Glenties

Glenties in its original Irish form "Na Glenntai" means The Glens. The town is situated where two glens converge into one and just up stream from the meeting of two rivers. Both rivers are renowned for fishing.

Glenties lies at the North West edge of the Blue Stack Mountains and a few kilometres from the sea. It is surrounded by mountains on three of its four sides. Only on its western side does the valley widen out as it gets closer to the Atlantic Ocean. All around the glens and mountains are scenic walks and drives which tempt the visitor into exploration by car, bicycle or foot.

Along the rugged coast are bays, beaches and beautiful coastal scenery. The town has been described as an oasis by many people who visit. It is the trees and bushes that give the town its appearances as the visitor approaches the town, through or over the almost treeless mountains. It is the largest centre of population in the parish of Iniskeel.

The outstanding scenery around Glenties provides a popular location for film and TV producers. The Hanging Gale was filmed here and most recently Dancing at Lughnasa in which Meryl Streep plays the leading role is based in the town. She also attended the premiere of the film in Glenties.

So it's perhaps not surprising to discover that the town has won the "Ireland's Tidiest Town" award five times, and the "Tidiest Small Town" title a further five times. Picturesquely situated where two glens converge, Glenties' wooded surroundings display a marked contrast with the ruggedness of much of the surrounding country.

This part of Donegal has always been noted for its strong tradition of Irish music and Glenties has a flourishing traditional music school which is constantly turning out a new generation of musicians. To experience this tradition at its best, visit the town on the first weekend of October when the "Fiddlers Weekend" attracts fiddlers from many parts of Ireland and around the world.

The most striking building in the town is the Roman Catholic St Connell's Church, a lovely modern church designed by the Derry architect Liam McCormack and consecrated in 1974. Initating the nearby mountains, the church has a long sloping roof which sweeps down to within 6 feet of the ground. When it's raining, the water drips off the tiled roof and forms gleaming ornamental pools.

Glenties' most famous son is Patrick MacGill (1890-1963) whose life got off to a poor start when his parents sold him at a hiring fair for servants. He escaped to Scotland where he worked as a farm labourer and navvy before his writing skills earned him a position with the Daily Express. His best-known book is Children of the Dead End, a semi-autobiographical account of the lives of itinerant navvoes. In early August each year the town hosts the Patrick MacGill Summer School in honour of his work, a very Irish celebrating his work with literary debates, lectures, workshops and exhibitions.