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County Donegal
is perched on the north western seaboard of Ireland, exposed
to the Atlantic Ocean with a stunning coastline of golden beaches,
dramatic cliffs and windswept peninsulas. Covering an area of
1,876 square miles, County Donegal is home to over 129,000 residents.
Inland County
Donegal has some of Ireland's most beautiful and unspoiled terrain
of majestic mountains, clear lakes and ancient boglands. Visitors
to Donegal can enjoy the wild beauty of the Derryveagh Mountains,
the magnificent Glenveagh National Park, excellent angling and
salmon fishing and first class golf.
Derived from the Irish name ' Dun na nGall', meaning the fort
of foreigners, Donegal has some of Ireland's oldest and most
fascinating ancient sites including the round fort of An Grianan
Aileach and the stones of Kilcooney Dolmen. Traditional Irish
culture can be found in the Gaeltacht area of Donegal on the
west coast from Fanad Head to Slieve League where Gaelic is
the first language. Donegal retains a rich Irish culture with
an abundance of craft producers throughout the county.
Towns in County Donegal
Lifford is the county capital of Donegal and home to Donegal
County Council. Other principle townships are Letterkenny, Donegal,
Ballybofey, Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Bundoran, Carndonagh and
Dungloe
Please see the town guides for further information.
Business
Information
Donegal is the most important sea fishing county in Ireland.
25% of the national catch comes through the port of Killybegs.
County Donegal has also developed a successful aquaculture industry
both in the fin fish and shellfish areas. Agriculture is still
the largest employer in the county. Sheep and cattle farming
are to be found across the county. Cultivated land produces
crops of barley, oats and potatoes. Renowned for its textile
industry, County Donegal has retained select production of fine
tweed , linen and woolens. More recent manufacturing developments
in Donegal include medical and healthcare products, engineering
and food production. Some overseas companies to make Donegal
their home include Abbott (Ireland) Ltd, Unifi Textured Yarns
and Interventional Technologies, all from the US.
| Helpful contact details for business enquiries |
Donegal County Council |
Tel: (353) 074 72222 |
| Donegal
County Enterprise Board |
Tel: (353) 074 72351 |
| Enterprise
Ireland Regional Office |
Tel: (353) 074 21155 |
| IDA
Ireland Regional Office |
Tel: (353) 074 21313 |
| Donegal
Local Development Co |
Tel: (353) 074 27056 |
| MSG
- Gaeltacht funding and development |
Tel:
(353) 075 32017 |
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| Sources of finance applicable to business start
up, development and acquisition, and related agencies, are as
follows |
Credit Unions: |
Tel: (353) (0)1 490 8911 |
| National Irish Bank: |
Tel: (353) (0)1
678 5066 |
| Ulster Bank (Small Business Unit): |
Tel: (353) (0)1
677 7623 |
| Bank of Ireland Enterprise Support Unit: |
contact any
branch |
| Smurfit Job Creation Enterprise Fund |
Tel: (353) (0)1 478
4091 |
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The Dept. of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment:
TEL: (353) (0) 1 661
4444; www.irlgov.ie/entemp has extensive and
very helpful advice on all aspects of business and employment
in Ireland, including a business start up information pack
which is superbly put together and includes everything from
planning, funding, locating, employing people and development
businesses. |
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| Travel (see also town
guides) |
Donegal
is only 50 minutes to Dublin by plane from Donegal Airport.
Flights operate daily. Within Ireland, County Donegal is accessible
by main roads directly from Dublin and Galway with links across
Northern Ireland to Belfast. Bus Eireann operate a range of
services throughout the county from the Expressway, town-to-town
route to the Provincial Bus into rural Donegal. Cross channel
seaports nearest to County Donegal are Larne and Dublin.
| Tourism, Leisure
and Accommodation |
| Please see
town guides |
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Images
supplied by Insight. Photographer
Peter Zöller 
