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Town in County Donegal, Ireland
Photo: Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Buncrana (Bun Cranncha, "foot of the river Crana") is a town on Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, on the shores of Lough Swilly. It's mostly a commuter town for Derry (23 km) and Letterkenny (43 km), with a population of 7000 in 2022. The main reason to visit is to explore Inishowen Peninsula, the northern tip of the Irish mainland.
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Built against Napoleon like Ned's Point, but this is an altogether sturdier battery on a scenic outcrop. It was disused after 1815 but re-armed later in the century, and stood ready through the First World War. In 1938 it was one of the last fragments of British territory handed over to the Republic of Ireland: a few "Treaty Ports" and their defences had been kept on after independence in 1921. The Irish army used the fort until 1986 then it became a museum.
Gastropub in the former railway station.
Friendly central bar.
They often have live rock or soul at weekends and trad sessions Sundays. Open fire in winter. Decked beer garden open year-round.
Friendly well-equipped hostel open year-round.
Comfy friendly hotel in town centre.
Relaxing hotel on the coast south edge of town.
Friendly well-run small hotel on the coast road.
This country house hotel is nowadays primarily a wedding venue but may be able to accommodate others.
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Derry, Derry and Strabane · Regional · LDY
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