Don’t get us wrong. We absolutely adore Donegal. However, there are indeed a number of things holding it back from being the best county in Ireland.
Now, it is a largely known fact that Donegal is one of the most stunning counties in Ireland.
From the imposing beauty of the Slieve League cliffs to the sheer brilliance of Glenveagh National Park and SO much more, it’s without a doubt one of the best counties in Ireland.
HOWEVER! For a place to become “the best” in the country, like with the amount of late-night options in New York, the access to the rest of Europe and the incredible festivals of Barcelona, or the oozing culture that greets you in Bangkok, Donegal lacks in a few areas.
A subjective look, of course, but let’s take a look at ten simple things holding Donegal back from being Ireland’s best county.
10. Rural – too remote
While we love Donegal for its rugged and natural beauty, and we love heading there for a few days of peace and quiet, how rural the county is could actually be one of the things holding Donegal back from being Ireland’s best county.
9. It’s difficult to get around without a car – lack of good public transport
If you don’t have a car, navigating to and from Donegal can be a bit of a pain. The lack of accessible public transport is certainly one of the things putting a strain on its “best county” candidacy.
Moreover, in bigger cities and towns, it’s nice to be able to have the option of walking to and from your destinations.
However, due to many people living on or staying in houses on dark and remote roads, it’s almost impossible to be able to rely on walking in Donegal for safety and convenience. So a car is a necessity.
8. Young people tend to move away – heading for the bigger cities
The beating heart of any place tends to sit with its young people, and Donegal has one of the highest age averages across the country.
This is because a lot of young people tend to move away when they get the chance, either to university in the bigger cities in Ireland or further afield.
With that being said, this is something a lot of people prefer, and it’s actually a big reason why people visit or retire in Donegal.
7. Lack of nightlife – you’ll find better elsewhere
While we love the many pubs and bars that decorate Donegal, the lack of modern music nights, DJ sets, and events is certainly one of the things holding Donegal back a little bit.
6. Shops are few and far between – you can’t just run to the corner shop
If you need to pop out and get some milk at the corner shop, forget about it, especially in the more remote areas of Donegal.
5. Not near any major airports – very few flights
The airport in Donegal, Donegal Airport (CFN), located in Carrickfinn, flies to Dublin twice a day and Glasgow three times weekly.
Otherwise, the transport connections by air to and from Donegal are not great. This is definitely something that holds a place back from being the best in the country.
4. Lack of jobs – not many opportunities
Again, due to its size, population, and location, job opportunities aren’t as plentiful or as diverse as they would be in a bigger city.
3. It’s hard to make friends – more remote, fewer people, less social situations
If you moved to Dublin, Cork, Galway, or Belfast, to name a few, you would have a lot of opportunities to make new friends in social situations or at work. If you moved to Donegal for the first time as an adult, it would be a lot more difficult to make friends.
But hey, if you move to Donegal for the peace, quiet, and solitude, this could absolutely be a positive for some people.
2. Lack of motorways to other places in Ireland – not as easy to get around the country
One of the simple things holding Donegal back from being Ireland’s best county is the lack of motorways to other parts of Ireland. In turn, travel time is longer, less comfortable, and a lot bumpier.
1. The roads – some of the worst road infrastructure in Ireland
Described by some as like “driving on the surface of the moon”, Donegal has some of the worst road infrastructure in Ireland, West Donegal in particular.
Now, having said all of this, Donegal is truly one of the most magical places in Ireland, but is it the “best county in Ireland” despite it all?
