A Quaint Little Irish Town - Donegal Town? - Day 4

 

Sometimes blessings come when you least suspect them. My blessing today was a 2-hr layover in Donegal Town, Ireland. I hopped off the bus and began wandering through town. This quaint little Irish town of 2,600 people oozed Irish charm, scenery, and historic monuments. The River Eske flows along the north and west parts of town, serving as a natural moat for Donegal Castle (pictured below, just tight of the Church of Ireland).

Donegal Castle was built by Red Hugh O'Donnel in 1474. In 1566 an English Viceroy described it as the strongest, largest, and the greatest he'd ever seen built by Irish hands. For 5 euros I had the opportunity to tour the castle. I made my way through the courtyard with my pack on my back, and self-guided laminated sheet in hand. The castle has been beautifully restored and was quite a site to see. 

The most stunning part of the tour was the fireplace in the banquet hall on the second floor. Original to the castle, stands an amazing piece of sculpture. Carved from rock, the fireplace dominates the room and is exquisitely carved. I am humbled to think 1) this was built in the 1400's, and 2) that it stands on the second floor of this building.

Donegal Town wasn't done revealing it's charm yet. I continued to wander through the town center. A diamond shaped courtyard is the center of town and serves an elongated roundabout. I trusted my feet, and let myself wander west where the River Eske runs into Donegal Bay. There I was greeted by the an unexpected beauty, the ruins of Donegal Franciscan Friary. The picture below overlooks the friary and Donegal Bay. The Friary has an interesting history, you can see additional pictures and learn more here Friary History

I've always had a admiration for old cemeteries. I find the headstones and the weathering of them to be quite stunning. I'm especially found of cemeteries that are platted on hillsides. I believe doing so adds depth and lends to their charm. I enjoyed the stroll through Friary a great deal, though I was surprised to find that several headstones were as recent as the 1980s. I would not have guessed this to the case, stunning nonetheless.