Donegal and Sligo are amazing parts of Ireland less inhabited by tourists. They really offer beauty that is like nothing else. Donegal gets the nick name, the forgotten county because of its geographic location. It is the farthest north in the Republic of Ireland. An idea trip would be to add Northern Ireland to the itinerary as Derry is less than one hour’s drive.

the Slieve League Cliffs in southern part of Donegal are an incredible sight.  When you think of “cliffs” and “Ireland,” you typically think of the Cliffs of Moher. But in Donegal, you’ll find the Slieve League cliffs, nearly three times the height of the Cliffs of Moher, and some of Europe’s highest sea cliffs (they are 609m (1,998 feet in height)! While most people tend to view the cliffs from the Bunglas Viewpoint, a better way to see them is by following the Pilgrim’s Path, an ancient path that leads up to the back side of the cliffs, passing a Mass Rock (an ancient outdoor church).  One Man’s Pass is another path but only for those not afraid of heights. 

Some of Ireland has been chosen for more recent Star Wars films. You may have read that some have been filmed on the remote island in southern Ireland called Skellig Michael (more on that later). But another filming locations occurred in the north most tip of Ireland called Mallin Head.  Mallin Head is  the most northern point you’ll find in Ireland – and feels like the edge of the world! Actually, it is also the beginning of the coastal route down the western side of Ireland called the Wild Atlantic Way.  Donegal and Sligo are famous for surfing and called Surf Coast, where surfers from around the world gather to test their surf skills against angry Atlantic waves.   

Products local to the area like Donegal Tweed have been made for generations.   The village of Ardara has a particularly long history with tweed and hand weaving. Today, you can still find traditional weavers (many who still weave on ancestral looms) in Ardara – and scattered throughout Donegal. Some are open to the public and worth a visit. 

A special thank you to David Doyle for this awe inspiring video of Donegal. Click on the video link and subscribe to his channel for more amazing videos!