Falcarragh, Donegal – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Falcarragh is a tiny town in northwest County Donegal. It is located within a Gaeltacht region, which means locals predominantly speak Irish Gaelic here. Gaeltacht regions were established in the 1920s to keep the language alive but in reality most of the inhabitants speak English commonly. Although not hugely popular as a tourist destination, pictures of the gorgeous beaches around here do appear sporadically on social media. Are people missing out on a gem here?

Read on to find out!

Public Transport: The town’s isolated location makes it very tricky to navigate without having the use of your own car. The region is no longer serviced by train since Falcarragh Railway Station shut its doors in 1947.

Donegal has also been abysmally served by bus in modern times and Falcarragh is not a stop on any major Bus Éireann routes. It is however connected via the excellent Local Link service to nearby towns and villages including Gortahork, Crolly and Dungloe. This bus costs just €6 for a return.

Check Local Link Bus Timetables

This is a tiny town so restaurants are hard found. Amazingly, it does feature an award winning option in The Batch, right in the heart of the town! The Batch opens from 08:30am every day and covers all of your needs from breakfast to dinner, before closing at 6pm. You can grab a simple yet delicious breakfast burger for just €7. The prices in this busy establishment are very reasonable considering the lack of competition in the area.

The Strand Road Bar offers a no-frills modern bar dining experience on a side street off of the main street. The former Loft Bar is a great place to relax in a delightful setting as you chow down on some light bites, sandwiches and wraps or one of their larger main course options. We thoroughly enjoyed the succulent chicken fillet burger at The Strand, available for just €13.

Hot Beverages: What Falcarragh lacks in quantity it certainly makes up for in quality when it comes to cafés. Coffee go Leor on Main Street opens at 9am each day (10am on Sundays) and offers tasty brews and delicious food. This family-run establishment boasts incredible prices and even offers vegetarian or vegan options.

Alcohol: The Corner Bar is a modern bar in the middle of the town that offers live music every Friday and Saturday. They also have a “Sunday Sesh” where a DJ will provide some fantastic tunes for you to dance the night away to.

Stroll up the road to The Shamrock Bar to find one of the most amazing boozers in Ireland! This traditional pub is the perfect place to call into on a chilly day for a refreshing pint of Guinness in one of the comfortable snug areas. Admire the beautiful memorabilia while you relax and have the craic with friends. You can watch all the biggest sports events, enjoy live music at the weekends and even sip on some cheap cocktails from 7pm on certain evenings! Trad sessions often break out and when they do it will feel like you are sitting at home in your own living room!

This town sits in seclusion in one of the most peaceful parts of Ireland, so its majestic beaches offer the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle of everyday life.

Falcarragh Beach (aka Drumnatinny Beach) is 7 minutes from the town by car and has its own carpark. Revel in over 4kms of soft golden sands while admiring views of Inisbofin and Tory Island. This is the best beach for young families in the locality as it is safer for paddling than Tramore. It is very popular among swimmers and surfers.

A little further north you will find Tramore Beach. Tramore is an Irish word meaning ‘big beach’ which is why you will find beaches of this name all over Ireland. This one is particularly fitting of the moniker as it is over 3km long! This is the ideal location to watch a sunset, with only the many species of birds like oystercatchers for company. Don’t try to swim here though as the currents are perilous!

Falcarragh is tiny, with a population of less than 800 as of the 2016 census. It is totally unspoiled by tourism but still welcomes visitors with open arms. The excellent staff in the bars and establishments in the town definitely help to give the place a very homely vibe.

The town is always quiet, but if that isn’t tranquil enough for you then head to one of the nearby beaches where you will almost certainly be completely alone! This is somewhere to visit to unwind and relax in peace, rather than for a fun and exciting holiday.

The fact that it is in a Gaeltacht region means that it offers a unique chance to witness the beautiful Irish language and traditions. This is the real Ireland!

Cloughaneely Golf Club sits on the historic Ballyconnell Estate, a 3 minute drive from Falcarragh. You will be treated to incredible views of the wild Atlantic Ocean and Horn Head while you play the 9 holes here. Green fees are very cheap at €20 for weekdays and €30 for weekends.

Reserve a Tee Time at Cloughaneely Golf Club

The 20 minute drive from Falcarragh to Glenveagh National Park takes you past the Bridge of Tears. Emigrating locals were once accompanied as far as this bridge by family members before bidding their farewells. Sadly, most who crossed the bridge for this reason never returned to the area.

Glenveagh constitutes 170 square kms of rugged wilderness nestled in the Derryveagh Mountains. Enjoy majestic scenery while tackling its trails before visiting the castle. Keep your eyes peeled for some fantastic wildlife, with the park being home to the largest herd of red deer in the country. Lucky visitors may even spot an illusive golden eagle which was reintroduced here in 2000!

You’ll find ample parking, a visitor centre, a restaurant and a playground on site. Access is free and the visitor centre opens from 09:15 to 17:30 daily.

The imposing Errigal Mountain is the tallest peak in County Donegal and the base is just a 20 minute spin from Falcarragh. A drive past the mountain at sunset is well worth it for views of its iconic pinkish hue.

The 751 metre high behemoth is very popular with hikers who usually prefer to tackle the south facing side. This is the least steep route and takes around 3 hours in total to get up down. It also has a carpark right at the base. Visit on a clear day to be treated to breathtaking views over the Atlantic Ocean and the rugged landscape of Donegal.

Tory Island, Ireland’s most remote inhabited island, is also part of the Gaeltacht so Irish is the predominant language spoken. The island is home to less than 150 inhabitants spread out amongst four towns: An Baile Thoir (East Town), An Baile Thiar (West Town), An Lár (Middletown) and Úrbaile (Newtown).

To reach Tory Island you must catch the ferry from Magheroarty Pier, a 15 minute drive from Falcarragh. The ferry is passenger only (no cars), departs 4 times per day and takes around 45 minutes. On arrival you will be greeted by Tory Island’s own king (yes you read that right)!

The looped island trail can be enjoyed on foot or by renting a bicycle on arrival. The island is only 5 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide so you can easily hit all of the points of interest in one day. A visit to this island is without a doubt one of the most unique things you will ever do in your lifetime. Admire the round towers, the plants and the animals, all set amongst spectacular untouched scenery. The island even has its own unique breed of cattle!

Listen to the islanders tell tall tales of poitín smuggling and shipwrecks while welcoming you with open arms! The island has its own hotel for those looking to stay the night to witness the music and dancing for which Tory is particularly renowned.

Book the Tory Island Ferry

Check out the Tory Island Hotel