Killybegs Heritage Trail

Fáilte go dtí na Cealla Beaga. Welcome to Killybegs.
This trail is a guide to some of the interesting and historic
places in the town of Killybegs.
When you have had a look at these local landmarks, remember
you’re only getting started. The town was famously the last port of
call for the “Girona”, the most ill-fated ship of the Spanish Armada
in 1588.
These locations include the registered national monument which
incorporates St Catherine’s Church and graveyard, St Catherine’s
Well and the ruin of Kit’s Castle.
A short distance away is St John’s Church of Ireland, a beautiful
building in its own right and a fascinating visit to see the graveyard
where there are several WWI burials.
Overlooking the town is the factory built by Scot, Alexander Morton, in
1898 to house his Donegal Carpets enterprise, producing beautiful
handcrafted floor coverings which today grace such buildings as
Buckingham Palace and the White House in Washington.
It was also attacked by pirates on at least one occasion and later
was a convenient haven for the ships of Dutch corsair, Klaas
Campaen, as he awaited a royal pardon before retiring to Holland
with his ill-gotten gains.
And then, there’s the development of the fishing industry, a
fascinating story in its own right. Walk about, visit the locations
highlighted in this booklet and then look more closely and learn
more. There are many stories in Killybegs.