Tourist Guide for Students Donegal

Tourist Guide
for Students
Donegal
Comenius 2009-11
There is lots to do!
Es gibt viel zu tun…
Hay muchas cosas que hacer!
Tá go leor le deanamh...
The Irish Students:
Christine Hay, Ciaran Carr, Laura McConigley,
Niamh Sheridan, Aaron Dougherty, Charlotte
Herraghty, Patrick Blaney, Celia Friel, Stephanie
Buntain, Sinead Callaghan, Eimear Grier, Ross
Conaghan, Eoin Ferry, Tanya McCahill, Zara
O’Sullivan, Daniel Gardiner, Alice Murray, Claire
Simms, Brian McBride.
Dear tourist,
This brochure was made by the students of Loreto
Community School, Milford, who are involved in the
Comenius Project 2009-11. We hope that this guide will
help our friends in the partnership countries of Germany,
Spain, Denmark and Slovenia to appreciate our area better.
This guide is for all young tourists to find their way around
our area here in Donegal, Ireland. Milford and the
surrounding areas of Downings, Fanad, Rathmullan and
Letterkenny offer a wide variety of activities for you to enjoy.
From historic sightseeing to a lively nightlife…
It’s all here in Donegal!
Contents
1: Places to visit
2: Attractions
3: Do’s and Don’ts
4: Festivals
5: Map of Donegal
6: Useful phrases
7: Shopping
8: Recipes
9. Gaelic Athletic Association
10. What to bring
11. Personal notes
1: Places to visit
Glenveagh National Park
Glenveagh National Park lies in the heart of
the Derryveagh Mountains in the north-west
of Co. Donegal. It is a beautiful wilderness of
mountains and lakes.
Glenveagh National Park is located 24km
north-west of
Letterkenny and can be reached via the
villages of Kilmacrennan
or Churchill. www.glenveaghnationalpark.ie
Ards Forest Park
Situated between Creeslough and
Dunfanaghy, Ards Forest Park is probably
the most beautiful and certainly the most
varied of Ireland's forest parks. It contains a
large diversity of plant and wildlife forms.
Sandy beaches, rivers, viewing points,
nature walks, picnic and play areas. Ards
Forest Park has many features of historical
and archaeological interest. The remains of
four ring forts are to be seen in the park as
well as a number of megalithic tombs.
Telephone: +353 (0)74 912 1139
Email: micheal.mcfadden@coillte.ie
Address: Sheephaven Bay, Creeslough, Co Donegal.
Árainn Mhór
Árainn Mhór is in a
Gaeltacht (Irish speaking area) in the
Republic of Ireland, about three miles
from the Donegal mainland.
Why not pay a visit to Árainn Mhór to enjoy a
place apart. The ferry runs all year from
Burtonport making day trips a must and
longer visits a well-deserved treat. See the
beautiful and natural landscape!
Gaelic culture, quiet country roads with wildlife, turf fires and lively
pubs. There are also opportunities to admire and purchase the local
crafts, including Aran Hand-knits.
The boat trip to Árainn Mhór takes about 20 minutes and there is a
year-round service to this Island. Lovely walks near the cliffs North and
West, present magnificent views on all sides. There are several small
lakes with Lough Shore providing rainbow trout. The island's annual
festival begins in August.
The accommodation section has something to suit all budgets and you
can be sure of a warm welcome during your stay.
www.arainnmhor.com
Water World
Bundoran
Water world Bundoran is on the seafront in
Bundoran town. A fun filled day for all the family
is guaranteed here. Features include a wave
pool, two speed rapids, a slide pool with the
Tornado Flume, a Whizzer Slide, a Twister
Flume, a sauna and steam room for parents
and Neptune's Snack Bar & Shop.
Water world Bundoran is a seasonal facility.
Phone: 071 98 41172
Web: www.waterworldbundoran.com
2. Attractions
Century Cinemas, Letterkenny
Century Cinemas is one of Ireland’s best
movie houses. A fantastic 8 screen complex
based in the heart of Letterkenny, Co.
Donegal.
Tel: +353 (0) 74 91 21976 24
Web: www.centurycinemas.ie
Aura Leisure Centre
Aura Letterkenny Leisure Complex
offers excellent and state of the art
facilities for health and fitness. Aura
Letterkenny’s selection of exercise
equipment ensures a maximum
range of fitness and health facilities
for all our members.
Tel: 0749 106 422
Web: www.auraleisure.ie/letterkenny
Night Life
There is a wide variety of nightclubs in Donegal. You must
be 18 years old before you can go to the clubs but there
are some teenage disco’s here too…
3. Do’s and Don’ts
4. Music Festivals
RORY GALLAGHER
INTERNATIONAL TRIBUTE
FESTIVAL
Rory Gallagher statue
in
Ballyshannon
Every year in the coastal town of
Ballyshannon, musicians from all
over the world gather to play at
the Rory Gallagher International
Tribute Festival. The Festival has
drawn such world class acts as
Eric Bell, Pat McManus as well
other local musicians.
The Festival always happens on
the first weekend of June and is
a great celebration
ofSESSIONS
the life of BUNDORAN
SEA
one of the greatest guitar players
that Sea
everSessions
lived. Festival in Bundoran is
The
Europe’s best surf, skate and music festival. It is
www.goingtomyhometown.com
based on Rossnowlagh beach in Bundoran and
generally runs on the last weekend in June. This
year acts such as Grandmaster Flash and Ziggy
Marley have been
confirmed as headliners along with Irish bands
like Bell X-1 and Fred also headlining.
www.seasessions.com
THE EARAGAIL ARTS
FESTIVAL
The Earagail Arts Festival, now in its
23rd year, celebrates and creates a
high profile platform for the
contemporary and the traditional arts
in County Donegal.
The Festival runs from the 9th until the
24th of July.
www.eaf.ie
Divine Comedy on stage
during the Earagail Arts
festival
Milford
5. Map of Donegal
Hiking in
Downings
Relax on
Portsalon
Beach!
Golfing
In
Dunfanaghy
A picnic
In Rathmullan
Visit
the Lough
Swilly
Take a
Walk in
Glenveagh
Shopping
In Letterkenny
English
6. Useful Phrases
Irish/Gaeilge
7. Shopping
The Courtyard
The Courtyard
Usual Opening Hours:
Shopping Centre
 Monday : 9.15am - 6pm
opened on the 21st
 Tuesday : 9.15am - 6pm
 Wednesday : 9.15am - 6pm of October 1993 and
 Thursday : 9.15am - 8pm has become the heart
of shopping in Letterkenny.
 Friday : 9.15am - 8pm
The centre supports local
 Saturday : 9.15am - 6pm
groups, local initiatives and
 Sunday : 1pm - 6pm
charity events and is actively
involved with promotions
and sponsorship.
Letterkenny Shopping Centre
 Monday : 9.00am – 6.00pm
 Tuesday : 9.00am – 6.00pm
 Wednesday : 9.00am – 6.00pm
 Thursday : 9.00am – 6.00pm
 Friday : 9.00am – 6.00pm
 Saturday : 12.00 – 6.00pm
 Sunday : 12.00 – 6.00pm
Letterkenny Shopping Centre is the
largest shopping centre in County
Donegal and was the first of several
such complexes in
Letterkenny itself.
The Shopping Centre has over 36
stores and more than 660 car parking
spaces.
8. Recipes
Irish Stew:
Ingredients:
 1-1½ kg neck or shoulder of lamb
 Bouquet of parsley, thyme and bay leaf
(tied together with twine)
 3 large onions, finely chopped
 Salt and freshly ground black pepper
 3-4 carrots, chopped into bite-sized pieces
 1 small turnip, chopped into bite-sized pieces
 Some small new potatoes, peeled and quartered,
or large potatoes, peeled and chopped
 75-100g cabbage, shredded
Finely chopped parsley and dash of Worcester Sauce
To Cook:
Remove the meat from the bone, trim off all the fat and cut into
cubes. Keep the bones, place the meat in a pot, and cover
with cold salted water. Bring to the boil, drain and rinse the lamb.
In a fresh pot put the meat, bones, bouquet of herbs, onions,
seasoning, carrots, leeks and turnip and cover with water.
Simmer gently for one hour. Skim off the foam as it rises.
(This is very important for the final flavour and appearance of the
stew.) Add the potatoes and continue cooking for 25 minutes.
For the last 5 minutes add in the cabbage. When the meat and
vegetables are cooked remove the bones and bouquet for herbs.
Stir in the chopped parsley and a dash of Worcester sauce.
Serve in deep bowls with soda bread.
Barmbrack
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups brewed black tea,
cold
1 cup packed light brown
sugar
1 1/4 cups golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped candied
citron
1 1/4 cups self-rising flour
 1 egg, beaten








Directions:
1. Put the tea, sugar, raisins and peel into a bowl, cover and leave to
soak overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour
an 8 inch round pan.
3. Sift the flour into the fruit mixture, add the egg and beat well.
4. Pour into the cake pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
for 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into centre of
cake comes out clean. Leave in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out
onto a wire rack.
9. Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association /
Cumann Lúthchleas Gael is a 32 county
sporting and cultural organisation that
has a presence on all five continents.
It is a volunteer led, community based
organisation that promotes the games of
Hurling and Gaelic football. They also
promote ladies football, camogie, handball
and rounders. The Association has its
headquarters at Croke Park in Dublin where
it has been based since 1908. The stadium,
which was redeveloped between 1993 and
2003, has a capacity of 82,300 and hosts
some of the highest profile events in the
Irish sporting calendar. There are 2,300 plus
GAA clubs in Ireland at
present.
Our county team, Donegal.
Our Local Teams
Milford GAA
Termon GAA
Fanad Gaels v.
Aodh Rua
10. What to bring
The weather here can be very
unpredictable so come prepared for
lots of rain and wind!
Remember your camera to take pictures of
the beautiful scenery!
Of course you must take this booklet in case
you get lost!
We sometimes have hot summer days
so take your sunglasses and sun cream too!
Personal Notes
Personal Notes
This project is financed by the European
Commission under the Lifelong Learning
Programme. The content of this publication is
the sole responsibility of the publisher and the
European Commission is not liable for any use
that may be made of the information.
Edited by: Christine Hay, Laura
McConigley, Ciaran Carr, Roisin
McLaughlin and Aaron Dougherty.