Donegal heritage sites record slight dip in visitor numbers
Donegal Castle bucks countywide trend by increasing visitor numbers, with conservation works reducing football at Churchill’s Glebe House and Gallery
The number of visitors to heritage sites in Donegal fell slightly last year, according to the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Five heritage sites in the county are managed by the OPW, with free entry to three of them and guided tours available at four.
Some of Donegal’s best-known tourist attractions, including Sliabh Liag, Malin Head and Lifford Old Courthouse and Gaol, are not managed by the OPW. Visitor estimates for those sites are instead compiled by Fáilte Ireland.
Donegal Castle remains the county’s most popular heritage attraction, bucking the overall trend by increasing visitor numbers to just over 76,000 last year. That was up from 72,500 in 2024. The site offers guided tours and charges an adult admission fee of €5.
Visitor numbers at Doe Castle near Creeslough fell slightly, from 36,749 in 2024 to 34,177 last year. Entry is free, with guided tours available at appointed times.
Restoration and conservation works that began in 2024 contributed to a sharp decline in visitors to the Glebe House and Gallery at Churchill, where numbers dropped from 46,649 to just 7,852. The site was partially closed for much of 2025 and only fully reopened earlier this month. Admission is €5, with OPW tour guides on site. Glebe House will mark its bicentenary in 2028.
The Corn and Flax Mills at New Mills also recorded a marginal decline, with visitor numbers dropping from 3,743 in 2024 to 3,254 last year. Admission is free and guided tours are available.
Finally, visitor numbers at Grianán of Aileach also fell slightly, from 17,292 to 16,082. Admission is free, and it is the only OPW-managed site in the county without dedicated tour guides.
However, the OPW has issued a strong health warning over the figures.
While data from sites that charge admission, such as Donegal Castle and Glebe House, is considered accurate, the OPW said footfall counters at free-entry sites are subject to malfunctions and outages, meaning the figures cannot be regarded as wholly precise.