Donegal Castle

Donegal, Ireland, Ireland

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Donegal Castle is a historic fortress in the heart of Donegal Town, County Donegal, overlooking the River Eske. Built in the late 15th century by the powerful O'Donnell clan, one of Ireland’s leading Gaelic families, it served as their stronghold and was considered one of the finest Gaelic castles in the country. After the Flight of the Earls in the early 17th century, the castle passed into English ownership and was extensively modified by Captain Basil Brooke, who added elegant Jacobean-style features and a manor-house wing. Although the castle later fell into ruin, it was carefully restored in the 1990s and is now open to visitors. Today, it offers a fascinating glimpse into both Gaelic and Jacobean architecture, making it one of Donegal’s most important and attractive heritage sites.