A selection of must-see locations around Donegal

Glenveagh National Park:

Glenveagh National Park is among Ireland’s six national parks and it is the second largest spanning 66 square miles or 170 km². Glenveagh castle grounds are surrounded by Lough Veagh and the Derryveagh mountains. 

The park offers a biodiverse landscape with various wildlife hosting red deer, otters, stoats, pine martens, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, reptiles, amphibians and terrestrial mammals just to name a few!  

Interestingly Glenveagh was the first place in Ireland where golden eagles were reintroduced after one hundred years. In 2001, the Golden Eagle Trust transported a chick from Scotland and in 2012, 63 eagles were released in the county. 

Glenveagh National Park was established in 1984 which was the third of the six national parks. The other five national parks include Killarney National Park, Kerry; Connemara National Park, Galway; The Burren National Park, Clare; Wicklow Mountains National Park - which is the largest at 79 square miles or 205 km2; and lastly Wild Nephin National Park, Mayo. Soon, there will be another national park, Boyne Valley in Meath which will bring the total to seven once opened.