Local Information

Glenties

Glenties in its original Irish form "Na Glenntai" means The Glens. The town is situated where two glens converge into one and just up stream from the meeting of two rivers Both rivers are renowned for fishing. Glenties lies at the North West edge of the Blue Stack Mountains and a few kilometers from the sea. It is surrounded by mountains on three of its four sides. Only on its western side does the valley widen out as it gets closer to the Atlantic Ocean. All around the glens and mountains are scenic walks and drives which tempt the visitor into exploration by car, bicycle or foot.

Majestic Mount Errigal

Mountains near Avalon Bed and Breakfast Glenties County Donegal Ireland

Along the rugged coast are bays, beaches and beautiful coastal scenery. The town has been described as an oasis by many people who visit. It is the trees and bushes that give the town its appearances as the visitor approaches the town, through or over the almost treeless mountains. It is the largest centre of population in the parish of Iniskeel.

Slieve League Cliffs near Avalon Bed and Breakfast Glenties County Donegal Ireland

Slieve League Mountain, whose sea cliffs are the highest in Europe (2000ft).

The outstanding scenery around Glenties provides a popular location for film and TV producers. The Hanging Gale was filmed here and most recently Dancing at Lughnasa in which Meryl Streep plays the leading role is based in the town. She also attended the premiere of the film in Glenties.

Portnoo Beach

So it's perhaps not surprising to discover that the town has won the "Ireland's Tidiest Town" award five times, and the "Tidiest Small Town" title a further five times. Picturesquely situated where two glens converge, Glenties' wooded surroundings display a marked contrast with the ruggedness of much of the surrounding country.

This part of Donegal has always been noted for its strong tradition of Irish music and Glenties has a flourishing traditional music school which is constantly turning out a new generation of musicians. To experience this tradition at its best, visit the town on the first weekend of October when the "Fiddlers Weekend" attracts fiddlers from many parts of Ireland and around the world.

St Connell's Museum & Heritage Centre

Visitors are assured of a friendly and hospitable welcome to a place where they can step back in time to experience the atmosphere of a bye-gone days. The objective of this centre is to keep safe the local historical information as well as artefacts of interest. There is a very large collection of interesting memorabilia, photographs, documents, books, videos, and the visitor will be able to enjoy the great variety of exhibitions now in place.

There is also section on the Donegal Railway Collection. In the writers corner, there is a valuable collection on the Internationally known authors - Brian Friel( mother is from Glenties) and Patrick McGill who was born in the Glen of Glenties. There is information on the "Victims of the Blue Stacks". A survivor's account of the World War 2 plane crash on the Blue Stack Mountains.

The Bluestack Way

The Bluestack Way was formed in 1999 and completed in June of 2000 as one of a series of marked walks around Ireland. It is 47km long from Donegal to Ardara. The Bluestack Mountains are rugged with peaks as high 600m and in some parts quite remote. Most of the route is below 300m. You don't need to be an accomplished walker to use this route. These mountains have not been used very much for walkers until recently, and it can offer a glimpse of the most beautiful landscape here in Donegal.

The walk is fully marked using wooden post and signs. The marked walk starts in Pettigo and takes a route to Lough Derg and then into Donegal Town. From Donegal Town, one can walk from Donegal Town to Lough Eske. From Donegal you come down over the mountain to Glenties and Avalon B&B is on the route heading towards the town of Glenties.

You can also start the walk at Binbane and follow the marked posts. A little book can be bought in the Information Offices called the THE BLUESTACK WAY and it's a must for the hill walkers bag!! It is a very detailed book of all the marked walks and link routes. The walk from Glenties to Ardara is very beautiful and takes the the route along the Owenea River, all low-land.

The G.A.P. Trail

There has been an amenity walk developed on the grounds of the Old Bord Na Mona site just about 3 miles outside of Glenties on the N56, the main road between Glenties and Ardara. This is a very beautiful walk and it approx 4 miles in total. It is the most peaceful area and away from the main flow of traffic.You don't need to be an accomplished walker to do this walk. It is suitable for everyone interested in this kind of activity. You can walk out as far as Lough McHugh and then turn to come back the same route.

One of the most striking building in the town is the Roman Catholic St Connell's Church, a modern church designed by the Derry architect Liam McCormack and consecrated in 1974. Imintimating the nearby mountains, the church has a long sloping roof which sweeps down to within 6 feet of the ground. When it's raining, the water drips off the tiled roof and forms gleaming ornamental pools.

St Connells Church at Glenties Avalon Bed and Breakfast County Donegal Ireland

St Connell's Church

The village has retained much of its 19th century character examples include the late Georgian courthouse and the nearby market house. Glenties is the most prolific winner of the National Tidy Towns Competition. St. Conal's Museum has a fascinating local history record including a huge collection of interesting memorabilia photographs documents books videos and many more exhibits.

Patrick MacGill was born in 1889 in the Glen of Glenties, and was the first of eleven children. After a mere three years' schooling, Patrick left at ten and after two years' work on the home patch of land set out at twelve as one of a party of Donegal youngsters for the hiring fair in Strabane.

MacGill's literary career began in1910, he asked The Derry Journal to print some poems. At that time he was working as a plate-layer on the Glasgow - Greenock line of the Caledonian Railway. Shortly afterwards he moved to London and had 'Children of the Dead End' and the 'Rat Pit' published. They were best sellers. MacGill wrote more novels, some with an Irish setting and some with an English background, but never again did he achieve the intensity of these two novels, that really form a single work.

In late July each year the town hosts the Patrick MacGill Summer School in honor of his work, a very Irish event celebrating his work with literary debates, lectures, workshops and exhibitions.

The Navvy Poet: The Collected Works of Patrick McGill.

Glengesh County Donegal Ireland

Glengesh

Avalon Guest House, Glen Road, Glenties, County Donegal.
Tel/Fax: (+00353) 074 9551292

Contact