny is the key to some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Ireland. Marble Hill, Portsalon, and Portnoo are just some of its finest gems. The Letterkenny Folk Festival brings together many European folk-dance teams every August. The Donegal Motor Rally takes place each June with Letterkenny as its base. How to get to Letterkenny By bus or car. Bus Eireann provide regular services from Dublin to Letterkenny. Alternatively follow the M1 north from Dublin to the outskirts of Dundalk, and then the N54, N2, A5, and finally the N14 into Letterkenny. Where to stay in Letterkenny Letterkenny has a large choice of good places to stay including hotels, self-catering holiday homes, guesthouses and B&B's. Book Letterkenny Accommodation Explore more Letterkenny is surrounded by beautiful coastal towns. Don't miss Fahan and Buncrana if you are travelling east, and Ramelton and Rathmullan if you are travelling west. Things to do in Letterkenny Challenge yourself at Letterkenny’s newest action activity, Paintball Games. So if you want something different, that’s fun, full of excitement and can really get the adrenalin going, then this is for you. The Old Foundry Paintball Games suits everyone from the real enthusiast to the mildly curious. There are three varied and excellent playing surfaces and three different games are on offer, namely: Jungle Fever, Speedball and Ambush. Visit the running track and swimming pools at Aura. This facility offers everybody, no matter your age or fitness level, the opportunity to improve your health and fitness as well as have fun. https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/Destinations/Donegal/Letterkenny/https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/thingstodo/leisure-centres//aura-leisure-centre-letterkenny-l50.htmlAura Letterkenny Leisure Complex offers excellent and state of the art facilities for health and fitness. The centre has a large selection of exercise equipment providing for a range of fitness and health facilities for all members. The gym’s indoor facilities include a mirrored sprung floored studio used for aerobics, dance, strength training and much more, and also a large multi-functional hall suitable for indoor soccer, basketball, badminton and many other activities. The 25 meter swimming pool caters for children of all ages to adults, so whether you or your child is taking their first dip or completing a lifeguard course, Aura Letterkenny Leisure will help you foster a love of swimming!https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/guesthouses//ballyraine-guesthouse-l469.htmlBallyraine Guesthouse is a stylish modern Guesthousel ocated on the R245 just 15 minutes walk from Letterkenny town centre. With many local nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and a theatre, the Guesthouse offers the ideal base for the visitor wishing to tour the North West. Choose from the breakfast menu and enjoy a Light Continental or a Full Irish Breakfast. The central location and ample private parking makes Ballyraine Guesthouse your ideal location for an overnight or weekend break.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/hotels//clanree-hotel-l187.htmlThe Clanree Hotel is the perfect base for exploring bustling Letterkenny and beautiful Donegal. The hotel offers friendly hospitality, professional service in luxurious surroundings. Our spacious 120 bedrooms are luxuriously finished for comfort & style. Guests are invited to dine elegantly in The "Award Winning" Aileach Restaurant, renowned locally for excellent food, or casually in Oscars Bar & Outdoor Heated Lounge, which offers live entertainment most weekends. Our fully equipped Health & Fitness Club has a heated indoor 20m swimming pool, child's pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steamroom and solarium and fully equipped gym. There is also an in-house Beauty Salon offering great value pamper packages. Clanree Hotel specialises in Weddings, Banquets, Conferences & Meetings. The Clanree Hotel offers ample Free Car Parking on Site & Free wireless internet in all public areas.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/places-to-visit/museums//donegal-county-museum-l134.htmlDonegal County Museum opened to the public in 1987 and is housed in what was once the Warden's house of the Letterkenny Workhouse, which was opened in 1845. The Museum holds a substantial collection of original artefacts representing the history of County Donegal and covering subjects such as archaeology, history, social history and folklife.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/festivals/arts-festivals//earagail-arts-festival-l423.htmlThe Earagail Arts Festival is a festival of music, theatre, visual arts, film, literature, dance, circus, comedy and carnival and is Donegal's largest arts festival. The festival takes place every July, bringing high profile contemporary and traditional arts to County Donegal. It includes a wide range of art forms including theatre, music, visual arts events, plays, children’s theatre, dance, puppetry, workshops in the arts and musical composition, creative writing, poetry and reading nights and film with a drive-in movie night. Also during the festival there are many other spectacular outdoor activities to do such as exploring the local parklands, beautiful beaches and scenic views of county Donegal.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/thingstodo/outdoor-adventure//gartan-outdoor-education-and-training-centre-l68.htmlGartan Outdoor Education and Training Centre is situated on a large 87-acre woodland estate and on the shores of beautiful Lough Gartan. The secluded location in the heart of Donegal, makes for an ideal base for a wide variety of adventure activities. For over a quarter of century Gartan Outdoor Education and Training Centre has been providing courses at all levels in a wide range of outdoor pursuits. From Outdoor Learning and Adventure Sport training courses to holidays and guided trips, there are activities to suit all levels of experience on offer. Comfortable, quality accommodation is available on site along with excellent catering too. Individuals of all ages, schools, colleges and universities, sporting teams and companies are welcome to join their courses and events. Activities available include Archery, Canadian Canoing, Coasteering, Gorge Walking, Hillwalking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Orienteering, Orienteering, Power Boating, Raft Building, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Sea Kayaking, Surfing, Whitewater Kayaking, Windsurfing.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/places-to-visit/galleries//glebe-house-gallery-l710.htmlGlebe House & Gallery is the art hub of Donegal, donated to the people of Ireland by English artist (and now honorary Irish citizen) Derek Hill who lived and painted in this area. The collection includes more than 300 works by leading 20th century artists such as Picasso, Bonnard, Kokoschka, and Jack Yeats, plus Donegal folk art, Japanese and Islamic art, papers and textiles by William Morris, and paintings by Derek Hill himself.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/guesthouses//glencairn-house-b-b-l700.htmlSituated amid well-maintained gardens on the R. 245 road heading toward Ramelton, this modern ranch-style B&B home offers lovely countryside views, yet it is just over 1 mile north of the bustle of Letterkenny. Hostess Maureen McCleary offers 6 non-smoking ground-floor guest rooms (5 en suite and 1 standard). Each room has a TV, hairdryer and coffee/tea-maker.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/hotels//letterkenny-court-hotel-l479.htmlLetterkenny Court Hotel is on the main street of County Donegal’s busiest town and specialises in accommodation for groups and families. With an excellent location in the town of Letterkenny, it is a good place to start exploring the beautiful windswept landscape of Donegal. Letterkenny Court Hotel has 56 bedrooms and 26 self catering apartments which consist of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. Lunch and dinner is served in Dillon’s Bar with live music on weekend nights in the bar. The Gallery Restaurant opens on weekends and has a good selection of contemporary and traditonal cuisine to suit all paletes.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/thingstodo/karting//letterkenny-karting-activity-centre-l147.htmlLetterkenny Karting & Activity Centre is located 5 kms outside Letterkenny on the Ramelton Road for a fun filled day out for all the Family with Karting, Airsoft, Archery and Body Zorb to provide an adrenaline filled day out. Popular for large groups, it is the perfect way to kick start your Stag, Hen Party or Birthday Parties are also catered with packages to suit all budgets. Letterkenny Karting & Activity Centre is ideal for corporate team building sessions to let loose on the Karting Circuit and then test your aim in the Indoor Airsoft and Archery Range and then finish off with the ultimate team building session as you play Body Zorb in the blow up Football pitch.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/paintball//letterkenny-paintball-l300.htmlLetterkenny Paintball is the most northerly Outdoor Activities Centre in Ireland, located in Letterkenny, Donegal. The natural woodland facility with competition sites has 4 purpose built Paintball Game areas, Archery Field, Raft Building, Military Style Obstacle Course, Zip Wire and Water Slide. Whether it is a Personal Challenge, Stag or Hen Party, or a Corporate Event day out you are after, Letterkenny Paintball promise you an action packed experience of pure adrenalin, putting your own and team's abilities to the test!https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/hotels//mcgettigans-hotel-l693.htmlTucked in the midst of the action of Letterkenny’s busy main thoroughfare, this new hotel stands out, with its four-story glass façade. The atmosphere is bright and airy with lots of glass, mirrors, leather seating, and a dazzling two-story chandelier that extends from the lobby to the mezzanine level. There are 92 fully air-conditioned guest rooms, each with plasma TV, tea/coffee-maker, hairdryer, and broadband access. Facilities include the Ard na gCeapairi Bistro, Inis Meain Bar (on the mezzanine level with panoramic views of Letterkenny), McCarry’s Bar, Milan nite club, and car parking https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/guesthouses//pennsylvania-house-b-b-l702.htmlAs its name implies, there's a warm welcome here for anyone from the Keystone State or any of the 49 other US states (proprietor Nuala Duddy resided and worked for over 20 years in Philadelphia). Set on a hillside about 2 miles north of town, this modern smoke-free B&B offers 4 guest rooms including 2 family rooms, each outfitted with traditional furnishings including quilted bedspreads, lace curtains and antiques, as well as cable TV, phone, hairdryer and garment presser. https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/hotels//radisson-blu-hotel-donegal-l337.htmlThe Radisson Blu Hotel is located in the centre of Letterkenny Town in County Donegal. This property has all the amenities to make your stay a memorable one. The 114 rooms in the Radisson Blu Hotel are spacious and comfortable. The rooms are either double or twins but they come in various sizes and styles and contain modern amenities such as a TV, telephone, internet accessibility and a minibar. There are also some interconnecting rooms if you are travelling in a larger party. Brasserie TriBeCa serves creative food using only the finest of ingredients, complimentary breads and homemade desserts. The Oak Bar & Grill offers a wide variety of cocktails, liqueurs and malts. The bar serves food and is popular for watching sporting events on the large plasma TV. The hotel has a complete leisure centre with a 17-metre pool, sauna, steam room and gym.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/hotels//silver-tassie-hotel-spa-l698.htmlThe Silver Tassie is a 3-star hotel that has long been a favorite with the locals who flock to the popular restaurant and pub on the premises. Overlooking Lough Swilly about 2 miles north of town, this country house-style hotel offers 36 guest rooms outfitted with all the modern comforts. It's a convenient place to stay if you'd like to meet and mix with the locals or if you are heading out to the Glenveagh National Park or toward the upper Donegal peninsulas. https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/accommodation/hotels//station-house-hotel-l60.htmlSet on the edge of town on the banks of the River Swilly overlooking the Oldtown Bridge, the modern 4-story Station House Hotel provides basic quality rooms at budget prices. Although it faces a busy commercial road, it is an easy walk to the main street. There are 81 guest rooms, each with two double or twin beds, 20” flat-screen TV, hairdryer, coffee/tea-maker, and broadband access. Public areas include the Depot Café/Bar, and an ice machine, with ample parking outside.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/places-to-visit/visitor-attractions//the-colmcille-heritage-centre-l224.htmlThe Colmcille Heritage Centre is located at a beautiful lakeside site 10 miles outside Letterkenny, County Donegal. The centre aims to provide visitors with an insight into of a period in Irish and European history at the end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the medieval period. During the era of St. Colmcille, pagan tribes from the east were becoming well established throughout Europe and Christianity was prevailing again by a resurgent Irish church. Saint Colmcille was the pre-eminent figure in this period, not just in Ireland but in all of Christendom. The Colmcille Heritage Centre tells the story with beautifully reproduced artefacts and exhibitions. There are also minor displays of artwork from local artists along with an audio visual display. Lunch is available if booked in advance. A tearoom, coach parking and toilets are also on site. See The Colmcille Heritage Centre website for opening times and facilities.https://www.irelandnorthwest.ie/places-to-visit/visitor-attractions//tropical-world-butterfly-house-mini-zoo-l381.htmlTropical World at Alcorn’s flower and garden centre includes a Butterfly House and Mini Zoo. See stunning butterflies in free flight, a reptile display area and exotic aviaries with over 200 beautiful birds. Meet the meerkats, coatimundi and owls as well as new additions such as the lemurs, cotton-top monkeys and giant tortoise. Tropical World offers a great all weather day out for all the family which will excite and delight all ages.