There is no county along the west coast of Ireland that isn’t in with a shout of being the most beautiful on the island – but those in Donegal would tell you there’s no argument.
Sometimes called the “Forgotten County” due to its perceived abandonment, Donegal (Tír Chonaill) was one of the last bastions of Gaelic culture – and parts of the county retain traces of an Irish way of life that has been lost elsewhere.
And far from being forgotten, Donegal is actually famous across the world for its wild rolling hills, perfect beaches and the most scenic airport in Europe.
While it is certainly not the sunniest county in Ireland, Donegal homeowners are starting to realise the benefits of solar energy, with around 1,500 grants being awarded for panels by the SEAI.
Donegal Solar Panels Adoption
A substantial decrease in the cost of solar over the past couple of years has led to a spike in interest in solar PV in Donegal. In the first 8 months of 2024, there were 462 installations carried out in the county with SEAI grant aid.
Since 2015, Donegal has seen a total of 1,467 grant supported solar PV installations.
Some 572 of those installations were carried out in 2023 alone, meaning there is an appetite for solar in Donegal, even if growth has been quicker in other counties on a per capita basis.
Donegal Climate
Like other counties along the Wild Atlantic Way, Donegal’s location in the north-west corner of Ireland has a major impact on weather conditions. Warm air blowing in from the ocean and mountain ranges which almost split the county in two are the primary factors influencing the climate of Donegal.
Donegal Sunshine Hours
Despite having its fair share of overcast days, Donegal has plenty of sunlight and sunshine hours each year to more than justify a solar panel installation.
Homeowners in Donegal with a solar PV system installed enjoy savings of hundreds of euro per year (sometimes more than €1,000!) on their electricity bills, just like households with solar in other counties.
The Derryveigh and Bluestack Mountain ranges are influencing factors in how many hours of sunshine Donegal gets.
This is because as the Atlantic air rises above these mountains, it cools and results in cloud formation and precipitation on the windward side.
The leeward side, i.e. the Rosses and Gaoth Dobhair in West Donegal, is often drier with slightly more sunshine.
Donegal Towns and Villages
There are many towns and villages across Donegal’s large land mass, from the surfer’s paradise in the south of the county to the Gaeltacht regions in the west and Inishowen in the east.
Located at the heart of Donegal is the town of Letterkenny, which is the largest urban centre and acts as the commercial hub for the county.
Other towns in Donegal include Bunranna, Dungloe, Bundoran and Ballyshannon in the south, Raphoe and Ballybofey.
The populaion of Donegal was 167,084 in the 2022 Census, making it the 13th most populous in Ireland.
Donegal, and especially the beautiful coastline and islands, are frequented by travellers from across Ireland.
Donegal is famous for being the birthplace of Enya – the best selling Irish singer of all time, the county where Wolfe Tone was arrested, the Flight of the Earls, and the O’Donnell dynasty, whose descendants retain titles in some European countries to this day.
Carrickfin ariport in the west of Donegal is often voted the most beautiful airport in the world by travel magazines.
| Donegal Towns and Villages | Population |
|---|---|
| Letterkenny | 22,549 |
| Buncranna | 6,971 |
| Ballybofey / Stranorlar | 5,406 |
| Carndonagh | 2,768 |
| Donegal Town | 2,749 |
| Bundoran | 2,599 |
| Ballyshannon | 2,246 |
| Convoy | 1,702 |
| Lifford | 1,613 |
| Muff | 1,418 |
| Dunfanaghy | 439 |
| An Clochán Liath (Dungloe) | 1,247 |
| Glenties | 927 |
| An Fál Carrach | 829 |
Donegal Housing
Central Statistics Office (CSO) stats show that there are 35,900 properties with a Building Energy Rating (BER) in Donegal.
Only 7% of these buildings are rated A, and just 12% are rated B, highlighting the enormous potential for Donegal properties to improve their energy efficiency. Some 12% of properties in Co. Donegal are rated F or G rating.
| Building Energy Rating (BER) | Total Housing Stock | Average Age | |||||||
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |||
| Donegal | 2,513 | 4,308 | 14,001 | 6,103 | 3,224 | 1,444 | 3,022 | 35,900 | 33 |
BER data Q2 2024. Source: CSO.ie
