Knowhow-Now Article

Letterkenny is the largest town in County Donegal and is situated on a hillside by the River Swilly. The town has a population of around 17,500 and is home to much of Ireland's Gaelic traditions but was originally a market town, whereby people from the neighbouring villages would visit once a week to buy their household shopping and goods. Today, it's a bustling little down nearby neighbouring Derry, the economic core of the North West. With its distinct Irish charm and 13th century gothic architecture, Letterkenny is the ideal destination for a long weekend away this spring.

Glenveagh National Park is situated north-west of Donegal and boasts 16,000 hectares of beautiful scenery hugged by rugged mountains. To the west are the quartzite hills around Crocknafarragh and to the south, the peatlands of Lough Barra bog and Meenachullion. There are plenty of activities within the park to keep you occupied all day, including guided walking tours or a visit to the Nature and Outdoor Learning Centre, the nature room is open between 10-5pm every weekend and puts on various events depending on the time of year. Come celebrate Biodiversity Week at the park or Mammal Day in the springtime, where you can learn to track the trails left by many of nature's interesting creatures and how you can protect them.

A perfect place to visit with children, Letterkenny has a variety of activities to keep the little monsters occupied. From paintballing at Old Foundry to a day of bowling at Arena 7 there's fun for the whole family to enjoy together. Later, you can enjoy one of Donegal's award-winning beaches. Visit Marble Hill or Portnoo to find some tranquillity within an hour's drive of County Donegal.

For all the shopaholics among you, Letterkenny is home to some of the biggest shopping centres in the area. The Courtyard Shopping Centre is situated in the square and Letterkenny Shopping Centre is just beside the bus station, perfect if you are making a day trip to Donegal from a neighbouring village or town. The Forte Shopping Centre has many clothes shops and is within walking distance of the town centre on The Main Street. After a long day of shopping you can sit back, relax and take in the gorgeous Irish scenery with nice cold beer in your hand on nearby Port Road before retreating to your hotel in Letterkenny, of which there are many nearby.

Spend a day discovering Ireland at The Cristeph Gallery, which was established in 1982, and is one of Donegal's oldest art galleries. This shouldn’t take a whole day, and leaves plenty of time for you to explore the other galleries and museums nearby, such as The Green Door Studio, where you can find a variety of permanent displays by both local and national artists. However you choose to explore Ireland's history, on foot, by car or on public transport you will be guaranteed a good time, with a pint of Guinness in your hand and a great long weekend filled with Irish charm and culture.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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