Places to see in ( Strabane - UK )
Places to see in ( Strabane - UK )
Strabane, historically spelt Straban, is a town in West Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It was the headquarters of the former Strabane District Council. Strabane has a population of around 18,000, which is predominantly nationalist.
It is the second-largest town in Tyrone, after Omagh. It lies on the east bank of the River Foyle and is roughly equidistant from Omagh, Derry City and Letterkenny. The River Foyle marks the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. On the other side of the river (across Lifford Bridge) is the smaller town of Lifford, which is the county town of County Donegal. The Mourne flows through the centre of the town, and meets the Finn to form the Foyle River.
In the 20th century, Strabane garnered the dubious distinction of the highest unemployment rate in the Industrial World, during the height of The Troubles. It is one of the most economically deprived towns in the United Kingdom. Huge economic damage occurred in 1987 when much of the town centre flooded.
The Irish gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway (L&ER) reached Strabane in 1847, The Finn Valley Railway (FV) opened from Strabane to Stranorlar in 1863.[10][12] The FV was originally Irish gauge but in 1892 it merged with the 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge West Donegal Railway (WD) to form the Donegal Railway.
In 1792, the 4 miles (6.4 km) Strabane Canal was built from the tidal waters of Lough Foyle at Leck, to Strabane. It fell into disuse in 1962. In June 2006 the Strabane Lifford Development Commission awarded a £1.3m cross-border waterways restoration contract. The project was launched by President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, in Lifford and involves the restoration of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of canal and two locks to working order.
The National Trust owns a Strabane shop in which John Dunlap learnt the printing trade. Dunlap went on to print the United States Declaration of Independence. The house has been visited by several famous people, including former US President Bill Clinton. It is located at the end of the Main Street.Which is now a classic cafe.
Dergalt, the ancestral home of Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States, is near Strabane. Strabane is twinned with Zeulenroda-Triebes in the state of Thuringia, Germany.
( Strabane - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Strabane . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Strabane - UK
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Letterkenny; The Cathedral Town - County Donegal Ireland
Letterkenny is a town in County Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland. Its a nice town with some great restaurants and plenty of historic sites to see in Donegal County. Its a good stop off point or place to book a Hotel to see the rest of the area. We had a great day in the town and visited it many times for weekends and days out.
Letterkenny is considered the most populous city in county Donegal as well as being the largest, it lies on River Swilly in east Donegal and it is closest to the city of Derry, which both are considered a regional economic gateway.
Looking back at the history of Letterkenny town, we will find that it started back as a market town in the 17th century during the Plantation of Ulster. Letterkenny was the original home of Oatfield Sweet Factory, the confectionery manufacturer, but it was closed and the building was knocked down in 2014. There are several things to be visited in Letterkenny that include restaurants, historical places, and the cathedral.
One of the top visited places in Letterkenny is St. Eunan's Cathedral which is also sometimes referred to as Cathedral of St. Columba. We have been to this cathedral before and walked all around and inside it to discover its beauty. One of the interesting things that we managed to discover is that this cathedral could be seen from all the different directions of the city when one is approaching it (
Most of those notable buildings that are found in Letterkenny were built back in the early 1850's and sometimes even earlier - the tallest of these buildings is St. Eunan's Cathedral, but the completion of this building was done in 1901. One of the other significant buildings that are located in Letterkenny is St. Eunan's College which is a three-storey castelated structure with four round towers at each corner of the building, this was constructed in the Edwardian version of the neo-Hiberno-Romanesque style.
From the other famous places that are found in Letterkenny is the Market Square and there are some other significant buildings which could be found in Mount Southwell Terrace there, just off Castle Street. Donegal County Museum is also located in Letterkenny town on the High Road, it was built back in 1843 in the neo-Tudor style and is also considered one of the old buildings that one have to check while being in Letterkenny for the history that it carries in its look.
Recently, there were different new style buildings which were built in Letterkenny, but we all have to agree that some of these buildings are also notable and are designed in a different kind of way. These buildings include the new Letterkeny Town Council Offices which is locally known as The Grasshouse.
In every town or city you tend to visit, you will always find what might interest you and since we visited Letterkenny before, we have to say that these were from the notable things and buildings which we loved passing by and found how different they appeared to be.
There are some places to visit while being in Letterkenny, such as having a walk by the River Swilly and of course visiting the famous St. Eunan's and St. Columba Cathedral, and then you will have to pass by the Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre, Donegal County Museum, Newmills Corn and Flax Mills, Letterkenny Town Park, Ballymacool Town Park, and you could also pass by the Century Cinemas if you have the time to do so.
Moving a little bit further, there are other things that could be done in county Donegal, some of them are close to Letterkenny which you could visit during the same day and some could be postponed to later day trips you might go for. One of the top suggestions for the places to visit in county Donegal is Grianan of Alieach which is a beautiful stone fort ringfort ( or else visiting Donegal city itself and getting to check the attractions that are found in it (
People are always different and who might be more in love with visiting museums and checking churches from the inside will not be the same as those who might be more interested with the idea of checking the old buildings of the city, walking in the streets, and walking by the river if there is one which the city lies on - in Letterkenny all these choices are available, making it possible for all the types of people to do any of these things.
If you are considering a new place or town to visit in Ireland then Letterkenny in county Donegal is one of the different options that you have where there are different things that could be done and different places that could be visited, we definitely recommend it - there are also some hotels there if you are considering the idea of staying there for a day or two and even trying their restaurants.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Donegal, Ireland Travel
Donegal, Ireland Travel - Donegal, is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as stronghold of the foreigners (i.e. the Vikings).
Donegal gave its name to County Donegal, although Lifford is the county town. Tír Chonaill, a túath controlled by the Cenél Conaill. Donegal town sits at the mouth of the River Eske and Donegal Bay, which is overshadowed by the Bluestack Mountains. The town is bypassed by the N15 and N56 roads. The centre of the town, known locally as the Diamond, is a hub for music, poetic and cultural gatherings in the area. ( source Wikipedia )
Enjoy Your Donegal, Ireland Travel!
Donegal - Ireland
Donegal, is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as stronghold of the foreigners (i.e. the Vikings).
Donegal gave its name to County Donegal, although Lifford is the county town. Tír Chonaill, a túath controlled by the Cenél Conaill. Donegal town sits at the mouth of the River Eske and Donegal Bay, which is overshadowed by the Bluestack Mountains. The town is bypassed by the N15 and N56 roads. The centre of the town, known locally as the Diamond, is a hub for music, poetic and cultural gatherings in the area. ( source Wikipedia )
Derry Londonderry-An Amazing View of the Maiden City-Everyone should visit Derry and walk the walls.
Check out Derry now in this short video, see what Derry daily life is like. Derry is the 2nd city of Northern Ireland, it is situated in the UK, but on the Island of Ireland. It is often called the Maiden City or the Walled City in Northern Ireland.
Sometimes it is referred to as Derry and in other cases it is called Londonderry and this has been the subject of a name dispute between Irish nationalists and unionists; nationalists are the ones to call it Derry while unionists are those who refer to it as Londonderry. When it comes to the legal side, it is known as Londonderry.
It is not about the name of the city but it is about the things to do there and the places to visit in it. Our journey in this beautiful city started with Londonderry Courthouse which is one of the old buildings that are found in the city and which you will at some point pass by.
Austins was the second place to pass by in Derry/Londonderry. Austins is the world's oldest independent department store that was established back in 1830 by Thomas Austin and it has been working since that time until today. It is not just for the sake of shopping, but this old building is another reason why one will come to it and know more about the history of its foundation.
Among the other touristic attractions of this city in Northern Ireland, we came to the Bishop's Gate which was built at the suggestion of Bishop Hervey in 1789 to celebrate the centenary of the siege. Bishop's Gate will take you to Bishop's street and there you could have a stroll down doing nothing specific (
Among the list of places which we visited in Londonderry, we have been to The Craft Village. The Craft Village is the reconstruction of an 18th century street and 19th century square that provide an eclectic mix of artisan craft shops, balconied apartments and different restaurants and coffee shops which one could sit it and enjoy their time. We have walked across this village and loved every detail related to it and we would suggest it for those who will be visiting Derry anytime soon and there you will also find souvenir gifts to take back home to your friends and family.
Moving forward with our trip, we visited the Guildhall and Square which is another touristic attraction for people to visit while being in Derry. The Guildhall in Derry is an old building that is standing there from 1890 and it is the building in which the elected members of Derry and Strabane District Council meet. The old 17th century Guildhall was first located in the Diamond area of the Walled City but this building was then destroyed by fire and the new building was assigned to be built in a city square. In addition to the social and political meetings which are held in the Guildhall, this is also the place where the Feis Doire Colmcille - an event which celebrates Irish culture - is held. Guildhall Square which is just in front of the building is the main city square in Derry - Londonderry and is also the place where different important and beneficial events are usually held (
One of the other things that people tend to check while they are in Derry/Londonderry is the Peace Bridge. Peace Bridge was opened back in 2011 by Johannes Hahn and it is both a cycle and foot bridge that crosses over River Foyle. The aim of the bridge was to connect Ebrington Square to the rest of the city centre, and that what happened eventually with this bridge that is one of the newest three to be found in Derry (
The last stop in this video around the city of Derry in Northern Ireland is Shipquay Gate which is one of the original four city gates dating back from 1805. It is interesting to come across those different old gates which stand from the history until today but which will bring you to the modern world that you are living in - they give the city a different kind of atmosphere.
These are the places we passed by in Derry/Londonderry, but if you are searching for something more then you could check the rest of the gates found there and you could also consider visiting St. Columb's Park which is one of the most famous to be found in Derry/ Londonderry (
Back in 1613, the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I and gained the London prefix to reflect the funding of its construction by the London guilds and from that time the legal name has been Londonderry although some people refer to it as Derry.
Derry tourism is growing in recent years - and there is plenty now to do in Derry on a night out. The city itself is a great walk with many historic points especially the walls that surround the city. Doire as it is called in Gaelic - is well worth a visit by any tourist
Derry Londonderry-An Amazing View of the Maiden City-Everyone should visit Derry and walk the walls.
Letterkenny County Donegal
Letterkenny County Donegal
Letterkenny is County Donegal's largest town and is centrally located for touring the major attractions of the northwest. The town has a buzzing nightlife and offers great historical and recreational opportunities for visitors to the area.
Poised at the mouth of the deep and lovely Lough Swilly, the town grew in the 17th century from a small fishing village to a prosperous town in Donegal and the Ecclesiastical Seat for the Diocese of Raphoe.
Letterkennys name come from the Irish Leitir Ceannain meaning Hillside of the OCanainn clan, the earliest recorded overlords of this Swilly region. Letterkenny is now a busy working town but with all the major amenities needed to allow visitors enjoy a holiday to remember.
Magilligan Point - County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Lough Foyle Ferry sailing point - Magilligan point has its own history and is a great viewing point across Lough Foyle. It is part of the British army firing range and part of nature reserve - also is close to Magilligan Prison. From the area/beach - there are great views across to Moville and Greencastle. Well worth a stop - as part of the Causeway Coastal Route.
Magilligan point is a peninsula that lies in the northwest of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, at the entrance of Lough Foyle. The name Magilligan comes from MacGilligans country which formed a major part of the barony of Keenaght and is situated within Causeway Coast and Glens district (
The Magilligan Point guards the mouth of Lough Foyle and is also home to Lough Foyle Ferry and Martello Tower which has been beautifully restored but is actually locked. Heading to this place means that you are willing to have a short walk by the beach in order to enjoy the good weather - according to when you are visiting :-) - or else to spot the bird and sea life.
The most interesting thing about visiting Magilligan Point in Northern Ireland is considered the tower which - according to history - is believed to be built in order to stop the French invasion, and thus one of the main reasons why tourists tend to come to this place is actually to see that tower.
Martello towers, which are also referred to as Martellos - are those small defensive forts built back across the British Empire in the 19th century and most of them were coastal forts. The reason why they are believed to be built in order to stop the French invasion is the fact that when they were built, it was the time of the French Revolutionary Wars. The way these towers were built back in time, helped with invasions due to their strong structures and the way they were built, but now most of them are considered historical monuments and attractions that people visit in order to enjoy what the old people used to build and were good at.
Visiting the Magilligan Point needs a plan - or an advice - which will get you through this trip happy and safe. First of all, be assured that food and drink are found there and that you could easily find a bar there to serve you with what you want - toilets are there too! At the beginning of the trip, you will park where it is adjacent to the boundary of Magilligan Nature Reserve. After you park and get inside through the kissing gate, you will view the Martello tower straight ahead. Access inside the military firing range is restricted, so all what you will be doing there is walking around the place and viewing the tower from the outside - maybe taking a couple of pictures of the place as well.
Magilligan Point is considered an important attraction in Northern Ireland for the Martello Tower mainly, but let's all agree that visiting the place in general is a different kind of experience which is not the same like all those other historical spots that one visits in Northern Ireland.
Londonderry, where Magilligan Point is situated in Northern Ireland, is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth city in the island of Ireland - which is also known and referred to as Derry. This city gained the London prefix after it was granted a Royal Charter by King James I to reflect the funding of its construction by the London guilds. Londonderry is close to the border with County Donegal (
Visiting the Magilligan Point means that you are going to be in Londonderry - or Derry - and this also brings us to the point where we should mention some of the other attractions of this city and some of the landmarks which one should visit and come across. From those which we suggest to the people visiting Londonderry anytime soon for the Magilligan Point, one could enjoy the walls of the city since Londonderry is considered the only walled city in Ireland, going to the Tower Museum which carries different shipwrecks inside, passing by the Guildhall which is the most famous building in the city ( seeing the city from the Peace Bridge ( coming into St. Columb's Cathedral, or else enjoying other general things like a traditional experience, getting to know more about the village, or else attending an open-air art or even attending the Halloween in the city (
Northern Ireland is a magical place where one could move from one city to the other and still manage to come across different places to visit from which one will also learn about lots of new things related to history (
Have you ever been to Londonderry? Have you ever visited Magilligan Point and seen the Martello Tower? Share with us your experience in Londonderry city and tell us more about the places you have visited and enjoyed there.
Donegal 2012 Chapter 5
Here we visoted the Donegal castle which was our last day of our trip to Donegal.
A quick visit before we made our way into Northern Ireland and back down to Dublin.
Donegal Castel was great, full of lots of history and royal emblems.
This video is 5 of 5. I hope you enjoy what you see and thank you for watching.
Looking forward to the next trip which will be to ............
you'll need keep an eye out for updates. I'm not giving anything away :)
Donegal Town: an aerial view
Shot on the Dji phantom 3 standard.
Ballybofey, County Donegal
The twin towns of Ballybofey/Stranorlar lie on either side of the River Finn. These towns are the market centres for the fertile Finn Valley and the gateway to the wild and beautiful Glenfin. The River Finn is popular with anglers, as it is rich in freshwater fish. Near Stranorlar lie the ruins of Drumboe Castle, built in Elizabethan times, and Drumboe Woods, now a place for pleasant walks but a scene of tragedy during the Civil War.
Isaac Butt, the leader of Irish nationalism before Parnell, was born not far from Ballybofey, and after he died in 1879 was buried in the Church of Ireland graveyard in Stranorlar.
Ballybofey and Stranorlar are a haven for the visiting angler as the River Finn, and its main tributary the Reelin River, is renowned for the quality of their salmon fishing. The Finn, a tributary of the Foyle system, is a prolific run of both spring salmon and summer grilse. Large numbers of anglers are attracted to the area every season in search of, 'Salmon the Leaper'. Fishing on the rivers is comparatively inexpensive and information on availability of permits. Licenses etc can be obtained from the local Glenmore Estate, and the Ballybofey and Stranorlar Anglers or the Cloghan Fishery.