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Located at the mouth of Donegal Bay in the North-West of Ireland?d and surrounded by the vista of the Blue Stack mountains, this area offers a rugged beauty and mystique that you are unlikely to find anywhere else in the world. From Slieve League (the highest sea-cliffs in Europe) to the miles of golden sandy beaches, this region provides wonderful outdoor activities ranging from high-octane water sports to unforgettable country strolls.
Donegal town is regarded as a town of great historical interest, for it was the family seat of the O'Donnells, chieftains of Tirconaill. In 1474, they were responsible for bringing the Franciscan monks to Donegal when the Franciscan Abbey was built. Some 178 years later, Brother Michael O'Cleary, together with three laymen wrote one of the seminal texts of Irish history, The Annals of the Four Masters, which has been described as "the most remarkable collection of National tradition in all Christendom". The town dates back to Viking times when a fortress was built at the mouth of the river Eske. It is thought that this gave the town, and ultimately the county, its name, Dún na nGall, meaning "Fort of the Foreigners". It could also be the earliest account of the Irish reputation for hospitality!
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