Off The Beaten Track: Donegal, Ireland’s Secret
I had the pleasure of spending the weekend in the picturesque sea-side village of Rathmullan on the Fanad Peninsula in Co. Donegal. Believe it or not, this is my first time exploring this beautiful part of Ireland and I wasn’t disappointed. I have lived quite close to Donegal for most of my life and yet I have barely toured or visited a fraction of it. Sadly, this is true for many Irish people as it is the most northernmost county of the Republic of Ireland and quite the trek to get to. Be that as it may, I would recommend making the trip despite the long journey; the experience is absolutely worth the wait.
On Sunday morning, my mother, my aunt, my uncle and I climbed into the car for our ‘mini road trip’. They were delighted to give me a tour of Rathmullan; they are now residents of the area having moved from Dublin a few years ago. We walked along the beautiful shores of the beach, enjoyed the striking views, and drove along winding roads, dodging herds of sheep and cows, whizzing by vast arrays of eye candy. After the trip, I can completely understand why they swapped the bright lights of Dublin for the quaint sights of Donegal.
That night, we decided to experience the night life in the surrounding area. A local band called ‘The Lazy Sunday’s’ was playing in the Bridge Bar in Ramelton. My Uncle had raved about this band for months, and after hearing them live, I could understand why. I was completely blown away by their artistic flare and how tight they were as a group. My uncle said, ‘Lazy Sundays are key players in Fanad’s amazing music scene, it must be the best cluster of real rock in Donegal’. I would have to agree with him on that. The lead singer, Christopher Matthewson, had the entire room wrapped around his finger as they played long into the night with ease.
I will definitely be returning to Donegal in the near future. With the All-Ireland Final looming this week, I have no doubt that Donegal will be an amazing place to be, especially if they win. Good luck Donegal. Until we meet again….
A quick snippet of my trip in Donegal