Letterkenny (Irish: Leitir Ceanainn) is the largest and most populous town in County Donegal. Its English name is derived from the Irish name Leitir Ceanainn, meaning “Hillside of the O’Cannons” – the O’Cannons being the last of the ancient chieftains of Tír Conaill. With a population of 20,000, Letterkenny is located on the River Swilly in east Donegal. Letterkenny, along with the nearby city of Derry, forms the major economic core of the north-west of the island of Ireland.
The modern urban centre of Letterkenny began as a market town at the start of the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster. An ancient castle once stood near where the Cathedral of St. Eunan and St. Columba, Donegal’s only Roman Catholic cathedral, stands today. Letterkenny Castle, built in 1625, was located south of Mount Southwell on Castle Street. Donegal’s premier third-level institution, the Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT), is located in the town, as are Saint Eunan’s College, Highland Radio, and the only Hindu temple in the Republic of Ireland. Letterkenny is also the original home of Oatfield, the confectionery manufacturer, and is renowned for its night-life, with enterprises such as Club Voodoo, The Grill, Milan and The Pulse regularly attracting international names. The Aura Complex, near O’Donnell Park, includes an Olympic-standard swimming pool, the Danny McDaid Athletic Track and an arena capable of hosting top-level events.
Many of Letterkenny’s more notable buildings were built in the early 1850s—or earlier. These include educational and ecclesiastical buildings. The Donegal County Museum is housed in the old workhouse and is located on the High Road. It was built in 1843 in the neo-Tudor style typical of this kind of building. In more recent years, Letterkenny has seen more unusual architectural development. The new Letterkenny Town CouncilLetterkenny Town Council offices, known locally as “The Grasshouse”, were designed by Donegal-based MacGabhann Architects. One of its most notable features is its distinctive sloping grass roof situated above a broad band of aluka matt cladding although it is also noticeable for its runway-like ramp to the first-floor concourse. It is said to be a building of international interest.
The retail trade in Letterkenny includes modern shopping centres and family owned local shops – often providing handmade crafts. Many High Street stores operate in Letterkenny. The town is the north-west regions major shopping centre and helps to serve outlying areas including rural County Donegal and Derry. The three main shopping malls are the Courtyard Shopping Centre, the Forte Shopping Centre and the Letterkenny Shopping Centre, the latter being the oldest. Built in 1984, it is the largest shopping centre in County Donegal. Previously, Main Street served as the main shopping area in the town but trade has now shifted further afield expanding the town in the process.
