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Letterkenny Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Town and Country Homes are pleased to offer a selection of quality approved Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Letterkenny and all of County Donegal. Our B&B's are all approved and value for money accommodation providers. After a day exploring County Donegal or shopping in Letterkenny, our B&B hosts can assure you of a warm welcome and a relaxing stay. Whether you wish to stay in a town or in the country, we have a Bed and Breakfast to suit you in Letterkenny, County Donegal.
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Letterkenny, County Donegal
Letterkenny (Irish: Leitir Ceanainn) is the largest town in County Donegal, an Ulster county in the Republic of Ireland. It is located on the River Swilly. Despite its size, Letterkenny is not the County Town (administrative centre) of County Donegal. This function is fulfilled by Lifford, a small town to the east. Letterkenny dominates the economy of County Donegal, Ulster's largest county. The town is considered to be one of the fastest growing towns in all of Ireland. Letterkenny and the nearby City of Derry form the major economic core of North-West Ireland.
It has been said that the town's Main Street is one of the longest in Ireland. The town was voted "Best Kept Urban Centre" in the 2007 "Best Kept Town Awards" and "Tidiest Large Urban Centre" in the 2007 Tidy Towns competition.
Letterkenny began as a market town in the 17th century (before the Great Famine) and was the first crossing point of the River Swilly. In the recent past the population of Letterkenny consisted of cattle and sheep grazing on what were then untilled hillside - when Conwall (3 km west of Letterkenny) was the ecclesiastical and seaport centre. The waters of the Atlantic had not yet retreated from the basin of the Swilly whose estuary at that time extended up almost as far as New Mills - proof of this may be found in those alluvial flat-lands between Oldtown and Port Road.
Rory O'Cannon, the last chieftain of the O'Cannon clan was killed in 1248. Godfrey O'Donnell succeeded Rory O'Cannon as King of Tír Conaill. He engaged Maurice Fitzgerald, the Norman Lord, in battle at Credan in the north of what is now County Sligo in 1257 in which both were badly wounded - Fitzgerald immediately fatally so. Godfrey (also dying from his wounds) retired to a crannóg in Lough Beag (Gartan Lake). O'Neill of Tyrone - taking advantage of Godfrey's fatal illness - demanded submission, hostages and pledges from the Cenél Conaill since they had no strong chieftain since the wounding of Godfrey. Godfrey summoned his forces and led them himself, although he had to be carried on a litter (stretcher). O'Neill and his men were completely defeated by the Swilly in 1258. Godfrey died however after the battle as he was being carried through the town. He was buried in Conwall Cemetery. A cross-shaped coffin slab marks his grave to this day.
The receding of the waters of the Atlantic eastwards enabled progress, and with the building of bridges etc, the town of Letterkenny started to take the shape it has today. In the wake of the Plantation of Ulster (which began around 1609), when a 4 km² (1,000 acres) was granted to a Scotsman Patrick Crawford, the compact community formed. Book a B&B in Letterkenny online for best rates and availability.
The honour of formally launching the town fell to Sir George Marbury who married Patrick Crawford's widow - Crawford having died suddenly while on a return visit to his native Scotland. Initially there were possibly fifty simple habitations sited where the Oldtown is situated today.The main streets, though now suffering traffic congestion, were simple pony tracks used by the hill farmers to come to the markets. The markets - started by Patrick Crawford with only a few animals - grew into much busier mart days of the recent past which are sadly not present today.
An ancient castle once stood near where St. Eunan's Cathedral stands today. Letterkenny Castle, built in 1625, was located south of Mount Southwell on Castle Street. Outlaw Redmond O' Hanlon found refuge there in 1690. No remains of the castle exist today.
During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, on 12 October, a large French force consisting of 3,000 men, and including Wolfe Tone attempted to land in County Donegal near Lough Swilly. They were intercepted by a large British Royal Navy force, and finally surrendered after a three hour battle without ever landing in Ireland. After Wolfe Tone was captured he was held for a short time at Laird's Hotel (opposite the Market Square) in the Main St. of Letterkenny before being transferred to the nearby Derry Gaol. He was later tried by court-martial in Dublin and found guilty.
In 1824, when the first description of Letterkenny as a modern town was written, it was stated that: "Within half a mile is the Port of Ballyraine, whither vessels of 100 tons bring iron, salt and colonial produce and whence they export hides and butter". Nothing remains now except the warehouses with the example of 19th century warehouse architecture. Bed and Breakfasts in Letterkenny are all quality approved homes.
Letterkenny achieved town status in the early 1920s following the partition of Ireland. When the Irish punt replaced the British Pound Sterling in Co. Donegal in 1928, many Irish banks that had been previously located in Derry (in Northern Ireland) opened branches in Letterkenny.
Festivals
The town proved it had the capacity to host major festivals by recently playing host to the annual Irish traditional music festival, the Fleadh Cheoil for two consecutive years. Both festivals were organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. The town has also hosted the international Pan Celtic Festival for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007). Celts from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall visited Letterkenny for the "craic agus ceoil". Along with the daily street performances on Market Square, An Grianán Theatre and The Courtyard Shopping Centre, song, fiddle, harp and dance contests also featured.
Social
The town is a popular nightlife location for the local catchment area - especially at the weekends and particularly for visitors from Derry City and from across the rest of Ulster. The Main Street, originally the retail centre of the town, has become a centre for popular night clubs and pubs, boosted by the great selection of shops. The Grill Music Venue is a popular nighclub which regularly plays host to acts such as Shane McGowan, Ash, Hot Chip, Dirty Sanchez, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Paul Van Dyk and Judge Jules. Club Voodoo is a highly regarded bar and night-club on Lower Main Street and has attracted figures such as Boy George and Calum Best in recent years. There are also several other nightclubs in the area including Milan Nightclub and The Pulse. Pubs such as The Central Bar (established 1808), The Cavern, Sister Sara's, Josie's Bar and The Cottage Bar give an extensive range of drinking experiences from the old to the modern cutting edge.
Events
Annual events include the:
St. Patrick's Day Parade (March)
Donegal International Rally (June)
Earagail Arts Festival (June/July)
Donegal Harvest Rally (October)
If you are planning to attend a festival or event in Letterkenny, it is advisable to book your bed and breakfast in Letterkenny in advance.