Donegal Castle Tour

543 Year Old Store-Rooms

In contrast to the largely roofless shell of the manor-house, you are now inside a vaulted, cavern-like double chamber.

Intricate Stonework

Stone by stone, the bare walls curve seamlessly up around you into Gothic-like intricate ceilings.  The walls here are more than three meters deep in places.

An old ship's mast and sail, with barrels

Underfoot is a perfect, smooth, paved stone floor.  Narrow windows sit deep in the walls.

This intriguingly atmospheric part of Donegal castle is more than 540 years old - it dates back to 1474.

Another store-room image

The Mast

Moving in the direction of the stairs you notice, among other items, a mast from an old ship.  Its once white sail is now yellow with age.

During the reign of the O'Donnell Celtic Chieftains, Donegal Town was a thriving center of international commerce.

Ships transported cargoes to the bustling wharf near the castle, and delivered barrels full of locally caught fish from there to northern Europe.

543 Year Old Trip Stairs

Now you face the trip stairs . . . mind how you go!

This amazing spiral stairway, built of stone, was designed to give the O'Donnell Chieftain a few strategic advantages during combat...

The Trip Stairs

1. The steps are uneven and vary in height, to trip the unsuspecting assailant - hence their name!
   
   
2. The steps are narrow, so potential invaders would have to ascend in single file, making it easier to overpower them.
   
   
3. The stairway turns clockwise going up.  That gave the right-handed O'Donnells more leeway while sword-fighting defensively downwards.  It also forced any potential invader to either sword-fight with his left hand, or awkwardly maneuver his sword around the stairwell's solid central axis.

You'll appreciate the handrails, a modern concession to safety!

The Upper Floors

Having mastered the trip stairs, you are now in the castle's lovely bright banqueting hall.

From this level up, considerable restoration works have been conducted.

The Banqueting Hall

Banqueting Hall

Of particular note here are two 17th century Jacobean features...

• A large fireplace bearing the Brooke family arms
• The pretty bay window

French tapestry and Persian rugs soften the walls.

The stuffed head of a wild boar suggests what might have been on the banqueting menu... mmm!

History Room

Climbing another flight of stairs, you are now on the top floor.  This is where you get to explore the castle's fascinating history.

Take the time to examine the displays, learn about the powerful O'Donnell Celtic dynasty that lived here, and enjoy surveying the scale models of the castle.

Practical Info

It will take you approximately an hour to amble through Donegal Castle.

Guided tours are available throughout the summer.  Make sure you ask about Red Hugh O' Donnell's secret escape... and the O'Donnell connection with Saint Columba of Iona Scotland (Saint Colmcille)!

After you've seen the castle, grab a light lunch along the town centre's Diamond, then stroll to the nearby Donegal Abbey's historic ruins, with its scenic graveyard overlooking Donegal Bay.