Superior Budget Accommodation in Glencolmcille, County Donegal

A Rich Heritage

The name Glencholmcille translates into English as the Valley of Colm Cille. Colm Cille (or Saint Columba in English) is one of Ireland’s three patron saints (along with Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid). Colm Cille and his followers lived in the valley and the ruins of several of their churches can still be seen there. Following a dispute with the church about the right to copy religious manuscripts, Colm Cille went into exile on the isle of Iona of the west coast of Scotland.

Between 4000 and 3000 BC, farming people settled in the area and excellent examples of their court tombs can be seen at Mainnéar na Mortlaidh and An Clochán Mór. Examples of the less-elaborate portal tombs, dating from about 2000 BC can also be seen at Málainn Mhóir.

The area is famous as being the parish of forward thinking Father McDyer (1910-1987), who championed the rights of rural people and helped establish community-based industries in the area.

Many natural beauties lie nearby, such as the Slieve League (Gaelic: Sliabh Liag) cliffs, the Silver Strand (Gaelic: An Tráigh Bhán) at Malin Beg (Gaelic: Málainn Bhig), and Glen Head (Gaelic: Cionn Ghlinne) itself.

The town is well-known today as the home of Oideas Gael, an Irish language learning institute established in 1984 to promote the Gaelic language and culture. The town also has a petrol station, grocer, post office, folk village, woollen mill, restaurant and three pubs (with great fiddle music often to be found in Roarty’s or Biddy’s). The coast road across to Malin Mor (Gaelic: Málainn Mhóir) via the Óstán Ghleann Cholm Cille is majestic and now passes the new golf course, which is hoped will further increase tourism.

Fr McDyer's Folk Village Museum

The Glencolmcille Folk Village Museum is a cluster of six small cottages, called a “clachan,” perched on a hillside overlooking a sandy curve of nearby Glenbay beach.

The cottages are neatly white-washed, each with a traditional half-door, designed to keep the animals out and the people in.

The roof of each cottage is thatched in the distinctive rounded Donegal style, tied down securely with rope and pegs to protect the thatching from the fierce westerly winds off the ocean.

Teach Scoile na nDunhacha (Dooey School House):
This building is representatiave of a 19th century local school. In it you will find a display of old photographs and historical information plus a collection of old artifacts.

Each cottage on the site recreates a different era of Irish history – from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, is filled with household implements, kitchen utensils, furniture, pictures, and clothing brought from all the surrounding homes of the valley. In addition, there is a reconstructed school house, sheebeen (pub), and a tea room/craft shop displaying the works of local artists, knitters, and weavers. Designed, assembled, and maintained by the local people, this folk village is one of Ireland’s best living-history museums.

Nature walk:
To the rear of the folk village, along the hillside you will find a small nature walk. As you begin the walk you will notice various replicas of items from local history including: a round tower, limekiln, hedge school, standing stones and mass rock. As the seasons change so do the wildflowers – from daffodils and snowdrops to bluebells and more.

Tapestry workshops, traditional music nights and irish culture events are also available during the summer and The folk village is open from Easter Saturday until the end of September.