Buncrana can be a little isolated. fine for crossing the Foyle into the North and along the Derry / Antrim coast but I'm not 100% up on whether the Lough Swilly will be running this year? which might have an influence?

Buncrana is fine, better if the ferry is running but my vote always goes with Letterkenny, although you might have been pressed to find self catering by the town there is a new(ish) complex in the centre of town although I'm not sure it would be to my taste.

If you aim to meet your sister in Law she can fly Ryanair, Liverpool into Derry whilst you are up north or Liverpool to Knock when you get to Westport. Manchester to Shannon if you get this far south but the flights are really early in the morning.

Haven't stayed here, but this place looks interesting -- and only 8 km from Derry.

If your principal plan is touring Northern Ireland whilst staying in the Republic, I don't know if you could get any closer!  http://www.donegalcottageholidays.com/mary-deeneys

 

It's been many years since my wife and I visited the Inishowen Peninsula. Has to be 2002 or 2003 I think. But it really nice. We stayed way up in the village of Culdaff at this hotel: www.mcgrorys.ie/index.html

We really liked the place. Great food and nice little pub in the hotel. It's a very isolated small village with the hotel being right on the water with a walk down to the beach. I don't know if they do anymore but they used to have regular trad music sessions in the small pub at the hotel that we enjoyed. Just looking at the website the place appears to have changed a bit.

Have you found a self-catering place yet in Donegal?

I like the B&Bs over the self-catering places as you get a wonderful Irish breakfast every morning! When you come back from a touring day your bed is made and bathroom cleaned, etc. When I checked into self-catering as an option I found you need to plan a Saturday to Saturday rental and there was not discount for taking it for 4 or 5 days........plus no maid service or cook! I went up to the Inishowen Peninsula on my last visit as that is Hegarty country (my mother's side). My mother was born in the Bogside of Derry City and is buried in the City Cemetery there. I always try and make a visit to her grave when I can fit it in my touring plans. Visited with an elderly 1st cousin who was 93. Unfortunately she passed away last month. If you use B&Bs then you can stay for a day or two in different places moving in a forward direction. If you're arriving at Dublin Airport you could make a loop up to Inishowen via the Republic and return back to Dublin Airport through Northern Ireland. I found out last year that the Game of Thrones TV series is filmed in Northern Ireland and I visited the Dark Hedges and Tollymore Forest Park. I think there are a few more locations I didn't get to visit. You might want to also check around on car rentals. After checking several sites I landed on www.easytourireland.com and found them to be the best value as all the insurances are included in the price. This year I plan to use them again as they are offering a free GPS with the rental if I make my reservation early. Hope the above helps you.

If you need a place to stay just outside of Longford town I highly recommend Augherea House. Fantastic place and gourmet breakfast.

With some help from Tony, my wife liked the idea of two nights in Portrush after the week in Inishowen.

Green Dragon wrote:

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Do check out the Celtic Prayer Garden in Muff, Inishowen - I had a wonderful afternoon there, and that was November. It would be absolutely stunning another part of the year. www.celticprayergarden.com/

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Looks great- thank you! We'll be spending much of our week on the peninsula and this is a great idea. 

Keep the suggestions coming!

Michele Erdvig wrote:

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Good suggestions from Christy. This website might be of interest Roy: http://www.visitinishowen.com/ Some other things:

Grianan of Aileach

Fort Dunree

Doagh Famine Village

Flight of the Earl's Heritage Center 

Malin Head

Lots of beautiful beaches

Inishowen 100

I will tell you a funny story about the Inishowen 100. My husband and I first drove it over 40 years ago. All the signs were in Irish and we didn't have a clue but knew it was a scenic drive. The road was so bad we started calling it the Cow Path 100. To this day we still call it that although the road has improved.

 

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 That's a good story Michele! Fortunately my wife still has enough of the Irish language in her to read the road signs. Glad to know the roads have improved!

Malin Head is a must, glad the Star Wars filming is over.

Sounds lovely :)

My wife has been walking around the house for several days now singing "My Heart is in Ireland"