Discover Ballybofey

Ballybofey combines culture, history and nature on the River Finn. The Balor Arts Centre is on Main Street, and the N15 crosses the River Finn into Ballybofey over a five-arch bridge. The town also offers a historic trail through Ballybofey and Stranorlar, exhibitions on local history and sporting venues. This lets you choose the focus of your trip based on the topics that interest you most.

Explore history on the Twin Towns Heritage Trail

The Twin Towns Heritage Trail runs through Ballybofey and Stranorlar and is 4.8 km long. It includes 20 historic sites and explores the history, culture and architecture of the two towns. If you like to set your own pace when exploring, you can use the trail as a guide to discovering the Twin Towns. You can take the route into account when planning your day, though its length alone does not indicate how long the walk will take.

The trail is available free of charge on a smartphone; numerous QR codes along the way provide access to its content. This means that information is available alongside the historic sites as you explore the route through Ballybofey and Stranorlar. The trail is especially suitable if you would like to get to know the two towns through their shared history, culture and architecture.

Exhibitions and performing arts

The Isaac Butt Heritage Centre is dedicated to Isaac Butt and Dr. Nancy McGlinchey. Its exhibitions include an account of the history of the Glenfinn community from the 5th century onwards. Another exhibition explores education in Glenfin and features photographs of former pupils and other past students. The centre also displays tools and equipment used by craftspeople in earlier times, as well as old horse-drawn agricultural machinery. The subjects range from community history and education to crafts and agriculture.

For music, theatre and comedy, the Balor Arts Centre is another cultural focal point in Ballybofey. It hosts more than 100 performances across these three genres each year. If you enjoy including different types of live performance in your travel interests, the programme offers a different perspective on the town from the historical exhibitions and the Heritage Trail.

River Finn, sport and nearby trails

The River Finn is a Special Area of Conservation designated to protect salmon and otters. The river is also used for fishing and is rich in freshwater fish. These features make it relevant to a range of nature interests: you can consider the river as a protected area or focus on its importance as a fish-rich waterway used for angling.

Sports venues are also part of Ballybofey’s character. Finn Park, the home stadium of Finn Harps, is on Navenny Street. MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey is the home stadium of Donegal GAA. If you are interested in the towns’ sporting facilities, these are two venues with different club connections: Finn Harps and Donegal GAA.

Nearby in Drumboe, there are three short, signposted trails: the Nature Trail, the Multi Access Trail and the Drumboe Loop Trail. Drumboe Woods, which is suitable for walks, is also close to Stranorlar. For another leisure interest, the Ballybofey and Stranorlar Golf Club is located there too. It is the only inland 18-hole golf course in County Donegal and is shared by the two market towns.

The different themes can help shape your travel plans: the Heritage Trail connects historic sites and local history, the Balor Arts Centre offers music, theatre and comedy, while the River Finn and Drumboe appeal to nature lovers. If you have chosen Ballybofey as your destination, these differences can help you organise your interests and tailor your holiday rental search to the town.

For more travel inspiration: Moville, Baylet, Gweedore, Falcarragh, Ballintra, Gortiness, Raphoe and Darney.

For the broader travel overview: County Donegal.